The Sydney Swans have left no doubt in anyone’s mind about their NEAFL premiership chances, easily dispatching the in-form Gold Coast Suns by 107 points at the SCG on Saturday.
All 22 contributors for Sydney on the day showed the impressive readiness of their entirety of their list. As the full time siren mercifully rang, the final score read 21.10 (136) to 4.5 (29).
Jeremy Laidler (32 disposals, 11 marks, six tackles, six rebound 50s) and Colin O’Riordon (31 disposals, 10 marks, five rebound 50s) led Sydney on the afternoon, the latter unfortunately finishing the game icing an ankle.
The Swans opened like a house on fire, with goals out of the blocks from Harrison Carr, Brandon Jack, and two from Toby Pink, as they hoped to set the pace for their afternoon.
Academy prospects Jared Deep and Will Gowers got plenty of the football early, as they looked to build on their already impressive NEAFL resumes.
However, Gold Coast continued to battle strongly, undeterred by their opponents’ hot start, as they slowly begun to wrestle back the battle through the midfield and across half-forward.
They were rewarded for their bravery with a settling goal through Timikoi Bowie, and should’ve had more if not for some underwhelming disposal inside 50.
As Gold Coast tired, the Bloods’ class exiting defence proved to be a little too much; a nice chain of disposal started at halfback by Aliir ended in a goal in the goal square to Callum Sinclair, to lead by 30 points at the first break.
Such as in the first quarter, the Suns’ run and carry resembled the structures of a top six team hunting their third win in a row, but the class required to finish off their work seemingly evaded them.
It was in stark contrast to their opponents, whose slingshot style of footy helped them slowly build their lead through goals to James Rose, Sam Fisher and two to Sinclair.
Sydney veterans Brandon Jack and Laidler were the catalysts of much of the red-and-white’s link-up play, as they continued their convincing push for senior selection in the coming weeks.
Out of the half-time gates, the pace of the game certainly looked like it belonged to the Swans, as they made the margin seemingly impassable within the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Pink, Sinclair and Rose in particular were three the Gold Coast had very little answer for. They combined for 12 goals on the day to virtually sink the Suns on their own.
A highlight play came from the latter man 20 minutes into the quarter, when Rose roved beautifully off his teammate’s hand, and brought up his team’s tonne with a stunning goal from 50 metres out.
After some high-energy football to start the match, it was disappointing to see a young team in positive form so easily put away in the third quarter, but it spoke to where the Swans are at in the competition through 15 rounds.
The Suns certainly tried their hardest in the last, but it was almost as if the extra pressure from their opposition sent the red and white to another level.
Another highlight came 10 minutes into the final quarter, as Rose, in search of his fifth goal, had his shot smothered, re-gathered, hand-passed back and forth with a teammate and found Jack for a goal.
Next week, the Swans stay in Sydney for a ‘Battle of the Bridge’ encounter with the GIANTS at Spotless Stadium, while the Suns return home to play host to the Redland Bombers, as they hope to re-find their form.
SYDNEY 6.2 10.2 17.7 21.10 (136)
GOLD COAST 1.2 2.3 3.3 4.5 (29)
GOALS – Sydney: C Sinclair 5 J Rose 4 H Carr 4 B Jack 3 T Pink 3 S Fisher L Maze. Gold Coast: D Currie 2 T Bowie C Loersch.
BEST – Sydney: C Sinclair A Aliir J Laidler C O’Riordan J Rose H Marsh. Gold Coast: D Currie J Scrimshaw M Rischitelli J Heron T Bowie.
