An 11-goal third quarter blitz was the catalyst behind the Swans’ impressive 39-point victory over North Melbourne in Hobart.
It was a slow opening half for the Swans who, thanks to three crucial goals from Jude Bolton, were lucky to trail North by only 14 points at the main break, but from there it was all one-way.
Ben McGlynn booted his three goals and co-captain Jarrad McVeigh his two in the third-quarter ambush, as the Swans made it seven wins in a row against the Kangaroos since 2008.
Bolton eventually finished with four goals for the Swans, while Dan Hannebery joined McGlynn on three goals.
Sydney Swans 3.4 5.6 16.10 20.11 (131)
North Melbourne 4.2 7.8 8.11 13.14 (92)
GOALS: Bolton 4, McGlynn 3, Hannebery 3, McVeigh 2, Parker 2, Goodes 2, Kennedy, Everitt, Jetta, O’Keefe
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Jarrad McVeigh 41, Josh Kennedy 41, Dan Hannebery 41
CROWD: 13,223 at Bellerive Oval
LADDER POSITION: Third
Round 4 v Geelong
It was a Friday night blockbuster in round four as the previous two year’s premiers, the Sydney Swans and Geelong, faced each other at the SCG.
The match started at a rapid pace with 15 goals kicked between the two teams by the end of the first quarter – including two goals from Jude Bolton.
In contrast from the week before where the Swans kicked 11 goals in the third quarter, it was the Cats who flexed their muscles in the penultimate term kicking seven goals to one to open up a 34-point lead.
It was a lead the Swans couldn’t pin back despite the best efforts of Dan Hannebery (29 disposals, two goals) and Nick Malceski (28 and two) as the home side suffered their first defeat of the season.
To compound the loss, utility Lewis Roberts-Thomson suffered what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury.
Sydney Swans 8.1 10.3 11.3 16.7 (103)
Geelong 7.2 9.4 16.7 19.10 (124)
GOALS: McVeigh 3, Goodes 2, Bolton 2, Hannebery 2, Malceski 2, Reid, Roberts-Thomson, Pyke, McGlynn, Kennedy
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Dan Hannebery 35, Nick Malceski 30, Kieren Jack 30
CROWD: 31,060 at the SCG
LADDER POSITION: Fifth
