NORTH Melbourne's unbeaten run is over after the Sydney Swans won a hard-fought contest at the SCG on Friday night by 26 points.
The home side set up the victory with a brilliant opening quarter, and apart from a Kangaroos comeback late in the second term, the Swans always looked in control and eventually took the honours 14.7 (91) to 9.11 (65).
Prolific midfielders Tom Mitchell (41 possessions), Josh Kennedy (35) and Dan Hannebery (34) set the tone for the Swans, while Lance Franklin finished with three goals for the night.
Defenders Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe and Jeremy Laidler kept North's tall forwards quiet in perfect conditions, with co-captain Jarrad McVeigh, Callum Mills and debutant Harrison Marsh cool under pressure across half-back.
North hard-men Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow and Ben Cunnington tried hard against the tide, while Robbie Tarrant did a solid job on Franklin and forward Lindsay Thomas kicked three goals for the visitors, all in the first half.
Star North ruckman Todd Goldstein had 15 hit-outs in the opening term opposed to Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair, but the Swans won the clearances and dominated possession with Kennedy, Jake Lloyd and Mitchell all prominent, and Franklin booting two of the home side's six goals for the quarter.
Lindsay Thomas matched the effort of Franklin to be the Kangaroos' only clear winner early, and the goalsneak added a third just after the break to reduce the deficit to 16 points.
The Swans steadied through goals Hannebery and Jarrad McVeigh, but the visitors turned the momentum of the game after finally taking advantage of Goldstein's efforts, and when they grabbed the last three of the term – the last of which was a brilliant snap from Goldstein himself from deep in the pocket – North trailed by just nine points at half-time.
The third term mirrored that of the opener with the home side more efficient with the footy and the Kangaroos terribly wasteful, especially by foot, and four goals to one for the Swans handed them the advantage with a quarter to play.
To make matters worse for North, Tippett worked his way on top of Goldstein, who hobbled to the huddle at the last change and spent the break having his right knee worked on.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: The home side appeared to get through the game without any injury issues.
North Melbourne: Goldstein's right knee could be an issue for him next week, with the big man noticeably limping through the second half.
NEXT UP
The Swans get an eight-day break before they head north to take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium next Saturday night, while North Melbourne backs up for another Friday night clash with Richmond at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
SYDNEY SWANS 6.1 8.2 12.3 14.7 (91)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.2 6.5 7.7 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 3,McVeigh 2, Kennedy, Hewett, Heeney, Hannebery, Cunningham, McGlynn, Mitchell, Rohan, Jones
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Brown, Dumont, Goldstein, Macmillan, Nahas, Wells
BEST
Sydney Swans: Mitchell, Hannebery, Kennedy, McVeigh, Grundy, Lloyd, Tippett
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Ziebell, Thomas, Gibson, Macmillan
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Ryan, Jeffery
Official crowd: 38,498 at the SCG
