The Sydney Swans VFL side have gone down to a dominant Essendon Bombers VFL outfit in Round 7 of the competition on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans were right up for the contest early before the home side made the most of the conditions at Windy Hill to pull away for a convincing 16.11.107 to 5.12.42 victory.
The Swans had welcomed back experienced midfield Taylor Adams for the clash, returning from a hamstring injury, while the red and white line up also welcomed back Patrick Snell from illness.
But it was VFL-listed Tom Hitchens who was making the most of his opportunity early. After the first goal went to the Bombers in the eighth minute of the contest from a free kick to Xavier O’Neill, followed by a long range effort from Oskar Smartt for their second just minutes later, the Swans struck back through the new faced forward.
Against the run of play, Tom Hitchens snapped the ball across his body for a classy finish on the run, and the Swans first goal.
The home side responded with a goal to Tyler Sellers, who was accurate with a set shot in front of goal, as Essendon held a 10-point lead at the first break.
The second quarter commenced similar to the first, with the Bombers capitalising on a stray kick, finding Matt Guelfi alone in the forward line to score the side’s first of the quarter after eight minutes.
Swans VFL captain Nick Shipley struck back after some nice lead up work by Caleb Mitchell and Peter Ladhams, with the ruck handballing to Shipey for an easy finish in the goal square.
Essendon went on a minor run to finish the quarter with Jackson Hately extending the lead in the 21st minute of the quarter, Kayle Gerreyn was successful with a set shot in front of goal before Alwyn Davey made it three in a row for the home side to finish the quarter and a 25-point lead at the break.
The Swans would have been disappointed with their start to the second half, with a dominant third quarter putting the home side in control.
The red and white went scoreless while a four goal quarter to the Bombers, with majors to Elijah Tsatas, Gerreyn, Angus Clarke and Sellers, extending the run of goals to seven consecutive, taking a 51-point lead heading into the final quarter.
Swans Jack Buller kicked his first of the afternoon to start the fourth, and the first Swans goal since halfway through the second term. Buller’s major was followed on by Cooper McLennan, who signed to the club this week, profiting on some strong defensive pressure by Taylor Adams in the forward line.
Essendon put the game beyond doubt when O’Neill kicked a goal from in-front, followed by Sellers who kicked his third for the afternoon, then goals to Hately, Guelfi and Davey.
A late consolation goal to Matt Lloyd who benefited from the windy conditions to kick a long range major late in the term, but the Bombers played out a dominant 65-point victory.
On limited minutes, Adams finished with 14 touches, three tackles and three clearances while Ladhams topped the disposal count for the red and white with 23 disposals, 17 hitouts, seven clearances and eight marks.
Ben Edwards (23 touches, six clearances), Indhi Kirk (22 touches, six clearances) were busy while Jack Buller added one goal from his 15 touches. Will Green (12 hitouts, 10 disposals) provided good support to Ladhams in the ruck.
The Swans will host Carlton at the SCG on Friday, May 16 in Round 8 of the competition.
SYD 5.12.42 (Goals: Hitches, Shipley, Buller, McLennan, Lloyd)
ESS 16.11.107
