Sydney has proved its finals credentials with a comfortable win against Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
In almost a repeat performance of last year's preliminary final, the Swans jumped the Cats to hold a 32-point lead at quarter-time.
Geelong tried to mount a resistance but it was futile and the Swans eventually ran out winners 16.11 (107) to Geelong 8.13 (61) to defeat the Cats for the fifth time in the teams' past six encounters.
The result leaves the Swans just one game out of the top four and leaves Geelong's hold on a top four spot vulnerable with games against Richmond, Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney to end the season.
An ankle injury to Cats skipper Joel Selwood rubbed salt into the home team's wound, with the captain spending most of the last quarter on the bench with the ankle he injured just before half-time resting in an ice bucket.
The Swans took over soon after Geelong kicked the first goal for the night, kicking five straight goals hitting the scoreboard hard and shocking the Cats.
With Patrick Dangerfield missing through suspension, the Swans dominated the stoppages early kicking four goals from stoppages in the first quarter.
They did so with their skipper Josh Kennedy missing through a hamstring injury.
Tom Papley was dangerous at ground level kicking two goals while Sam Reid returned from injury with a point to prove and dominated the Cats' defence.
The Swans were direct, kicking the ball long and deep inside 50 and Geelong, fielding an inexperienced team with nine players in the team who did not play in the preliminary final, could not match them.
Even with Lance Franklin quiet (Tom Lonergan once again winning that battle), the Swans were able to find goals where Geelong couldn't.
Their opening quarter score of 7.5 was the biggest first quarter by a Geelong opponent at Simonds Stadium since round nine, 1986 when Hawthorn kicked 8.0.
It also equalled the Sydney Swans highest first quarter score at the venue with the Swans kicking 7.5 way back in 1948.
The Cats fought back hard in the second quarter to draw within 17 points however momentum stopped when Selwood rolled his left ankle and left the ground just minutes before half-time.
The Swans kicked two late goals, including one from Franklin, to restore order.
The Cats again came out hard in the third quarter and dominated territory but they could not score, missing set shots and wasting opportunities to only cut the margin by four points.
When the Swans kicked the first two goals of the last quarter – the second via a free kick to Papley when Mitch Duncan gave him a tummy tap – Sydney's lead was 37 points and the game was over.
Tom Hawkins was good for the Cats with three goals but he pushed Dane Rampe high on the chest when holding his jumper in an incident the Match Review Panel will examine, particularly as he was rubbed out for a jumper punch in round 11.
The Swans appear capable of pushing deep into finals with a core group of midfielders that are as good as any in the AFL while the Cats will hope the return of Dangerfield can give them new life.
MEDICAL ROOM
Geelong: Cats skipper Joel Selwood rolled his left ankle as he went to contest a mark midway through the second quarter. He immediately pulled up short and trainers had to help him to the bench where he went straight to the rooms. However he returned immediately after half-time but was benched as soon as the Cats fell 39 points behind early in the last quarter.
Sydney Swans: Nil
NEXT UP
Geelong remains at home for a huge clash against Richmond on Saturday that could decide which team finishes top four and matches Dangerfield up on Dustin Martin while Sydney returns to the SCG for a tricky game against Fremantle, which it will need to win to remain in top four contention.
GEELONG 2.3 5.6 7.8 8.13 (61)
SYDNEY 7.5 10.5 11.9 16.11 (107)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 3, Menegola 2, Smith, Parsons, C.Guthrie,
Sydney: Papley 3, Hayward 3, Reid 2, Rohan 2, Hannebery 2, Parker, Heeney, Franklin, Newman
BEST
Geelong: Duncan, S.Selwood, Menegola, Smith, Lonergan, Hawkins
Sydney: Parker, Hannebery, Papley, Rampe, Newman, Reid, McVeigh
INJURIES
Geelong: J.Selwood (left ankle)
Sydney Swans: Tippett (corked thigh)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Nicholls, Hosking
Official crowd: 30,833 at Simonds Stadium
