Firing from all cylinders

The Sydney Swans’ ability to suddenly flick the switch and gain complete control of a contest was on full display during Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda.

They’ve been able produce similar performances on a number of occasions this year but what was seen at Etihad Stadium was something else as the Swans kicked away to their highest score and fourth highest winning margin of the season.

In what started out as a fast-paced shootout, Sydney turned the game on its head in the second half piling on 15 goals to four to put the result well beyond doubt before the final siren.

Lance Franklin was the man who helped open the floodgates, collecting15 disposals in the third quarter alone, to finish the game with 28 disposals and six goals in a dominant all-round performance.

Luke Parker (33 possessions and three goals), Dan Hannebery (37 and nine inside 50s) and Josh Kennedy (35 and eight clearances) were also at their brilliant best while Sydney’s young guns were also in the spotlight for the right reasons.

Repeat performances in the final two rounds of the season will see the Sydney Swans with their tails up leading into September.

Boxing on

Two games clear of ninth with only two games remaining in the home and away season, North Melbourne looks to have consolidated its standing inside the top eight.

After ticking off nine consecutive wins to start the season, the Roos haven’t been in the best of form since, losing eight of their past 11 matches to sit eighth and be a mathematical chance of missing out on a finals spot.

But only one win will seal a berth in September while either Melbourne or St Kilda will need to win both their matches plus rely on the Kangaroos to drop both of their remaining fixtures for that to change anyway.

With an A-grade midfield and with some class players expected back from injury, any team treating the Roos lightly do so at their own peril.

Expect the Roos to keep boxing on in the lead up to next month’s finals series.

North Melbourne's Robbie Tarrant went toe-to-toe with Cyril Rioli in the Kangaroos' clash with Hawthorn last weekend.

Howdy-do, Hobart!

For only the second time in history, the Sydney Swans will play for premiership points in Hobart.

In fact, Tasmania is somewhat foreign territory for the Sydney Swans having played only once in Launceston.

Sydney’s first and only clash at the more commonly used cricket oval was against North Melbourne back in Round 3, 2013. In a similar manner to last Saturday’s clash, the Swans took control of that contest in the third quarter kicking 11 goals to one to defeat the Kangaroos by 39 points in front of 13,223 fans.

North Melbourne boasts a strong record down there, having won nine of its 11 matches at the commonly used cricket oval, so it won’t be a walk in the park by any means.

North's Kieren Harper attempts to tackle Josh Kennedy in the clubs' last clash at Hobart's Bellerive Oval in 2013.

We’re tipping Tippo

Kurt Tippett is ready to go.

That’s been the official word from the coaches and medical staff in the lead up to Thursday’s all-important Match Committee.

In fact, as revealed by John Longmire in his weekly press conference, if the coaches had it their way Tippett would have played against St Kilda.

“We actually put him on the long term injury list with the hope that he'd be up and going (by now), and it was a good thing to do because the temptation might have been there (to select him) last week,” Longmire said.

"It gave him an extra week of training which has been quite handy for him."

He looks a certainty to line-up against North Melbourne. Whether that’s at the expense of either Sam Naismith or Toby Nankervis, or whether the Swans will use him as a permanent forward will be determined come selection time.

Kurt Tippett is expected to make his long-awaited return to the senior side this weekend.

The Franklin factor

Lance Franklin’s bag against St Kilda put him within striking distance of 12th spot on the all-time VFL/AFL goal-kicking list.

He needs five more goals to draw level with Kevin Bartlett who kicked 778 goals for Richmond between 1965-83.

Since his 2005 debut, Franklin has kicked a total of 773 goals and surpassed greats like Wayne Carey, Peter Hudson, Barry Hall and Saverio Rocca this season on the coveted list.

Franklin’s season tally of 67 is currently the second best in the competition, three behind leader in West Coast’s Josh Kennedy.