Malcolm Rosas Jr, traded from the Gold Coast to the Swans for a minimal price in November, starred with seven goals against Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday, propelling Sydney to the top of the AFL ladder. The Swans now sit more than 30% clear of second-placed Fremantle.
Rosas, the grandson of late Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Bill Dempsey, is a different player from his legendary grandfather. While Dempsey was a dominant ruckman, Rosas is slighter, slippery around packs, and a superb ball user. His seven-goal haul was the highlight of a helter-skelter match that saw both teams attack through the middle, reminiscent of high-scoring 1980s games at the SCG.
Swans' New Style Pays Off
Sydney's victory was built on a torrent of propulsive handballs. The team had spoken all summer about playing faster, bolder, and using quick hands in 2026. After hints of this style late in 2025, a full summer of training and new AFL rules encouraging such play have seen it flourish. The Swans moved the ball with purpose and speed, leaving Melbourne vulnerable to turnovers.
Rosas was the main beneficiary, booting five goals in the first half, mostly from around 30 metres. He struggled for opportunities under Damien Hardwick at Gold Coast but now reaps the rewards of teammates lowering their eyes rather than bombing to Charlie Curnow.
Melbourne's Risky Game Exposed
Melbourne's games are typically open, with space, overlaps, and goals. They have kicked over 100 points in six of eight games this year. However, their ravenous appetite for risk leaves them exposed to turnovers. When a ball is contested, multiple players sprint forward, but when it fails, they can be caught out by teams like Sydney that move the ball with speed.
The loss capped a week of upheaval at Melbourne, with CEO Paul Guerra being dismissed. He is the latest in a line of non-football people to last less than a year in the role.
Other Weekend Highlights
Friday night featured some of the best football of the year, including a cracking game between the Bulldogs and Fremantle at Docklands, and an entertaining Showdown. Meanwhile, Richmond, despite a dire injury list and only three AFL-listed players in their reserves, played with genuine intent to secure their first win of the season.
West Coast, however, struggled badly. The 2006 premiership heroes were paraded at half-time, but the current team was pitiful, ill-disciplined, and meek around the margins. Coach Andrew McQualter called it an improvement on their last month, highlighting the team's ongoing problems.
