The Sydney Swans' five-game winning streak has come to an end with a 67-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday afternoon

After a tight first half, the Cats took hold of the game in the third term and on the back of 11 of the last 14 goals, won their 19th consecutive game at the ground, 19.12 (126) to 9.5 (59).

The Swans had been the form side of the competition, but the loss drops them to fifth on the ladder.
 
Swans coach Paul Roos said the Cats were clearly the best team in the competition.

"I think their best is a fair bit ahead of everyone else's best," he said after the match.

"Now, that doesn't always mean that you're the premiership favourites. There's still a long way to go but I think Geelong's best is still a bit ahead of anyone else's best.

"Even when we were playing well early, they still seemed to have us covered, so I think there's still a fair bit of room for us to improve to get anywhere near where Geelong are."

Swans gun recruit Daniel Bradshaw, fresh from kicking six against his old side last week, got his only touch for the first half on the wing during the second term and didn't kick a goal until the 29 minute mark of the third, giving a clear win to the returning Matthew Scarlett.

It's good thing for the Sydney Swans that they've got some good run off half-back, as the ball spent a lot of time on their side of the centre, with the Cats leading the inside-50s 64 -36 at full-time.

Heath Grundy did a good job on Cameron Mooney (14 touches) while Grundy had 19, while Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw rounded out the top three Swans' possession-gatherers. Kieren Jack was the only multiple goal-scorer for the Swans with a couple.

In the ruck, former Cat Shane Mumford relished his return to Skilled Stadium, not only getting 25 hit-outs but also leading his team with nine tackles and getting five clearances, prompting to coach to describe him as the team's best midfielder on the day.


Geelong             4.0 7.4 12.8 19.12 (126)
Sydney Swans   3.0 5.2 7.3 9.5 (59)

GOALS
Geelong: Podsiadly 5, Chapman 3, T.Varcoe 3, Ablett 2, Johnson 2, Blake, Byrnes, Hogan, Kelly
Sydney Swans: Jack 2, Barlow, Bradshaw, Goodes, McVeigh, O'Keefe, Rohan, White

BEST
Geelong: Ablett, Podsiadly, Chapman, T.Varcoe, Scarlett, Selwood, Johnson, Enright
Sydney Swans: Malceski, Kennelly, Shaw, Grundy, Jack

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Sydney Swans: Roberts-Thomson (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Barlow

Reports: James Kelly (Geelong) reported for rough conduct on Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans) by field umpire Ray Chamberlain in the second quarter

Umpires: Chamberlain, Ryan, Stewart

Official crowd: 25,970 at Skilled Stadium


The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.