Lance Franklin and his fellow tall forwards overwhelmed the Western Bulldogs on Sunday as the Sydney Swans powered their way to a 63-point win at Etihad Stadium.
Franklin booted six goals, Kurt Tippett four and Adam Goodes bagged two as the Swans improved their win-loss record to 17-4 with a 20.10 (130) to 9.13 (67) victory in front of a vocal crowd of 22,430.
A third Coleman Medal and a first in red and white colours is almost assured for Franklin, whose tally is 67 with one round remaining.
His 2013 Hawthorn premiership teammate Jarryd Roughead is second on 58.
Luke Parker and Jarrad McVeigh were two of the headline acts in the Swans’ dominant midfield, and All Australian half-back contender Nick Malceski kicked two goals in another brilliant all-round performance.
Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae and Nathan Hrovat were prominent for the under-siege Bulldogs, who have lost four of their past five games.
The ladder-leading Swans in contrast have won 16 of their past 17 matches and have now all but secured the minor premiership.
The visitors stunned the Bulldogs early with a seven-goal opening term to lead 7.3 (45) to 1.2 (8) at quarter-time.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire said the opening blitz gave the Swans the chance to set up the game on their terms.
"To start like we did was really important. To be able to jump out of the blocks and have that seven-goal first quarter and reduce their scoring impact was critical," Longmire said after the game.
"It allows you to do other things if you're able to get off to such a good start."
The home side was able to match the Swans’ four-goal effort in the second term and the Swans led by 36 points at half-time, 11.5 (71) to 5.5 (35).
The Swans put their foot on the Bulldogs' throat with a six-goal third term including three majors in the first six minutes and by three-quarter time there was little bark in the home side as the Swans held a 57-point advantage, 17.7 (109) to 7.10 (52).
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said his side ran into a superior unit.
"They’re a good team. We're not looking for an easy out. They pressured us," McCartney said.
"They were onto us around the contest and away from the contest, and certainly pressuring our defenders taking the ball out ... that’s what good teams do."
Tippett was kept in cotton wool, subbed off for the final term, as the Swans added another three goals to the Bulldogs' two.
Key forward Sam Reid was a late withdrawal from the Swans’ selected side with a hip complaint.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.2 5.5 7.10 9.13 (67)
SYDNEY SWANS 7.3 11.5 17.7 20.10 (130)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 2, Boyd, Cooney, Liberatore, Bontempelli, Hrovat, Johannisen, Griffen
Sydney Swans: Franklin 6, Tippett 4, Lloyd 2, Goodes 2, Malceski, Jetta, Malceski, Towers, Hannebery, Parker
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore, Boyd, Hrovat, Macrae, Murphy
Sydney Swans: Parker, Franklin, McVeigh, Hannebery, Malceski, Mitchell, Lloyd, Tippett
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Campbell (right eye)
Sydney Swans: Sam Reid (hip) replaced in selected side by Dean Towers
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa replaced Tom Campbell (eye) in the second quarter
Sydney Swans: Jeremy Laidler replaced Kurt Tippett in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Armstrong, Ryan, Bannister (late replacement)
Official crowd: 22,430 at Etihad Stadium
