The Sydney Swans have been defeated by 93 points in a 20.10 (130) to 5.7 (37) demolition against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night, the Cats holding the Swans to just three behinds in the second half.
Given its severely undermanned backline, missing Dane Rampe, Tom McCartin and Paddy McCartin, Sydney's best chance of winning this game rested with its midfield and starving the Cats' forwards of the footy, but the home side's engine room was just too strong around the ground.
The clearance battle was relatively even, but the Cats linked up well across the field, dominating disposals and inside 50s, exposing the Swans' lack of healthy key position players at both ends of the field.
Sydney midfielder Callum Mills has some previous experience in defence, but was forced to stand the might of Tom Hawkins for two-and-a-half quarters, the hometown hero booting three goals in the first half and five for the match.
The margin at quarter-time of last year's Grand Final was 41-6, and while the gap wasn't quite so stark, Swans fans would be well within their rights to anticipate how the rest of the match was going to play out, given the 39-12 lead Geelong took into the first break.
The Cats' accuracy helped them hit cruise control in the second, easing out to a 50-point lead, but the Swans carried some momentum late, peppering the goals and scoring two consecutive majors, the visitors with seven scoring shots to five for the term.
Mills was thrown into the middle halfway through the third term and immediately won a clearance, the injection of sub and key back Will Gould (for Matt Roberts, knee) allowing the switch to be made.
Sydney was at its best when it could run, carry and break lines, something that was rarely afforded to it by the disciplined full-ground defence of Geelong on the narrow confines of Kardinia Park.
Luke Parker and Chad Warner worked hard throughout the game, while James Rowbottom kept the intensity up with 10 tackles and Errol Gulden was a constant spark from siren to siren, pushing up the ground to provide a link.
The MRO is likely to look at a collision between Mitch Duncan and Robbie Fox in the third term, which saw Duncan bump a low-sliding Fox, hitting the Swan's head with his arm. Fox took his free kick and played out the game.
GEELONG 6.3 11.3 18.5 20.10 (130)
SYDNEY 2.0 5.4 5.5 5.7 (37)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 5, Cameron 5, Simpson 2, O. Henry 2, Close 2, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Rohan
Sydney: Hayward 2, Papley, Heeney, Stephens
BEST
Geelong: Dangerfield, Cameron, Blicavs, Hawkins, C.Guthrie, Holmes
Sydney: Warner, Parker, Gulden, Lloyd
INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Sydney: Matt Roberts (left knee)
LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Jon Ceglar replaced in selected side by Sam Simpson
Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Mitch Knevitt (replaced Cam Guthrie in the fourth quarter)
Sydney: Will Gould (replaced Matt Roberts in the second quarter)
Crowd: 23,134 at GMHBA Stadium
