Sydney have kept their finals hope alive and put a major dent in Essendon’s own top-eight aspirations by securing a third straight win at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
The Swans led by as much as 37 points early in the third quarter before the Bombers’ midfield and inside-50 dominance finally started to impact the scoreboard.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tom Papley’s match-winning goal.
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Essendon cut the lead to just two points with five minutes left but electric forward Tom Papley stepped up to bomb the Swans’ only goal of the final quarter from 60m out.
Jye Menzie goaled back for the Bombers, but it was too late as the ball went back to the middle with six seconds to go and the Swans prevailed 15.11 (101) to 15.9 (99).
Known for his clutch goals and wild celebrations, Papley is a fan favourite among AFL fans, although he knows he can get under the skin of the opposition.
Speaking candidly to Channel 7 after the match, Papley questioned whether he was well liked outside his club.
“Not many people probably like me on the outside but all the boys get around me and I provide the energy and I am just out here enjoying footy and that’s what it is all about,” he said.
The comment stunned Channel 7 commentators.
“I’m not sure that’s quite true, I’m a massive fan of Tom Papley and the way he plays,” Hamish McLachlan said.
AFLW icon Daisy Pearce added: “We like you, Tommy.”
On his match-winning goal that put the Swans up by eight points with two minutes remaining, Papley was relieved to get the lucky bounce.
“Scored a nice bounce didn’t it? Bit of luck there, left-to-right and bounced in,” he said.
“Lucky I didn’t go early, I thought it was going to go early. It went through and happy to get the win for the boys.”
Sydney could finish the round as high as 10th on the ladder after their finals hopes appeared shot only a month ago.
But the iconic career of Lance Franklin hangs in the balance after he was subbed out of the match midway through the second quarter due to calf “tightness” and replaced by midfielder Ryan Clarke.
The 36-year-old cut a dejected figure sitting on the bench and was walking with a noticeable limp when he joined his teammates at the three-quarter-time huddle.
“He just came off feeling a bit tight in his calf,” Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner told the Seven Network at halftime.
“We don’t take any risks with him, so we decided to sub him out of the game.
“He’s OK, we will assess it across the next few days.”
It is Sydney’s final game in Melbourne during the home-and-away season and they will not return this year unless the Swans charge into the finals.
Franklin is expected to retire at season’s end, but this week the 36-year-old had reportedly been contemplating playing on next year for a 20th AFL campaign.
Sydney have four matches to come in the home-and-away season, starting with next week’s clash with in-form rivals GWS.
Franklin has kicked 1066 goals in his career – the fourth most in VFL/AFL history – and is a lock to be inducted as a legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame after he retires.
But the future looks bright for the Swans post-Franklin with tall forward Joel Amartey stepping up with four goal in the first half as Sydney skipped away to a 19-point lead at the main break.
Essendon forward Kyle Langford continued his brilliant season by nailing a career-best six goals but it will come as little consolation to the Bombers who won the inside-50s 69-47 and their finals hopes could be over.
– With AAP
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