A rogue snake on the field and an untimely power outage delayed the start to Sydney’s AFL pre-season clash with Brisbane at Blacktown on Thursday night, but the Lions ultimately could not be stopped when play eventually begun.
A dirty night for the Swans was made worse by the prospect of new recruit Taylor Adams missing Opening Round next week after grabbing at his knee during their 25 point loss to the Lions.
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Already pushed back due to sweltering weather conditions, the match was delayed by a further 30 minutes when the lights went out at Blacktown International Sportspark before the first bounce — reminiscent of the bizarre mid-game power outage that halted the Lions’ Round 2 clash with Melbourne last year for 40 minutes.
During Thursday night’s delay, a snake catcher also had to be called to remove an uninvited intruder from the field.
It’s the second time a snake has interrupted proceedings at Blacktown after GWS and Richmond’s AFLW clash in September last year was halted when a slithery friend made its way onto the field.
When play eventually did get underway, Adams had impressed in his first hit-out in the red and white before a tackle from Brisbane’s Cam Rayner sent him to ground in the third quarter.
The former Collingwood player immediately grabbed his left knee and was ruled out of the rest of the AFL community series match with a mild medial ligament strain.
The Swans went on to suffer an 8.8 (56) to 12.9 (81) loss to the Lions in their final dress rehearsal before the season opener.
But Sydney assistant coach Jarrad McVeigh was optimistic Adams would not be ruled out of next week’s season opener against Melbourne.
“He got a knock to his knee so we played that conservatively,” McVeigh said after the game.
“He’s still clearly a chance for next week.”
The Lions showed no signs of a hangover from last year’s grand final loss to Collingwood.
At near full strength, it was Brisbane’s usual stars — Dayne Zorko (two goals, 20 disposals), Lachie Neale (22 disposals, eight clearances), Keidean Coleman (19 disposals) and Hugh McCluggage (31) — who fired the visitors to dominance.
A scare ran through the Lions camp when Neale, in his first hit-out following off-season groin surgery, appeared in pain after young Swan Angus Sheldrick blew into the Brownlow Medallist’s shoulder in the second term.
Neale nursed the injury and was able to play the rest of the game.
Zorko stole the show early. The veteran midfielder, entering his 13th season and still chasing an elusive premiership, flashed the same grit as his 23-year-old debutant self with a classy goal in the opening 30 seconds.
Brisbane had no shortage of firepower with eight different goalkickers, as Lincoln McCarthy kicked three goals and Eric Hipwood two.
Though all eyes were on Adams in his unofficial Swans debut, it was former Demon James Jordon who played the best out of the new recruits.
The 22-year-old had 31 disposals and four clearances, numbers rivalling those of powerhouse midfielder Errol Gulden (24 disposals, two clearances, one goal).
Earlier, Adams showed his class and racked up 15 touches and seven clearances before he was injured.
Adams’ former Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy (27 hitouts) again starred in the ruck.
John Longmire’s men were without star midfielder Luke Parker after the former skipper broke his arm during the last quarter of their practice match against GWS.
The 2016 All-Australian joins captain Callum Mills on the sidelines for the opening-round clash with Melbourne at the SCG on March 7 and will meet specialists again on Friday to determine a return-to-play timeline.
Tom Papley and Chad Warner (rested) were also on the sidelines with defender Jake Lloyd (hip soreness).
Lions young gun Devon Robertson could make a return when Brisbane host Carlton on March 8 after overcoming a wrist injury, while Tom Doedee remains out of action with an ACL injury, as does Will Ashcroft.
– With AAP
