Despite a faulty bus and a mad dash through Melbourne’s Friday night traffic, the Sydney Swans responded in the best possible way to their disappointing draw in Round 8 to defeat Collingwood by 47 points at the MCG.
Led by in-form pair Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery, the Swans’ maniacal pressure and tackling was at its best as they restricted the influence of the Magpies’ star midfielders and starved their forwards of opportunities.
Collingwood only managed one goal between the 25-minute mark of the first quarter and the four-minute mark of the last as Ted Richards, Heath Grundy and Nick Malceski got on top of their opponents.
At the other end of the ground, Adam Goodes was instrumental in the victory kicking three goals to go alongside his 30 possessions.
Unfortunately, a racial taunt from a member of the crowd directed at Goodes and a quad injury to forward Sam Reid dampened the impressive result.
Sydney Swans 4.5 7.9 11.11 15.12 (102)
Collingwood 3.2 3.4 4.5 8.7 (55)
GOALS: Goodes 3, Pyke 2, McGlynn 2, Hannebery 2, Reid, Bird, Morton, Jetta, Jack, Bolton
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Adam Goodes 48, Dan Hannebery 42, Kieren Jack 41
CROWD: 65,306 at the MCG
LADDER POSITION: Fifth
Round 10 v Essendon
In wake of the events of the previous week, Adam Goodes was the main focus leading into the Swans round 10 clash against Essendon.
The champion responded accordingly, kicking four goals on a wet night at the SCG as the Swans claimed an impressive 44-point win over an in-form Bombers side.
The match also marked the debut of father-son recruit Tom Mitchell who wasted no time getting used to senior football starring with 18 disposals, 6 tackles and a goal after coming on as the sub.
Josh Kennedy (37 disposals, 1 goal), Jarrad McVeigh (34 touches), Nick Malceski (28 possessions) and Craig Bird (27 touches) were also influential in the victory, while the injury curse continued with Tommy Walsh ruled out for the season after tearing his hamstring off the bone.
Sydney Swans 3.4 6.7 11.10 17.13 (115)
Essendon 1.4 3.7 7.9 10.11 (71)
GOALS: Goodes 4, Malceski 2, Parker, O'Keefe, Mumford, Mitchell, McGlynn, Kennedy, Jetta, Jack, Everitt, Bird, Pyke
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Jarrad McVeigh 45, Josh Kennedy 45, Nick Malceski 45
CROWD: 29,792 at SCG
LADDER POSITION: Third
