The Sydney Swans VFL have secured a dominant 35-point victory over Essendon at Tramway Oval in Round 19 of the competition.
The Swans raced out of the blocks and were accurate with their opportunities to build a commanding lead early against an injury depleted Essendon Bombers side.
The Swans made the Bombers pay on the scoreboard as the away side also battled with player depth, with an injury crisis in the seniors impacting their available selections.
Sydney’s 16 year old debutant Aiden McCartney kicked the first of the day, before doubles in quick succession to experienced teammates Matt Lloyd and Aaron Francis, the latter returning from a stint in the senior AFL side, had the red and white with a commanding lead early.
With the ball living inside the Swans forward line for the majority of the opening quarter, Oscar Davis had the home sides sixth of the quarter before Caleb Mitchell had the seventh towards the end of the opening term, taking a 42-point lead at the break.
Experienced midfielder Taylor Adams was accurate in front of goal, snapping a major off his left following some strong defensive pressure to start the second quarter before the Bombers rallied with goals through Rhys Unwin and Riley Leedham.
Jack Kluske continued his strong form in the VFL, kicking a major early in the quarter before Will Green completed a set shot from inside the 50m arc for his first of the afternoon midway through the term.
The Bombers were much improved in the second quarter, rallying from their slow start to the contest as Jordan Busuttil had their third of the term before Ryan Brodie continued to chip away at the Swans lead late in the quarter with a successful set shot from 40m out.
Despite the looming wet weather and blistering conditions, the Swans were not afraid to distribute the ball by hand and play expansive to move the football across the ground. The experienced midfield of Adams, Mitchell and Matt Roberts and Ben Paton maintained control, leading the to a 35-point lead at the half time break.
Tom Hanily kept the momentum rolling to star the third quarter, successful with a difficult opportunity from the boundary just inside 50.
Francis continued to look dangerous in the forward line and had his third of the afternoon with a set shot from right in front, before Ben Edwards kicking an impressive goal one on the run, with some sharp work from Hanily and Lloyd in the lead up, to continue to extend the lead.
The Bombers were rewarded for some of their defensive efforts, when Leedham kicked their first of the quarter late in the term, but the Swans remained in control with a 50-point leading into the final quarter.
The Bombers had a small glimmer of hope to mount a final quarter comeback, opening the scoring through Brodie who kicked his second of the afternoon before Jared Eckersley had their second midway through the quarter.
The scoring slowed down late in the quarter, as the Swans control halted any chance of a unlikely come from behind victory, as some selfless play from Lloyd finding Indhi Kirk in front of goal, for a major late in the quarter to put a stop to the potential upset victory.
Lloyd scored again minutes later, his third of the afternoon, before two late goals in quick succession to the Bombers saw the red and white went on to secure a dominant 35-point victory, and their their fifth win of the season.
Adams was strong with 32 disposals, 6 tackles and a goal while Roberts (31 disposals, 1 tackle) and Riley Bice (24 disposals, two tackles) performed strongly as they push for a recall back to the senior side. Francis also shone in the forward line with three goals, 10 hit outs, two tackles while Lloyd (three goals, three tackles) also performed strongly.
SYDNEY 7.3 10.5 13.9 15.10 (100)
ESSENDON 0.3 4.6 5.7 9.11 (65)
Goals: Lloyd (3), Francis (3), McCartney, Davis, Mitchell, Adams, Kluske, Green, Hanily, Edwards, Kirk
