GWS v Sydney: Was Swans forward Sam Reid robbed of a chance to win the Derby?

Tom Naghten

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GWS v Sydney: Was Swans forward Sam Reid robbed of a chance to win the Derby? image

GWS emerged two-point victors in a seesawing Sydney Derby against the Swans at Giants Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

In a match which saw several momentum shifts, the visitors had the running in the final few minutes, with Isaac Heeney's fourth goal for the afternoon bringing Sydney to within a kick.

The Swans were again on the attack when Callum Mills bombed it long to a pack at the top of the goal square.

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Sydney tall Sam Reid looked to have come down with the mark when Giants defender Jake Stein affected a late spoil.

'Play on' was called and GWS were able to clear, with Brett Deledio receiving a free kick at halfback to effectively end the game.


Social media quickly lit up in reaction to the non-mark to Reid, which would have given him a shot on goal from close range to win the match.

That wasn't the only umpiring decision that had Sydney fans hot under the collar, with Daniel Menzel denied what looked to be a pretty clear 50m penalty that would have taken him to the goal line in the final few minutes.




Coach John Longmire was left aghast as he watched his side go down against their crosstown rivals.


Though in the wash-up, the Swans coach will be able to point to plenty of second-half skill errors from his side that led to crucial turnovers.

And young star Heeney will be disappointed to have missed two very gettable set shots in the final quarter before he sorted his radar out.

Speaking after the match, Longmire wouldn't be drawn on whether his side was hard done by.

"I don't know whether it was a mark or whether anyone grabbed him on the arm, I don't know," Longmire said, adding that one sloppy quarter cost his young team.

"We played well for three quarters and won three quarters of the game, but dropped away in that second and that’s what cost us in the end," he said.

"We've just got to find a way to work through it and they’re lessons that are learned but they’re costly ones.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.