Coming up Rosas: Swans recruit stars as Sydney Sweeney returns to SCG
May 3, 2026 — 6:15pmYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.For all the talk about Sydney’s pursuit of Charlie Curnow and the high price they paid to get him, it has been overlooked that they brought in a second gun forward last summer – and this bloke only cost them the proverbial packet of chips.Very little has been said about Malcolm Rosas jnr, who was traded to the Swans with pick 62 at last year’s draft by the Gold Coast Suns, in exchange for picks 51 and 69.That probably stops now.His career-best seven-goal haul has blown his cover; now everyone can see the bargain they scored, and the gem that the Suns gave up for practically nothing.AdvertisementSomewhere in Carrara, seller’s remorse would be setting in right about now.Rosas jnr booted the first goal of Sunday’s 17-point win over Melbourne at a sun-baked SCG, kicking off a frenetic opening-quarter shootout in which the lead changed hands seven times.Within a stunning six-minute spell just after quarter time, he reclaimed the lead for Sydney with his third goal, then broke the game open with two more to establish what proved to be an unassailable lead, announcing himself to the home crowd of 40,673 – which, not for the first time, included actress Sydney Sweeney, who is in Australia again to film a movie.Even Sweeney might have noticed the way Rosas jnr has provided her namesake AFL club with what they had been missing in the three years since her last visit: an extra dynamic in their forward 50; another livewire who can take the pressure off Tom Papley and keep opposition defenders on their toes with his craft and movement.Advertisement“The reason we got him here was to add something different to our forward line,” said Swans coach Dean Cox.“And what he’s delivered so far has been really beneficial for our football club. As we always say, it’s not about the goals, but he took his opportunities and provided some real flair in our front half. He does things other players can’t do.”Whoever the Demons assigned to the 24-year-old wasn’t doing a particularly good job of it, as he continually found space and made them pay every time, with Sydney outscoring the visitors five goals to two in the second term.“It was falling into my lap,” Rosas jnr said.“I was like, ‘Oh, they can’t really do nothing about it’. It’s just one of them days, I think. I just take my opportunities. That’s all you can do as a small forward. The way we play … I feel like it suits my game.”AdvertisementRosas jnr came to the club hoping to continue Sydney’s proud tradition of First Nations stars, eager to imitate the blistering pace of Lewis Jetta in particular. He’s off to a good start, producing more goals in one afternoon than his entire tally for last season.His performance helped the Swans return to the top of the AFL ladder – and given Melbourne’s recent form, this 19.17 (131) to 17.12 (114) result was no mean feat, and another impressive manifestation of Cox’s game plan, although inaccuracy in front of goal kept them from killing off the contest much, much sooner.The Dees were down a rotation early after Brody Mihocek injured his hamstring as he tried to tackle Sydney defender Lewis Melican. While they remained close enough touch to keep the hosts sweating right to the end, stringing together four late goals to force a nervy finish, they still could not conjure a sufficient response to make up for the damage they sustained earlier.It felt like goal No.6 from Rosas jnr, a clever snap from the top of the goal square after fending off an opponent, which came nine minutes into the final quarter, should have been the death of the Dees, but it was to their credit that that moment of respite for the Swans didn’t come until Joel Amartey’s fourth goal, inside the final minute of play.AdvertisementCox was unhappy with conceding 7.4 in the last quarter; his counterpart, meanwhile, was delighted that the Demons refused to lie down.“It’s an interesting one,” said Melbourne coach Steven King.“Really disappointed with the result today, but really proud of the group for fighting it out. They could have easily got away from us today … although we don’t walk away with four points, I walk away really proud as a coach, knowing I’ve got a group of players that are willing to fight and scrap to the death and never give in.”You have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.More:AFL 2026Sydney SwansMelbourne DemonsSydney SweeneyInstagramVince Rugari is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.
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