Star forwards Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney have inspired the Sydney Swans to a dominant 81-point win over Essendon at the SCG on Saturday night.
Franklin had a good early duel with Bombers' youngster Michael Hartley but got better as the game wore on to finish with six goals four of them after half-time - from his 20 possessions.
Heeney's clean skills shone in the perfect conditions, with the 20-year-old celebrating his birthday last Thursday by booting a career-best five goals in his side's 20.15 (135) to 7.12 (54) victory.
Midfielders Josh Kennedy (40 disposals), Tom Mitchell (37), Dan Hannebery (31) and Luke Parker (29) were once again prolific ball winners for the Swans, while experienced heads Ben McGlynn and co-captains Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh were also outstanding.
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Essendon matched the Swans in the first half with David Zaharakis and Brendon Goddard winning plenty of the footy, and James Kelly and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti providing rebound from defence, but as they have done so often this season, John Worsfold's men couldn't maintain their intensity.
The Bombers kicked four goals in a row with two each side of quarter-time, but the second half was all Swans, with the visitors registering just two goals after the main break while the Swans piled on 13.
It was a solid performance for the winners but coach John Longmire wouldn't have been impressed with some poor patches in the first half, which was littered with unforced skill errors and some questionable decision-making, especially coming out of the back half.
The Franklin-Heeney double-act was the highlight of the match and a bomb from inside the centre square in the last term, plus another from outside 50 on a set shot set the crowd alight and was vintage Buddy.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: midfielder Daniel Robinson left the field in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and played no further part in the game. Kieren Jack limped off in the first term but after getting his right ankle checked out, came back on after the first break and finished the game.
Essendon: Jonathan Simpkinlooks set for a stint on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring in the opening quarter.
NEXT UP
The Swans head to Melbourne for a clash with the struggling Richmond next Saturday night at the MCG, while Essendon have a Saturday afternoon date with the ladder leaders North Melbourne at Etihad stadium.
SYDNEY SWANS 4.3 7.10 12.12 20.15 (135)
ESSENDON 3.3 5.5 6.9 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 6, Heeney 5, Papley, Tippett, Jack 2, Sinclair, Hewett, McGlynn
Essendon: Zaharakis 2, Fantasia, Bird, Brown, Simpkin, McKernan
BEST
Sydney Swans: Heeney, Mitchell, Parker, Franklin, McGlynn, Kennedy, Hannebery
Essendon: Zaharakis, Brown, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Dempsey, Goddard
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Robinson (shoulder)
Essendon: Simpkin (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Edwards, Fleer
Official crowd: 29,527 at SCG
