AFL great Nathan Buckley has taken aim at Sydney superstar Errol Gulden following the Swans’ disappointing loss to Brisbane in Saturday’s grand final.
The Swans barely fired a shot as they were completely overpowered by a rampaging Lions to the tune of 60 points.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gulden left chasing as Lohmann kicks easy goal.
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After a tight first quarter, the damage was done in a blistering second term when the Lions slammed on seven goals to one.
Gulden came into the game as one of the favourites for the Norm Smith Medal. The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the premier midfielders in the game with two All-Australian selections.
But on grand final day, Gulden was “ineffective” despite racking up 24 touches, according to Buckley.
Buckley added that Gulden and the Swans have some flat-track bully tendencies.
“Gulden is an interesting one. There’s a train of thought that Sydney have become bullies in some shape or form, when things are going their way they are up and about, their offensive prowess and talent takes over, and they just overwhelm the opposition,”
“A little like (flat-track bullies).
“Gulden is a very good footballer, he’s polled well in Brownlows, we see him as one of the elite runners in the competition, he’s an elite user. He seems like a really upbeat young kid. He had 24 touches, but he was ineffective.”
Buckley went on to pick out at a moment in the second term when Gulden didn’t chase his opponent and Lohmann was left in space to kick an easy goal.
The game was still alive at the time, with the Swans only trailing by seven points.
Buckley explained the key moment (which you can see in the video player at the top of the page) in detail as Gulden was clearly at fault.
“The goal that Lohmann kicks in the second quarter when Bailey handballs to him 40m out … Lohmann is 30m clear of any Sydney player,” Buckley said.
“Gulden handed (Zac) Bailey over to Rampe and Rampe loses that contest so Gulden now assumes the responsibility for Lohmann and they’re on the wing.
“Lohmann runs hard back towards goal to receive that handball and kick the goal. When he kicks the ball, Gulden is walking on the wing and has only moved 15m from where that match-up started and he is now 35-40m away from the guy he assumed responsibility for from his captain.
“These are two leaders, he is not a kid anymore, he refused to put that work in to run back and see that handover out, he’s got to live with that.
“It’s like pulling out of a contest, it’s like ducking your head … he’s going to have to prove to his teammates that he’s not going to do that again when it matters.”