Australian Football

Match Report

A rampant Lance "Buddy" Franklin kicked nine goals as the Sydney Swans made short work of St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday afternoon. The Swans won all four quarters of the match to record a 71-point win against the undermanned Saints.

Skipper Nick Riewoldt briefly took the Saints to an early lead in the match, marking and goaling at the two-minute mark of the match but Franklin gave a sign of what was to come with his own mark and goal two minutes later. The rest of the term was a procession as the Swans added another five goals, with a further two to "Buddy", and Sydney took a 32-point lead into the first change. St Kilda was able to lock down the play in the second quarter, restricting Sydney to just two goals - one of those to Franklin - while adding one of their own. The margin at half time was 40 points.

Franklin continued his dominance when the third quarter began, goaling inside the first two minutes, and he added another three for the quarter as the Swans reasserted their dominance, kicking seven goals to three for the term to lead by 62 points at the last change of ends. When he kicked his ninth after just one minute of the final term, it looked as though his all-time high of 13 goals might be under threat but to St Kilda's credit, it was able to work its way into the last quarter, kicking three of the last six goals of the match. Franklin did not add another major to his tally but the Swans cruised to a 12-goal win.

Franklin was clearly the standout player of the match, with his nine goals and 13 marks, while Luke Parker (33 disposals and a goal) was also a fine player for Sydney. Nick Riewoldt (11 marks and three goals) was tireless as always for the Saints and Jack Steven (31 possessions, six marks) was also a fine player.

The win took Sydney to the top of the ladder and victories in their last two games against the Western Bulldogs and Richmond will ensure that the Swans remain in that spot. St Kilda remains at the foot of the table, with matches against Richmond at the MCG and Adelaide at Adelaide Oval to round out its season. 

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 9; Tippett 3; Cunningham, Malceski, Jetta, Lloyd, McVeigh, Towers, Parker
St Kilda: Riewoldt 3; Stanley 2; Gwilt, Armitage, Steven

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Franklin, Parker, Jack, Hannebery, Biggs, Rohan, Grundy, Towers
St Kilda: Steven, Ray, Schneider, Armitage, Riewoldt

BEST - THE SUNDAY AGE
Sydney: Franklin, Jack, Parker, McVeigh, Rohan, Rampe
St Kilda: Riewoldt, Steven, Ray, Montagna, Dempster

INJURIES
Sydney: Kennedy (leg)
St Kilda: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Dean Towers replaced Josh Kennedy in the second quarter
St Kilda: Cameron Shenton replaced James Gwilt at three-quarter time

UMPIRES: Farmer, Burgess, Bannister

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network