AFL followers have been left feeling barely confused by a purpose celebration, or lack there of, in Sydney’s 76-point win over Hawthorn on the MCG on Sunday.
The Swans led at each break and cruised to a 18.10 (118) to five.12 (42) victory — their sixth of the season — to be second on the ladder after Spherical 7.
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However the match featured an fascinating second within the second quarter when Swans small ahead Sam Wicks kicked a purpose however none of his teammates went to rejoice with him.
The Swans went coast to coast, with James Jordon discovering Joel Amartey on the wing, earlier than Tom Papley seen Hawthorn defender Sam Frost was sagging off Wicks, who marked simply on the prime of the goalsquare and bumped into an open purpose.
Wicks was nearly by himself contained in the ahead 50 and the sport was over at that stage, with Sydney holding a 44-point lead halfway via the second quarter.
However viewers have been shocked that not a single Swans participant went to provide Wicks a high-five.
A fan wrote on X: “Somebody clarify why no person went to excessive 5 or recognize Sam Wicks kicking a purpose right here.”
One particular person replied: “I imply, I can solely see two Swans gamers inside body of the entire clip they usually’re within the centre sq.. Wicks was thus far in behind the defenders nobody was close to him.”
It was his second purpose after he scooped up a unfastened ball and slotted an aesthetic snap for the primary main of the sport.
Wicks obtained just a few high-fives and again slaps from teammates for that effort.
It’s unclear whether or not an off-field incident involving Wicks earlier within the 12 months had any half to play within the obvious lack of celebration from his teammates.
The 24-year-old was omitted from Sydney’s Spherical 3 conflict in opposition to Richmond resulting from an alleged dispute between him and a teammate.
“Wicks had been accused of appearing inappropriately with the previous girlfriend of one other Swans participant,” journalist Sam Edmund mentioned on SEN on the time.
“A radical membership investigation discovered that these allegations have been categorically false, and that Wicks nor his teammate had achieved something flawed.
“Whereas all events have been finally harmless, the unhealthy blood, which was introduced into the open on an evening out involving a gaggle of Sydney gamers, had threatened to fester within the changerooms.
“On account of that, Swans officers acted swiftly to take the warmth out of the state of affairs by giving Wicks a while off. He didn’t journey with teammates to Melbourne immediately – as an alternative he’s again in Sydney.”
All events concerned have been discovered to be harmless by the membership after an inner investigation, after particulars of the dispute got here to gentle on a latest night time out.
His omission from the Spherical 3 match was determined upon by membership officers to forestall additional angst within the dressing rooms whereas feelings have been excessive.
Swans coach John Longmire addressed the problem earlier this month.
“Many of the stuff you take care of in soccer, over my time … has been non-football,” Longmire mentioned.
“That’s simply a kind of issues that you’ll want to be sure to work via. We consider we’re working via that nicely.
“We’re mature sufficient to have the ability to work via that and get our give attention to the footy.”
Wicks had a stable begin to the 2024 season, forcing his method into the beginning 22 after two energetic performances because the sub in Opening Spherical and Spherical 1.
He was drafted as a Class B rookie in 2018 and has performed 54 video games on the membership and kicked 36 targets.
He signed a two-year contract extension final November and is contracted on the Swans till not less than the tip of 2025.
The Swans tackle GWS in a blockbuster Sydney derby on the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
