Australian Football

Match Report

Sydney defeated GWS comfortably at the SCG on Saturday night, reversing the shock round one result at the Sydney Showground which saw the Giants run over the top of the Swans to win by 32 points. Sydney more than made up that deficit this time around, coasting to a 46 point win.

The Swans dominated from virtually the outset, kicking the first four goals of the match, with Tomas Bugg scoring the Giants' only first-term major at the 32-minute mark. At the first break, Sydney led by an even three goals. The Giants went even longer into the second term without kicking a goal; in fact they did not score one at all, while the Swans added another four and at the long break it was Sydney holding sway by 44 points. GWS opened the second half brightly with a goal to Lachie Whitfield and were generally far more competitive, adding three goals for the quarter, while Sydney kicked four. Trailing by 49 points at the last change of ends, the Giants caused Sydney a few anxious moments by kicking the first three goals of the final term to cut the margin back to 33 points after 13 minutes. But the Swans settled and kicked three of the last four goals of the match to win easily.

Best for the victors included Lance Franklin (five goals, seven marks), Josh Kennedy, 10 tackles, 29 disposals) and Kieran Jack (32 touches and four tackles), while GWS was well served by Dylan Shiel (24 touches and four tackles), Devon Smith (27 disposals, six tackles) and Stephen Coniglio (26 possessions and five marks). 

Third on the ladder with an 11-3 record, the Swans will travel to Subiaco next Sunday to face West Coast while GWS (16th with a 4-10 record) will host the improving Adelaide at the Sydney Showground next Saturday afternoon.

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 5; Tippett, Kennedy 2; Jack, McGlynn, Jones, Reid, Jetta, Bird
GWS: Bugg, Cameron 2; Whitfield, Ward, Smith, Hoskin-Elliott

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Franklin, Jack, Malceski, Richards, Kennedy, Parker
GWS: Shiel, Kelly, Davis, Smith

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Franklin, K Jack, Kennedy, Malceski, Grundy, Pyke, McGlynn
GWS: Shiel, Coniglio, Smith, Treloar, Bugg

INJURIES
Sydney: TBC
GWS: Shaw (face)

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Brandon Jack replaced Kurt Tippett at in the fourth quarter.
GWS: Nathan Wilson replaced Heath Shaw in the first term.

UMPIRES: Fisher, Burgess, Pannell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Brain Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling