Lance Franklin has given the Coleman Medal a late shake, booting seven goals as the Sydney Swans clinched top spot on the ladder and condemned a pathetic Richmond outfit to their worst loss this year.
The Swans never gave the Tigers a look, keeping them to just a solitary goal in the opening half, and just seven for the match in the 113-point thrashing at the SCG.
Richmond had beaten the Swans in five of their past seven encounters, including the last three. But that could not have seemed less relevant as the home side gave the 36,570-strong crowd a performance for the ages.
The Swans exploded with five unanswered opening-term goals to lead by 31 points and extended that advantage to a remarkable 81 points at half time, 14.9 (93) to 1.6 (12).
The Swans’ greatest win over Richmond was 118 points in round seven of 2006 - but that pillar came crashing down with a crumbed goal to Josh Kennedy in the 22nd minute of the third quarter.
It was the Swans’ seventh major of the term and, though Jack Riewoldt kicked the next goal of the game - just Richmond’s second of the night - the deluge soon resumed.
At the final break, the Swans had kicked 22 goals to two and led by 123 points.
Their highest score against Richmond - 31.12 (198) in 1987 - was the next record under threat, but the humiliation drew to a close with Richmond, to their credit, clawing back a minor victory in the final term, kicking five goals to three.
There had been some uncertainty over Lance Franklin’s availability due to a hip complaint, but he played - and nailed seven goals in huge four-quarter effort.
Small forward Ben McGlynn and speedster Gary Rohan were dynamic, kicking five and four goals, respectively.
McGlynn, especially, looked as though he was playing for a finals start, as did Aliir Aliir at the back, leaving open the question of whether veteran backman Ted Richards has played his last game.
Meanwhile, the midfield mafia - Kennedy, Tom Mitchell, Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack among them - were completely dominant.
There were few highlights for Richmond, though Dustin Martin had 33 touches and made five tackles.
It was very much the Swans night to celebrate their 17th win of the season, a figure matching their record 2014 return.
Emphasising the team’s exceptional consistency, three of their five losses were by a kick or less. Cautious fans will note, however, that although the club wound up minor premiers in 1996 and 2014, in neither season did they go on to claim the ultimate prize.
There was no questioning the Swans’ determination to secure the minor premiership when, in the second minute of the game, Rohan sprinted down the wing and scored. From that moment the Swans kept their foot on Richmond’s throat and gave hardly an inch.
A free kick to Shaun Hampson in the third minute of the second quarter delivered Richmond their first goal of the match, but a long direct and successful strike by Franklin two minutes later served as a stinging response.
After receiving a standing ovation as they entered the Paul Kelly Race, the Swans returned in the second half to finish the job, pounding eight further goals in the third term, including two more to Franklin.
The Swans brought up their 150 with Kennedy’s second goal early in the final quarter before Franklin marked above a deflated Alex Rance and smacked through his seventh.
Perhaps the realisation struck some Tigers late in the game that their futures were on the line. Three goals to Trent Cotchin in the final quarter gave the visitors something to hold on to as another miserable yellow and black season finished up.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: The Swans escaped the game without injury concerns.
Richmond: Bachar Houli left the field in the 20th minute of the first quarter after falling heavily in a contest with Sam Naismith but returned to the action. Dustin Martin came off early in the second quarter but he returned as well. David Astbury copped some friendly fire in the final term, resulting in a minor head injury.
NEXT UP
Sydney Swans
The Swans can be sure of two things: they will play two finals at home, most pressingly the qualifying final in a fortnight and, secondly, whoever they play first up, they could hardly be in better shape. Now it’s up to the club’s selection committee to find a place for the likes of Ted Richards and Callum Mills.
Richmond
Time now for management to start sifting through the wreckage of 2016 and make some big decisions about the way forward. Is Jack Riewoldt a trade option or is he off limits? Does the club lay out the welcome mat for uncontracted Gold Coast midfielder Dion Prestia? What other surprises might lay ahead for the frustrated Tigers?
SYDNEY SWANS 5.6 14.9 22.11 25.14 (164)
RICHMOND 0.5 1.6 2.8 7.9 (51)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 7, McGlynn 5, Rohan 4, Hewett 2, Kennedy 2, Mitchell, Parker, Heeney, Jack, Richards
Richmond: Cotchin 3, Hampson, Riewoldt, Lloyd, Edwards
BEST
Sydney Swans: Franklin, Kennedy, Lloyd, Rampe, McGlynn, Mitchell, Grundy, Jack, Hannebery, Heeney
Richmond: Cotchin,Hunt, Martin
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kamolins, Harris, McInerney
Official crowd: 36,570 at the SCG
