SYDNEY'S remarkable run of form has continued with an unlikely hero inspiring them to an easy 42-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night at the SCG.
The Swans cost themselves an even bigger percentage boost with some wayward kicking in front of goal, but Callum Sinclair was the man of the moment, booting a career-high five majors in the 14.17 (101) to 9.5 (59) victory, their seventh in a row.
The recalled Sinclair went into the match with his spot in the team under pressure after fellow big man Kurt Tippett booted five goals of his own in the NEAFL curtain-raiser, but he responded brilliantly by taking eight contested marks, six of them inside the forward 50, and proved unstoppable.
The Saints had a crack early but managed just 23 inside-50s up until three-quarter time and gradually relinquished control of the match to John Longmire's men, who have now won 10 of their past 11 games.
With their backline at its miserly best, and Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Isaac Heeney and Dan Hannebery maintaining their form, the Swans never really looked tested.
Tall forward Sinclair plucked four marks and kicked two goals in the opening term opposed to Jake Carlisle and Dylan Roberton, but although the Swans dominated the inside-50 count 17-9, they were wasteful in front of goal with 3.5.
Sydney's physical approach rattled the Saints in the second term, with Isaac Heeney penalised for a bruising tackle on St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary, and Blake Acres crunched by a textbook Callum Mills bump, with the home side booting four goals to two for the quarter.
A running major for St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt – who had been well held in the first half - gave the visitors hope not long after the main break, but Sinclair's fourth maintained Sydney's advantage.
Things got worse for the visitors when their prime mover Leigh Montagna hobbled off the ground with a hamstring injury, before Sinclair's fifth late in the term demoralised Carlisle, and gave the Swans a 46-point lead at the last change.
After being relatively well held by Saint Nathan Brown in the first half, Lance Franklin finished with 3.4 for the night, and added his trademark bomb from outside 50 in a lacklustre final term, his 50th major of the season, to send the Sydney fans home happy.
SYDNEY 3.5 7.8 11.14 14.17 (101)
ST KILDA 1.2 3.2 5.4 9.5 (59)
GOALS
Sydney: Sinclair 5, Franklin 3, Towers, Kennedy, Hewett, Heeney, Rohan, McVeigh
St Kilda: Bruce 3, Stevens, Savage, Riewoldt, Billings, Newnes, Dunstan
BEST
Sydney: Sinclair, Kennedy, Hannebery, Heeney, Franklin, Parker
St Kilda: Ross, Dunstan, Montagna, Bruce, Savage, Roberton
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
St Kilda: Leigh Montagna (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Findlay, McInerney
Official crowd: 35,773 at the SCG
