Played in extreme weather conditions at times at Spotless Stadium, which included a rare storm delay during an extended quarter-time break, the Swans suffered an opening round loss to GWS, who powered home to post a 32-point victory.
Despite starting the match strongly, which saw the Swans hold a 24-point lead early in the second term, the visitors were outscored six goals to two in the second half and suffered their first ever loss to the AFL’s newest side.
Speaking after the match, coach John Longmire said he was bitterly disappointed with the Swans’ second half, particularly his team’s inability to score a goal in the final term.
"We should've responded, particularly at the start of that last quarter,” he said.
"The last quarter we had opportunities to move the ball forward and didn't surge or hit the bodies hard enough and weren’t clean enough and we missed tackles.
"It was all the things you can't afford to do, regardless of the opposition."
Ben McGlynn finished the match as the Swans’ only multiple goal scorer with two, while Luke Parker (24 possessions, six tackles) and Tom Mitchell (21 possessions, six tackles) were among the club’s best performers.
In his first game in the red and white, Lance Franklin booted one goal, and picked up seven possessions and five tackles.
Sydney Swans 6.2 7.8 9.8 9.13 (67)
GWS 4.1 7.1 9.5 15.9 (99)
Best: Mitchell, Parker, Shaw, Kennedy, McGlynn
Goals: McGlynn 2, Reid, Franklin, Cunningham, Rohan, Bird, Jetta, Mitchell
Crowd: 17,102 at Spotless Stadium
Brownlow votes: 3 – S.Mumford (GWS), 2 – S.Coniglio (GWS), 1 – A.Treloar
Bob Skilton Medal votes: McGlynn 21, Parker 15, Grundy 10
