THE SYDNEY Swans overcame an early dose of goalkicking yips to beat a tenacious Gold Coast by 19 points in their clash at Blacktown on Saturday.
Late goals to ruckman Shane Mumford, rookie Harry Cunningham and midfielder Jarrad McVeigh broke an 84-84 deadlock, with the Swans running out 14.19 (103) to 13.6 (84) winners.
Mumford amassed 42 hit-outs in a strong performance around the ground.
The Swans led by seven points after the first quarter despite kicking 1.7 for the term and nine of their first 10 scoring shots being behinds.
Conversely, the Suns were far less wasteful, kicking nine goals from their first 11 shots.
Sparked by two early second-quarter goals from Daniel Gorringe and a major to 18-year-old Jaeger O'Meara, Gold Coast kicked six-goals-to-two in the period to lead by 15 at half-time.
The Swans kicked the first four goals of the third quarter and eight majors to four in the term to lead by 11 at the last change.
Gold Coast forged ahead by one point in the final quarter, before the Swans produced their decisive late flurry.
One potential worry for the Swans was young speedster Gary Rohan who limped off the ground in the first half.
Swans coach John Longmire experiment with a number of players up forward in support of Sam Reid, who was held goalless by Matthew Warnock.
"It was a solid hitout which is what you want in the last practice game," Longmire told reporters.
Longmire said he wasn't concerned by their early inaccuracy.
He believed it was distorted by the inaccuracy of three players, Andrejs Everitt (1.4) and Adam Goodes and Jed Lamb (both 0.3).
And, the coach said, Rohan's injury would be assessed during the week.
"They whacked him on crutches and strapped him up. Hopefully he comes out of it alright and we'll get a scan Monday," Longmire said.
Suns coach Guy McKenna felt his team's effort was better than it had been the past two weeks and there had been some good signs.
"I know we lost but the effort was really there," McKenna said.
"Matty Warnock continued to hold a spot down back, so that's great given that we haven't got Nathan Bock for the first two rounds.
"David Swallow, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy again for his second run was better, Tom Hickey in the ruck.
"I thought the boys really had a crack."
Josh Kennedy led the Swans' possession-getters with 34.
SYDNEY SWANS 1.7 3.10 11.15 14.19 (103)
GOLD COAST 1.0 7.1 11.4 13.6 (84)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: McGlynn, Roberts-Thomson 2; Cunningham, Jetta, Everitt, Jack, McVeigh, Bird, Kennedy, Parker, Malceski, Mumford
Gold Coast: Ablett, Gorringe 3; Shaw, Lynch 2; Hall, Sexton, O'meara
BEST
Sydney Swans: Mumford, Malceski, Kennedy, Parker, Grundy
Gold Coast: Ablett, Caddy, Swallow, Prestia
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Gary Rohan (Swans)
