The Sydney Swans have gone down to the Melbourne Demons at the MCG in Round 3 on Sunday afternoon.

The Swans have had the better of the Demons in recent years – they'd won 16 of their past 20 encounters before today – but it was the Demons who reigned supreme to record the 21.8 (134) to 12.12 (84) victory.

The debut of Demon forward Jacob van Rooyen started with a bang – his first touch was a nice chip kick to Alex Neal-Bullen in the forward 50 to give the Dees the opening goal, then he followed that up moments later with an accurate set shot of his own to provide his side's second goal. The 19-year-old finished with three goals from his nine disposals.

Clayton Oliver was immense in game 150, kicking two goals from his 25 disposals, as well as taking five marks and laying seven tackles.

Tom Papley kicked three goals for the Swans, while Callum Mills (25 disposals) and Jake Lloyd (21) fought hard in defeat.

00:30

Speedy Papley provides thrilling finish

Tom Papley bursts away from the contest with footy in hand and delivers this sensational goal

A powerful opening quarter from the Demons had the Swans on the back foot early – they dominated both in the air (intercept marks 9-3 and total marks 31-16) and on the ground (18-11 advantage in loose ball gets) to hold a 28-point buffer at the first break.

While the Swans responded to reduce the margin to 15 points at the main break and then rein it in to within a kick midway through the third, Melbourne pulled away to hold an ultimately unassailable 25-point margin going into the last.

  • 05:12

    Post Match Press Conference: John Longmire, Round 3

    Watch Sydney's press conference after round three's match against Melbourne

    AFL
  • 08:44

    Highlights: Melbourne v Sydney

    The Demons and Swans clash in round three

    AFL
  • 00:30

    Speedy Papley provides thrilling finish

    Tom Papley bursts away from the contest with footy in hand and delivers this sensational goal

    AFL
  • 00:47

    Rowbottom converts astonishing turnover gem

    James Rowbottom intercepts the footy, absorbs the contact and slots this superb goal

    AFL
  • 00:36

    Vintage Buddy conjures magical beauty

    The Swans hit the scoreboard with this miracle dribble goal from Lance Franklin

    AFL
  • 02:12

    Round 3 Team Selection, presented by QBE

    Hear from assistant coach Dean Cox as he goes through the one change before our clash with Melbourne at the MCG.

    AFL

MELBOURNE     6.1    9.3   14.4   21.8 (134)
SYDNEY           1.3    6.6    9.9     12.12 (84)

GOALS
Melbourne: Fritsch 3, van Rooyen 3, Chandler 3, Spargo 2, Oliver 2, Hunter 2, Sparrow, Petty, Neal-Bullen, Brown, Jordon, Melksham 
Sydney: Papley 3, Hayward 2, Franklin 2, Rowbottom, McInerney, Gulden, McDonald, Blakey

BEST
Melbourne: Oliver, Grundy, van Rooyen, Chandler, Hunter
Sydney: Mills, Papley, Ladhams, Lloyd

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Sydney: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Jake Melksham (replaced Ben Brown in the third quarter)
Sydney: Matt Roberts (replaced Dylan Stephens in the third quarter)

Crowd: 42,423 at the MCG