1. Sydney's lack of height means more pressure
The Swans' lack of a traditional marking target in the front half saw them employ a different look at centre bounces, with all forwards starting more than 40 metres out from goal. Missing key forwards Lance Franklin and Sam Reid, the Swans' dynamic set-up provided more pressure, with Gary Rohan (189cm) their biggest forward. Averaging 8.4 tackles in their forward 50 per match in the first five rounds, the Swans laid nine in the first quarter alone. Giving up an average of four centimetres per player across the ground, Robbie Fox (185cm) was Callum Sinclair's back-up ruck.
2. Geelong's home ground advantage gone
Sydney has officially conquered Geelong. The Swans won their third consecutive match at GMHBA Stadium, and are the only side to have beaten the Cats on their home patch since round 12, 2015. The Swans delivered a 38-point turnaround in the space of 30 minutes from the 20-minute mark of the third term to midway through the last quarter. It is the first time Geelong has lost at home when leading at half-time since round 10, 2006 when West Coast came from the clouds to cause an upset.
3. Josh Kennedy's return to form
After a lean fortnight, Sydney captain Josh Kennedy (33 disposals) lifted the Swans on his shoulders in the final term to will his team over the line. The Swans' barometer picked up six clearances, including three from the centre, in the last quarter alone as the Swans overrun the Cats. From late in the third term to midway through the final term, the Swans had 10 consecutive centre clearances – largely thanks to Kennedy. It came after a quiet fortnight where he had 16 and 12 touches in the previous two matches, and came as ruckman Callum Sinclair dominated his Geelong counterpart Rhys Stanley, the Cats missing two of their clearance stars in Scott Selwood (concussion) and Brandan Parfitt (foot).
4. Tomahawk lacking power
Tom Hawkins' return from back spasms brought a dominant aerial display as he clunked four contested marks in attack. Opposed to Heath Grundy, Hawkins provided Geelong a target up forward, but his kicking was less on song. The power forward finished with 2.2 for the match, with his lack of power when kicking from distance a factor, missing one and deciding to pass another off from beyond 45 metres out. Hawkins was a late withdrawal last week against Port Adelaide after his back flared up less than an hour before the bounce.
