Sydney has copped fierce criticism over its decision to play Sam Reid in the AFL grand final despite his lingering adductor injury, which cruelled the key forward as Geelong stormed to an 81-point victory at the MCG on Saturday.
Sydney took a gamble on Reid after he suffered an injury in its preliminary final win over Collingwood at the SCG.
The daring call resulted in misery for Reid, who was substituted out of the match early in the third quarter, making way for the vastly different Braeden Campbell.
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Reid looked uncomfortable at stages during the first half and finished his day with just four disposals, all handballs.
“He would have that sinking feeling, firstly that he hasn’t been able to contribute,” Daisy Pearce said on the Seven coverage.
“And then your mind starts buzzing about, ‘Have you let the team down?’.
“Their problems run deeper than Reid today, but it was always meant to be a big call and it hasn’t fallen their way.”
The Cats erred on the side of caution at the selection table, deciding to leave out winger Max Holmes after he suffered a hamstring injury during Geelong’s preliminary final win over Brisbane at the MCG.
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Mark O’Connor earned a call-up in Holmes’ place and registered 13 touches, including five contested possessions.
“I remember (former Collingwood defender) Simon Prestigiacomo in a grand final a few years back decided he just wasn’t strong enough to play,” Brian Taylor said on the Seven broadcast.
“Didn’t want to let the team down.
“It’s a big decision for players.
“We heard that Geelong’s Max Holmes decided that he didn’t want to, either.
“Got to be sure if you’re going into a game like this.”
Swans coach John Longmire conceded in his press conference that the call to select Reid was wrong.
“We made a mistake there,” Longmire said.
“Not much went right.
“We were obviously confident, that’s why we picked him, but we made a mistake.”
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