THE SYDNEY Swans have been handed a second heavy defeat in succession as Geelong sent a message to flag rival Collingwood with a 53-point win at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

The Cats held the Swans at arm’s length for much of the first half before blowing them away with an eight-goal third quarter that showcased the best of the reigning premier’s free-running brand of football.

Geelong eased off in the final term but the result was never in doubt as they recorded a 20.5 (125) to 9.18 (72) victory. 

Adam Goodes (three goals, 22 disposals) played a lone hand in the Swans’ forward half for much of the game while Marty Mattner and Tadhg Kennelly battled valiantly to provide their customary drive from defence.

The final margin may not have reflected it but the Swans’ intensity was much improved on their effort against Melbourne. However, they lacked the requisite polish in attack to capitalise when they were in the game during the first half. 

With five more scoring shots than Geelong, the Swans could have led at half time but they managed just four goals from 16 attempts. In contrast, the Cats had 10 goals from 11 shots to lead by 25 points at the long break.

Where Ablett, Johnson and Cam Mooney seemed to conjure simple goals at will, the Swans had to work considerably harder for their opportunities before too often squandering them.

Johnson, in particular, seemed to lose his opponent Paul Bevan with ease that would have frustrated Swans coach Paul Roos.

He had three goals in the first half before turning on the flair in the third term. A spectacular one-handed mark opposed to Bevan resulted in his fourth, before a roving snap made it five with a quarter to play.

As Johnson put on a show, his teammates piled on six more goals for the term as the Cats blew the Swans away in half an hour of inspired football.

The final quarter was largely academic and the Swans did enough to ensure the previous week’s blowout remained their heaviest defeat under coach Paul Roos, but they will need yet more improvement when they face Hawthorn at the SCG next Saturday.

Sydney Swans    3.7    4.12    5.16    9.18 (72)
Geelong        5.1    10.1    18.3    20.5 (125)

Goals:
Sydney Swans: Goodes 3, Bolton 2, Jack, Kennedy, White, Kirk
Geelong: Johnson 6, Ablett 3, Mooney 3, Ottens, Varcoe, Hunt, Kelly, Byrnes, West, Ling, Mackie

Best
Sydney Swans: Goodes, Mattner, Jack, Mumford, Richards, Kennelly
Geelong: Johnson, Ablett, Scarlett, Selwood, Mackie, Kelly

Injuries
Sydney Swans: Nil
Geelong: Nil

Reports
Sydney Swans: Nil
Geelong:  Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, Kennedy, Findlay

Official crowd: 30,710

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs