Isaac Heeney's best-on-ground performance has propelled the Sydney Swans to an emphatic 67-point win over a hugely disappointing Port Adelaide and tightened the club's grip on an all-important top-four spot.
The 14.16 (100) to 4.9 (33) thumping lifts the Swans to a 14-5 win-loss record and, for now, into second spot on the ladder.
The four premiership points were in the bag by quarter-time, after the Swans booted 6.5 to nothing in a dominant opening term display. The club's percentage has also received a substantial boost.
While the Swans defied the wet conditions at the start of the match and moved the footy with purpose and sure hands, Port Adelaide struggled to find any cohesion and were camped deep in their own defensive 50m arc for the majority of the quarter.
Bid now to own one of the QBE warm-up tees from today's match.
Two statistics highlighted the gulf between the two sides by the first break - it took Port 19 minutes to record their first mark and the Swans managed 22 inside 50s to the visitors' four.
The Power eventually got on the scoreboard 11 minutes into the second term when Robbie Gray snapped truly from 40m, but the South Australians were never in the contest after such a poor start to the game and the teams essentially played out time for the final three quarters of the match.
The defeat drops Port to nine wins and 10 losses and extinguishes the club's slim finals hopes.
Heeney finished the match with two goals and 25 possessions, seeing off a host of Port Adelaide opponents including Jared Polec, Paul Stewart and Nathan Krakouer, who were just unable to keep up with the 20-year-old's hard running and hunger for the contest.
Teammates Lance Franklin, Gary Rohan and Xavier Richards also booted two goals, while Luke Parker (39 possessions), Dan Hannebery (36 possessions) and Tom Mitchell (32 possessions) offered plenty of drive through the middle of the ground.
The Swans, who have now won their past three games, face St Kilda, North Melbourne and Richmond to end the home-and-away rounds. Based Saturday afternoon's performance at SCG, the club is every chance to win all three of those matches.
There were few winners for the Power and the loss was a far from ideal way to celebrate Justin Westhoff's 200th AFL game. Although Ollie Wines (32 disposals) and Jasper Pittard (29 disposals) had a fair bit of the footy, all too often their possessions were rushed, under pressure and lacking penetration.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: Lance Franklin came off the ground in the third term to have ice applied to his knee, but came back onto the ground and finished the match without further incident. However, Gary Rohan looked a bit proppy when walking off after the game, having spent the last quarter on the bench.
Port Adelaide: The Power appears to have come through the match unscathed.
NEXT UP
The Swans are on the road against St Kilda in Melbourne, while the Power hosts Melbourne at Adelaide Oval. Both matches are on Saturday night.
More to come
SYDNEY SWANS 6.5 9.10 14.14 14.16 (100)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.0 2.3 3.6 4.9 (33)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Rohan 2, X. Richards 2, Heeney 2, Towers, Mitchell, Papley, Rampe, Kennedy, Hannebery
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Butcher, Impey, Krakouer
BEST
Sydney Swans: Heeney, Parker, Mitchell, Hannebery, Kennedy, Lloyd, McVeigh, Rampe
Port Adelaide: Wines, Pittard, S. Gray, Clurey
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Rohan (hip)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Bannister, Findlay
Official crowd: 30,204 at the SCG
