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Molloy, Swans inspired in AFLW by 'why not us?' mindset

3 minute read

Sydney know they will start underdogs in the AFLW semi-final against minor premiers Adelaide - and they couldn't care less.

SCOTT GOWANS.
SCOTT GOWANS. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

Like the Gold Coast fan who taunted Chloe Molloy, Adelaide will misjudge Sydney at their peril.

The Crows will start firm favourites against the Swans in next weekend's AFLW semi-final, but Sydney's upset elimination final win over Gold Coast will give the minor premiers pause for thought.

Sydney out-tackled the Suns by a whopping 105 to 66 on Saturday in their 9.4 (58) to 6.5 (41) victory and with Molloy kicking three goals, they will take significant confidence into the Adelaide match.

It is a stunning transformation from a team that went winless only a few months ago in their debut season.

"All year I've been thinking to myself, 'how would we go playing against a top-four side?'. Now we get that opportunity, so we'll know next week," said Swans coach Scott Gowans.

"Why not us? We just take the attitude we have nothing to lose - we genuinely believe we can compete. We'll dive into Adelaide and see how we go."

Not only did Molloy lead the way for Sydney, but the co-captain also had a brilliant response for a heckling Suns fan.

As she lined up her second goal, the fan yelled out "two, four, six, eight - can't kick straight".

When Molloy proved the fan wrong, she celebrated the goal by counting "two, four, six, eight" on her fingers.

"Why not be a bit cheeky when you can?" Molloy said.

Like her coach, Molloy is now excited by what is possible against Adelaide.

"We can do anything ... the way we've evolved throughout the season," she said.

"We never thought we'd be here and that's the beauty of it.

"I don't know, fair game in finals, anyone can do it. There's a lot of belief in this camp."

Molloy was outstanding against the Suns, prompting high praise from Gowans.

"I've always said she's the best female footballer I've seen and I will stick by it," he said.

"She has the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck when it needs to, she has the football IQ to put herself behind the ball, in the middle or forward and then she's very, very hard to tag.

"She doesn't have to get 35 possessions to influence a game. If she gets 15 to 20, she's usually going to be damaging."

While the Suns were celebrating their Gold Coast trip, the win came at a cost.

Forward Bec Privitelli hurt her left ankle in the first quarter and Gowans is pessimistic that she will recover in time for next weekend.

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