A blistering first quarter has set Sydney up for an impressive 33-point win over Adelaide, with the Swans now closing in on a top four spot.

The Swans piled on nine goals in the first quarter, which gave them a nice buffer as the Crows started to fight back in the 17.16 (118) to 12.13 (85) contest.

In the opening 15 minutes, Sydney put enough distance between itself and Adelaide to never be threatened at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, despite the Crows outscoring the Swans across the final three quarters.

Sydney kicked those five early goals and finished with 9.3 from 20 inside 50s to register the highest opening quarter score of the season, before doing enough to defending their early advantage to eventually win by 33 points.

When Callum Mills kicked Sydney’s tenth goal 45 seconds into the second quarter, the margin was 48 points and things looked ominous for Adelaide.

06:59

Highlights: Sydney v Adelaide

The Swans and Crows clash in round 19

But bit by bit, Matthew Nicks’ side halted the Swans momentum and gradually pegged back the margin to ensure John Longmire endured a frustrating day on the interchange bench before it finished.

Sydney’s trio of star forwards – Lance Franklin (three goals), Isaac Heeney (two goals) and Tom Papley (two goals) – had days where they could have finished with more, but did enough to lead the Swans to a third straight win and 12th overall to move them level with fourth-placed Brisbane, half a game adrift of Fremantle which drew with Richmond on Friday night.

Papley was the instigator early. The 2021 All-Australian burst out of a centre bounce with the ball, got it back and then drilled a goal on the run from 55m out, celebrating almost as soon as the ball hit his boot, slotting two first quarter goals in a term that was reminiscent of a fortnight ago against the Western Bulldogs. 

But the early minutes of the second quarter onwards, Papley and the Swans had a performance where they flaunted the gulf in class between the two sides – one is a premiership threat, the other is a bottom four side – and were never fewer than three goals ahead.

00:50

Brilliant Buddy surpasses Gary Ablett snr

Lance Franklin snaps through his 1032th goal which pushes him past Gary Ablett snr on the all-time goalkicking list

Franklin was engaged in an intriguing contest with Adelaide key defender Nick Murray, who limited the four-time Coleman Medallist for a large part of the game, but couldn’t prevent the Sydney star from continuing his rise up the record books.

Months after becoming just the sixth player in AFL/VFL history to kick 1000 goals, Franklin surpassed Geelong icon Gary Ablett snr (1031 goals) to move up to No.5 on the all-time goalkicking leaderboard and finished the afternoon with 1034 next to his name.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 01:41

    2022 Red Day at the SCG Recap

    Re-live the Swans 33 point victory over Adelaide as we celebrated Red Day at the SCG.

    AFL
  • 00:38

    Mark of the Week - Round 19, 2022

    Nick Blakey climbs above the opposition to take a sensational specky and this week's Mark of the Week.

    AFL
  • 01:01

    Goal of the Week - Round 19, 2022

    Tom Papley produces a piece of individual brilliance from centre bounce to extend the Swans lead in the first quarter.

    AFL
  • 08:53

    Post Match Press Conference - John Longmire, Round 19

    Watch Sydney's press conference with John Longmire after our Round 19 victory over Adelaide at the SCG

    AFL
  • 01:42

    Stephens Post-Game Interview - Round 19, 2022

    Hear from Dylan Stephens after the Swans round 19 victory over Adelaide to make it three in a row.

    AFL
  • 01:59

    Hayward Post-Game Interview - Round 19, 2022

    Hear from Will Hayward after the Swans hold on to a crucial win over Adelaide.

    AFL
  • 06:59

    Highlights: Sydney v Adelaide

    The Swans and Crows clash in round 19

    AFL
  • 00:19

    Team Song: Sydney

    Watch the Swans celebrate their round 19 win

    AFL
  • 00:50

    Brilliant Buddy surpasses Gary Ablett snr

    Lance Franklin snaps through his 1032th goal which pushes him past Gary Ablett snr on the all-time goalkicking list

    AFL
  • 00:27

    Swans raise the bat with Gulden's ripper

    Errol Gulden snaps home this goal to bring up 50 first-quarter points for his side

    AFL
  • 00:45

    Double trouble kick Swans clear

    Back-to-back goals from Chad Warner and Tom Papley extends their side's lead midway through the first term

    AFL
  • 02:04

    Round 19 Team Selection, presented by QBE

    Hear from senior coach John Longmire who talks through this weeks team selection ahead of the Swans Round 19 clash with Adelaide.

    AFL
  • 09:02

    Reid Press Conference - July 15, 2022

    Hear from Sam Reid ahead of the Swans Round 19 clash with Adelaide.

    AFL
  • 02:22

    Red and White News - Round 19, 2022

    Catch up on all the news from inside the club as we prepare for our Round 19 match against Adelaide at the SCG.

    AFL
  • 01:54

    Swans raise awareness for RedKite ahead of Red Day

    Hear from Sydney Swans player Harry Cunningham on what the partnership with Redkite means to him and go behind the scenes to see some of the filming for the Redkite "KiteCrew" app advertisement

    AFL
  • 14:57

    Longmire Press Conference - July 18, 2022

    Hear from senior coach John Longmire ahead of the Swans Round 19 clash with Adelaide.

    AFL

SYDNEY           9.3       11.7      13.14      17.16 (118)
ADELAIDE        2.3       6.5        9.10        12.13 (85)

GOALS  
Sydney: Franklin 3, Hayward 3, Heeney 2, Papley 2, Amartey, Clarke, Gulden, Mills, Reid, Stephens, Warner
Adelaide: Walker 3, Berry 2, Dawson, Fogarty, Laird, McHenry, Milera, Murphy, Soligo

BEST   
Sydney: Blakey, Mills, Papley, Stephens, Parker, Warner, Franklin
Adelaide: Laird, Berry, Keays, O’Brien, Walker

INJURIES  
Sydney: Nil
Adelaide: Shane McAdam (corked quad)

MEDICAL SUBS
Sydney: Sam Wicks (unused)
Adelaide: Brayden Cook (replaced Shane McAdam in second quarter)