Swans pull off ‘great escape’ in final-minute miracle
Sydney has completed the great escape after a final-minute goal from Jai Serong sealed victory against St Kilda.
With two minutes left and St Kilda leading by five, it looked like the Swans had blown a golden opportunity when Nick Blakey fired a shot from 45 metres out.
Jai Serong is mobbed by his teammates. Getty
Blakey’s kick was flat and hard with St Kilda’s Jack Silvagni taking a mark just before the line at the SCG.
“He mis-hit it,” Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy.
The hosts went back inside 50 twice with under a minute left and the second time a ball-up came in an attacking spot.
Brodie Grundy tapped the ball back to Isaac Heeney who navigated traffic before finding Serong who snapped a left-footed goal to put his side one-point ahead.
“The great escape is on for the Swans from 32 down, they take the lead with seconds left,” caller Dwayne Russell said.
The cameras then panned to coach Dean Cox who erupted from the box before frantically speaking on the phone.
Sydney dominated the final seconds, clearing the ball back inside 50 with Joel Amartey taking a mark on the siren. Amartey couldn’t kick a goal but it didn’t matter with Sydney winning 15.14 (104) - 15.12 (102).
The full-time score was the only time Sydney had been in the lead at the end of a quarter. St Kilda had led by 17 points at the first break, followed by eight and six point leads. In the second quarter, the Saints were at one stage leading 9.2 (56) - 3.6 (24).
Dean Cox reacts to Jai Serong's goal. Fox Footy
“That was incredible, until that final second I thought they were done and dusted. They just found something with 10 minutes of play remaining,” Gerard Healy said.
St Kilda will be devastated by their capitulation with Liam Ryan topping the goalscoring list with five. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera had the most touches with 32. Isaac Heeney (30) and Chad Warner (29) were next on the disposals list for Sydney.
