WITH Melbourne missing so many big guns up forward, Sydney Swans midfielder Jude Bolton knew if his team could come out on top in the midfield battle it would almost certainly ensure a positive result for his side.
And as Bolton, co-captain Brett Kirk and midfield coach John Longmire sat studying the stats sheet in the Swans rooms after Saturday night’s clash at the SCG, the trio liked what they read.
Bolton and Kirk could take much of the credit, as both enjoyed stellar evenings pitted against a Demons on-ball brigade boasting most of its big names.
"We knocked over most of our objectives and for that reason we’ve come away with a victory," Bolton said after the 49-point win.
"It was always going to be important through the midfield because they were missing a few of their players at either end but their midfield was reasonably intact apart from (Brock) McLean I guess.
"So it was a good effort by our guys."Bolton signaled his intentions for his big night ahead when he nailed a 50m bomb early in the first term.
"I thought I started fairly well," he said.
"I ran out of petrol a little bit at the end but I think that’s just the heavy ground, and having heavy legs.
"We did a power of work, the guys in the midfield through there … and then not to have too many rotations late in the game let them back into it a little bit.”
Bolton finished the match with 24 possessions and a goal, as well as laying eight tackles as the hard-at-it midfielder set the trend for his teammates.
The Swans set up the 17.7 (109) to 8.12 (60) win with a six-goal first term. That came on the back of a dominant performance from the home team’s midfield, when they belted the Demons at ground level.
Bolton rated the night as a job well done.
"I thought it was a great team effort," he said.
"You could see 'Hally' up and going early, all the guys were really working hard … we were really able to dominate the stoppages and get it forward.
"I mean our guys are still improving and we’re starting to build. Now we’re just looking forward to going down to Melbourne and taking on the Kangaroos next week."
