Sydney's premiership push continues to gain frightening momentum, with the Swans humbling Fremantle by 104 points at the SCG on Saturday.
The commanding team performance - which sets up a mouth-watering clash with top-placed Adelaide on Friday night - was iced by four goals and 24 possessions from Lance Franklin after a quiet fortnight for the superstar forward.
Nat Fyfe played a lone hand for the Dockers with 28 disposals, but he couldn’t stem the red and white tide, as the Swans played with fluency, intent and poise throughout, despite the points being all-but decided early on.
Any confidence Fremantle might have carried from their win over Gold Coast last round was blasted away almost immediately by the Swans, who cracked 50 points to register their highest-ever opening quarter against the Dockers, and second highest in any match since 2012.
Fremantle’s best moments came in the third term, with three goals resulting from improved returns around the contest and an even ledger of inside 50s.
Sydney still edged the visitors by five points for the term, though they lost young defender Nic Newman to a leg injury.
In the fourth quarter Sydney continued to improve its percentage, with a further five goals to one, eclipsing the club’s previous highest winning margin against Fremantle of 90 points, set last season.
In addition to Franklin’s return to prominence, Kurt Tippett’s performance was encouraging, with 13 touches, seven marks and a game-high eight tackles.
Midfielders Luke Parker (29), Dan Hannebery (29) and Jake Lloyd (26) were exceptional, while defensive general Dane Rampe (25) was infallible.
Parker kicked three goals, while Will Hayward, Tom Papley, Gary Rohan, Sam Reid and Tippett each scored multiple majors.
Fremantle’s youngsters learnt a harsh lesson, with developing forward Matt Taberner the pick of the bunch.
Taberner was strong in the air, grabbing a game-high five contested marks, and with more poise in front of goal, could have kicked three or four.
SYDNEY 8.2 13.6 17.7 22.11 (143)
FREMANTLE 1.1 1.3 4.5 5.9 (39)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, Parker 3, Reid 2, Rohan 2, Tippett 2, Hayward 2, Papley 2, Heeney, Sinclair, Jack, Jones, McVeigh
Fremantle: McCarthy 2, Taberner, Mundy, DeLuca
BEST
Sydney: Parker, Hannebery, Rampe, Franklin, Heeney, Lloyd, Jack
Fremantle: Fyfe, Darcy, Taberner, S.Hill
INJURIES
Sydney: Nic Newman (knee)
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Hosking, Wallace
Official crowd: 39,281 at the SCG
SYDNEY 8.2 13.6 17.7 22.11 (143)
FREMANTLE 1.1 1.3 4.5 5.9 (39)
