THE SYDNEY Swans have pulled off the biggest upset of the season, defeating Geelong by 13 points at Skilled Stadium and ending the Cats' 29-game winning streak at their home ground.

Wearing black arm bands as a mark of respect for their absent co-captain Jarrad McVeigh and his wife Clementine, whose newborn daughter died during the week, the Swans led at every change and won 15.9 (99) to 12.14 (86).

The victory means the Swans will finish in the top eight and keep alive their hopes of hosting a final.

It was Geelong's first loss at Skilled Stadium since it was beaten by Port Adelaide in round 21, 2007.

The Swans went into the game having lost nine straight matches against the Cats. Adding to their underdog status was the fact they hadn't won in Geelong since 1999, when Rodney Eade was coach and Paul Kelly was captain.

But John Longmire's team proved its doubters wrong with a brilliant display of grit and determination.

Adam Goodes was one of many heroes in red and white. Goodes was dominant after he was moved into the middle of the ground during the first half, and he ended the match with 30 possessions, seven clearances and a goal.

Fomer Cat Shane Mumford was tireless in the ruck, while Jude Bolton, Daniel Hannebery and Ryan O'Keefe all had an impact.

Youngsters Sam Reid, Gary Rohan and Luke Parker led the way on the scoreboard with two goals each.

To realise how good the Swans' effort was, you must take into account that Geelong had won its first six matches at Skilled Stadium this year by an average of 99 points (in their previous two outings at home, the Cats had demolished Melbourne and Gold Coast by a combined margin of 336 points).

However, Geelong seemed struck down by post-bye lethargy for most of the afternoon.

The Cats were unlucky to lose key defender Harry Taylor to concussion during the second quarter, but they had only themselves to blame for the defeat, which was just their third of the season.

Chris Scott's men were thrashed at the clearances (the final clearance count was 56-34 in the Swans' favour) and they continually fumbled the ball when they did get their hands on it.

In that regard, Steve Johnson was one of the worst offenders.

Midfielders James Kelly and Joel Selwood tried to lift their team, but many of their star teammates had little impact on the contest.

Still, Geelong's 29 straight wins at Skilled Stadium sits in the record books as the most consecutive victories by a club at one venue in VFL/AFL history.

The Cats, who round out their home and away campaign against Collingwood at the MCG next Friday night, remain in second place on the ladder, although they are now only four points clear of third-placed Hawthorn.

Regardless of next weekend's results, the Cats and Hawks are certain to meet in a qualifying final.

Influential players
Swans co-captain Adam Goodes was outstanding, but little man Ben McGlynn had just as much influence. McGlynn went toe-to-toe with Joel Selwood and held the Geelong star to 22 possessions, while also picking up 22 touches himself. In addition, McGlynn laid nine tackles, won 10 clearances and kicked a goal.

Magic moment
Seven minutes into the second quarter, Swans youngster Gary Rohan, who played for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup, intercepted the ball at half-back. He took off, skirted around Paul Chapman, then had two bounces and kicked a brilliant running goal from just inside 50.

Dream Team highlight
Sydney Swans: Shane Mumford ($360,900) top-scored with 135 points.

Quarter by Quarter
First Quarter
It was an entertaining first quarter with the Sydney Swans very competitive around stoppages. As usual the Cats opened the game with the first goal but the Swans' Gary Rohan kicked a brilliant running goal to open the Swans' account and draw the teams level. It was settling down to a tight affair with the Cats gaining a slight ascendancy due to their superior marking power inside 50. The Cats wasted opportunities up forward, missing set shots (with the wind appearing to be a factor). Two 50m penalties - one worthy, one debatable - gifted the Swans two goals and at quarter-time the Swans were in front by two points. It was the first time Geelong had been behind at quarter-time at Skilled Stadium in 2011, the most recent being round 22, 2010 when they trailed the Eagles by a point.
Sydney Swans by two points

Second Quarter
The Swans opened with intent kicking the first two goals and Jesse White was instrumental in both of them. He was responsible for quelling the run of Matthew Scarlett and relieving Shane Mumford in the ruck and was influential in the first 10 minutes. For a period the Swans were all over the Cats, winning the loose ball and proving too strong at the stoppages. Geelong was not clean and was paying the price for its fumbling hands. The Cats hit back with successive goals to Mathew Stokes and Jimmy Bartel, before Rohan took a mark deep inside 50 and kicked his second. The Swans' forward line was functioning much better as the Cats lost Harry Taylor to concussion in a marking contest. The Cats and the Swans managed another each for the quarter as the Swans went into the main break with a 10-point lead, the first visiting team to do so at Geelong since round 21, 2007.
Sydney Swans by 10 points.

Third quarter
The Swans dominated play for the first 10 minutes but it was only a goal apiece after Adam Goodes snapped truly. A controversial decision after a Brad Ottens snap that the Swans claimed was touched led to the umpires conferring and awarding a point. When Hawk Ben McGlynn kicked a goal from the stoppage it was a 17-point margin 16 minutes in. The Swans were controlling the ball and cutting down Geelong's space when they were without it. Frustration was beginning to drift into the Cats' game. With five minutes left in the quarter an inspiring Joel Selwood run led to the ball going deep forward for the Cats. Bartel drew the free kick, kicked a goal that was followed by one to Daniel Menzel. However Shane Mumford somehow got a free from the ruck contest and kicked truly to stretch the margin back to 11 points.
Sydney Swans by 11 points.

Final Quarter
Within 30 seconds, the Swans were 17 points in front and the upset of the year was on the cards. Ling replied with a great running goal within two minutes. However, the Cats could not bridge the gap and still trailed by nine points with 14 minutes to go after Steve Johnson kicked a goal from a free kick. A risky kick across the forward line ended with Johnson whose handball was intercepted by Gary Rohan who then passed to Sam Reid. The resulting goal stretched the lead back to 15 points and the Swans looked home. Parker's second goal for the quarter put the game beyond doubt with a 21-point lead with 10 minutes remaining. Bolton kicked the sealer at the 21-minute mark and the Swans were certain to record a famous victory. The Cats kept coming but the Swans saw it out to win by 13 points.
Sydney Swans by 13 points

Next game:
Sydney Swans: Brisbane Lions (SCG)


MATCH DETAILS
Geelong            2.5    5.7    8.10    12.14  (86)
Sydney Swans  3.1    7.5    10.9    15.9   (99)

GOALS
Geelong: Ling 3, Bartel 2, West, Wojcinski, Byrnes, Stokes, Menzel, Johnson, Varcoe
Sydney Swans: Parker 2, Rohan 2, Spangher 2, Bolton 2, Reid 2, Meredith, Kennedy, White, McGlynn, Goodes

BEST
Geelong: Bartel, Chapman, Kelly, Ling, Stokes, Enright
Sydney Swans: McGlynn, Mumford, Smith, Shaw, Goodes, Kennedy, O'Keefe, Bolton

INJURIES
Geelong: Harry Taylor (concussion)
Sydney Swans: Nick Malceski (soreness) replaced by Tadhg Kennelly in selected side

SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Harry Taylor (concussion) replaced by Allen Christensen in the second quarter
Sydney Swans: Brett Meredith replaced by Craig Bird at three-quarter time.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, Nicholls, Armstrong

Official crowd: 25,900 at Skilled Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club