Australian Football

Match Report

Sydney has recorded a big win over Essendon at the SCG, cement its place in the top four. The undermanned Bombers challenged and kept pace with the Swans throughout the first half, and were within eight points early in the time-on period of the second quarter, but the more polished and powerful Sydney outfit broke the game open in the third term kicking five goals to one, then ran away with the match in the last quarter, adding another eight goals to one to win by 81 points.

Kurt Tippett got the Swans off to a good start with a goal at the four-minute mark but a lovely pass from Zach Merrett to Jonathan Simpkin had the Dons a point ahead three minutes later. Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney added goals over the next 10 minutes to put Sydney two goals clear. Heeney's second at the 24-minute mark made the margin three goals but two late majors to Mitch Brown and Orazio Fantasia had Essendon back within six points at the first break.

A goal to Craig Bird at the five-minute mark of the second quarter levelled the scores and the Bombers actually took the lead whenDavid Zaharakis took a handball from Merrett and kicked truly at the seven-minute mark. Sydney worked its way back into the match after that, and Heeney's third at the 13-minute mark and another Franklin soon after had the Swans back out to a 10-point lead. The two sides traded mainly in behinds after that, although a goal to Callum Sinclair extended the Swans lead to 17 points at half time.

After Franklin kicked the first goal of the third quarter, a second to Zaharakis had Bombers back within 15 points and they looked like they were back in the match. But their resistance evaporated after that, and goals to Tom Papley. Kieran Jack, George Hewett and Heeney had Sydney suddenly ahead by 39 points at the final change, the match as good as over.

Any thoughts of a last-term comeback from Essendon were quickly snuffed out with goals to Tom Papley and Kurt Tippett within the first seven minutes. The Swans then added two more through Franklin and Ben McGlynn before Shaun McKernan kicked the Dons' only goal of the final quarter at the 17-minute mark. It was a mere hiccup for the Swans, though, as Franklin kicked his fifth and sixth goals and Heeney his fifth to close out a convincing win for the home side.

Heeney, with his five goals and nine marks, was a magnificent contributor for the victors, while Zaharakis (33 possessions, two goals) was the equivalent for the Bombers.

The third-place Swans will look to take their record to 7-1 with a win over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night, while Essendon will face another tough task at Docklands earlier that day when it takes on the undefeated North Melbourne.

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 6; Heeney 5; Papley, Tippett, Jack 2; Sinclair, Hewett, McGlynn
Essendon: Zaharakis 2; Fantasia, Bird, Brown, Simpkin, McKernan

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
Sydney: Heeney, Kennedy, Franklin, Parker, Mitchell
Essendon: Zaharakis, Goddard, Brown, Merrett, McDonald-Tipungwuti

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Sydney: Heeney, Mitchell, Parker, Franklin, McGlynn, Kennedy, Hannebery
Essendon: Zaharakis, Brown, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Dempsey, Goddard

INJURIES
Sydney: Robinson (shoulder)
Essendon: Simpkin (hamstring)

UMPIRES: Nicholls, Edwards, Flee

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Dermott Brereton, Ben Dixon