The Swans had not beaten the Crows for five years leading into Sunday’s clash, but put on a clinic in front of a dumbfounded home crowd to shatter the hoodoo, 18.10 (118) to 11.9 (75) - their highest score against Adelaide since 2001.
New recruit Ben McGlynn was the hero for the visitors, with a career-best return of five goals.
The ex-Hawthorn forward managed just 11 disposals against St Kilda last weekend, but caught the Crows’ defenders napping on Sunday afternoon.
McGlynn kicked a goal in each of the first three quarters, including two in a match-defining second term.
The Swans led by just 12 points at the first break, but piled on seven goals to Adelaide’s two in the second quarter to set up an imposing 41-point lead at half time.
Adelaide mounted something of a surge through emerging star Patrick Dangerfield, who booted five second-half goals but were never in the contest.
The top-four fancies lacked intensity, options inside-50m and their trademark discipline in the disappointing display and find themselves precariously close to the bottom of the ladder ahead of next week’s clash with cellar-dweller Melbourne.
The loss was compounded by an injury to utility James Sellar who will have his hamstring monitored to discover the extent of the damage.
Forwards Jason Porplyzia and Brett Burton scored just one goal between them, after being rushed back into the side to bolster its depleted forward line.
Midfielder Scott Thompson (27 possessions and five clearances) battled hard for the home side and small forward Jared Petrenko responded well to kick two goals after being concussed in the first term.
Ryan O’Keefe (29 possessions and three goals), Jarrad McVeigh (20 possessions), Adam Goodes (21) and Dan Hannebery (23) starred for the Swans in the impressive win, while Mark Seaby, Josh Kennedy and Daniel Bradshaw booted two goals each.
Adelaide 2.3 4.5 8.7 11.9 (75)
Sydney Swans 4.3 11.4 14.9 18.10 (118)
GOALS
Adelaide: Dangerfield 5, Petrenko 2, McLeod 2, Douglas
Sydney Swans: McGlynn 5, O’Keefe 3, Seaby 2, Bradshaw 2, Kennedy 2, Moore, Kirk, Goodes, Jack
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Petrenko, Thompson
Sydney Swans: McGlynn, O’Keefe, McVeigh, Seaby, Goodes, Hannebery
INJURIES
Adelaide: Sellar (hamstring)
Sydney Swans: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Rosebury, McInerney
Official crowd: 36,041 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
Games at the SCG are electrifying. See the Swans take on Richmond this Saturday night. Grab your tickets now at www.ticketek.com.au. Please note first bounce for our Round 3 fixture Sydney Swans v Richmond is 7.10pm. Gates open at 3.45pm.
