Bella Smith celebrates a goal during the R10 AFLW match between Sydney and West Coast at Henson Park on November 2, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

SYDNEY has finished a difficult third season on a high as Bella Smith bagged a five-goal haul in a 46-point demolition of Waalitj Marawar in a fiery clash at Henson Park.

The Swans' campaign has been derailed by injuries to key players but with gun midfielder Laura Gardiner back to her best, last year's finalists snapped a six-match losing streak with a 10.14 (74) to 4.4 (28) victory over the Eagles on Saturday afternoon.

SWANS v EAGLES Full match coverage and stats

The defeat is the Eagles' fifth on the trot in a horror run that knocked them out of finals contention after a promising start to their first season under coach Daisy Pearce.

The retiring Brooke Lochland lifted the Swans with their first goal during an evenly matched opening term but it was Bec Privitelli that broke the game open after the break.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 08:17

    AFLW full post-match, WK10: Swans

    Watch Sydney's press conference after week ten’s match against Waalitj Marawar

    AFLW
  • 10:57

    AFLW Mini-Match: Sydney v Waalitj Marawar

    Extended highlights of the Swans and Eagles clash in week 10 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
  • 07:32

    AFLW full post-match, WK10: Eagles

    Watch Waalitj Marawar's press conference after week ten’s match against Sydney

    AFLW
  • 01:53

    Bella’s stellar five-star show shines bright

    Bella Smith produces a game to remember with a stunning bag of five goals in her side’s impressive win

    AFLW
  • 05:57

    AFLW Highlights: Sydney v Waalitj Marawar

    The Swans and Eagles clash in week 10 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season

    AFLW
  • 01:03

    Tensions rise on both sides as Smith slots a major

    Sydney's Bella Smith kicks a goal on the three-quarter time siren as players from all over the ground get involved in a sizeable scuffle

    AFLW
  • 00:46

    Hamilton snaps to perfection in a second

    Cynthia Hamilton nails a brilliant snap after receiving a well-crafted handball out of the pack

    AFLW
  • 00:51

    Western tears across field in this GOTY contender

    Mikayla Western may have earned herself a GOTY nomination after this massive effort is finished off with a scorching major

    AFLW
  • 00:47

    Lochland lands special goal in final game

    Brooke Lochland gets swarmed by teammates after claiming a fairytale major in her last match of AFLW

    AFLW
  • 00:39

    Franklin finds first within opening minute

    Amy Franklin wastes no time snaring the game’s first goal following a strong mark and finish

    AFLW

The Swans' key forward booted two goals as the hosts took advantage of a strong, swirling breeze to open up what proved to be a match-winning lead in the second term, though Privitelli might rue missing the opportunity to kick a bag of her own while finishing with 3.3.

Gardiner reminded the Swans of what they had missed when she was sidelined in the middle of their stretch of defeats, as the 2023 All-Australian gathered a game-high 26 disposals in her second game back from injury. 

While the second-year Swan typically does most of her damage around the stoppages, Gardiner was just as influential in helping lock the ball forward with eight inside-50s against the Eagles.

05:57

AFLW Highlights: Sydney v Waalitj Marawar

The Swans and Eagles clash in week 10 of the 2024 NAB AFLW Season

The Swans still controlled the stoppages with Tanya Kennedy (18 disposals, six clearances) taking command, while young guns Sofia Hurley (20, five) and Cynthia Hamilton (15, two) also helped match the Eagles' onball brigade. 

Tempers flared following the three-quarter time siren when Eagles defenders floored Smith after the Swans forward booted her third goal to stretch the margin to 23 points. 

01:03

Tensions rise on both sides as Smith slots a major

Sydney's Bella Smith kicks a goal on the three-quarter time siren as players from all over the ground get involved in a sizeable scuffle

But the visitors were unable to bring the heat after the last change as they went scoreless while the Swans kept them at arm's length to set up Smith for a career-high haul.

Bella Lewis gave the Eagles hope for a brighter future as the 21-year-old gathered 23 disposals in her 50th match, while Ella Roberts (20) finished a fine season in style and Charlie Thomas (23) added plenty of drive.

Amy Franklin booted two goals in the opening term and finished with three but in the end the Eagles lacked the firepower to go with the Swans.

00:39

Franklin finds first within opening minute

Amy Franklin wastes no time snaring the game’s first goal following a strong mark and finish

All-Australian Lochland signs off in style
Sydney goalsneak Brooke Lochland turned back the clock in her farewell match as the curtain closed on a decorated career. The 33-year-old was swamped by teammates after snapping the Swans' first major but was soon moved to a wing as the hosts turned to her experience to shut down the Eagles' outside run. Lochland's retirement points to the end of an era after she was one of the early stars of the competition with an outstanding 2018 season as the AFLW leading goalkicker, an All-Australian, and a premiership player with the Western Bulldogs. Lochland joined the Swans as an inaugural co-captain in 2022 and showed signs against the Eagles that she still has enough left in the tank even after 64 matches across two clubs.

00:47

Lochland lands special goal in final game

Brooke Lochland gets swarmed by teammates after claiming a fairytale major in her last match of AFLW

Western goes coast to coast to spark Eagles
Waalitj Marawar was on the ropes and looking for a way back into the contest when Mikayla Western took matters into her own hands in the second term. The midfielder broke away from a pack near the Eagles' defensive 50m arc then broke the play open with a perfectly weighted pass to Sarah Lakay on the wing. Western kept running hard into space to receive a handpass from Bella Lewis then crossed into the forward 50m and to within goalkicking range. The 26-year-old slotted the team-lifting major on the run to help keep the Eagles in touch with the Swans and make a late play for goal of the year. 

00:51

Western tears across field in this GOTY contender

Mikayla Western may have earned herself a GOTY nomination after this massive effort is finished off with a scorching major

Up next
It's season over for both sides. The Swans will finish in 15th place on the ladder, while the Eagles are 13th but could slip down a spot if Carlton beats Essendon on Saturday night.

SYDNEY                                   2.2       5.6       7.9       10.14 (74)
WAALITJ MARAWAR               2.2       3.2       4.4       4.4 (28)

GOALS
Sydney: Smith 5, Privitelli 3, Lochland, C.Hamilton
Waalitj Marawar: Franklin 3, Western

BEST                          
Sydney: Gardiner, Kennedy, Smith, Hurley, Privitelli, C.Hamilton
Waalitj Marawar: Thomas, Roberts, Lakay, Lewis

INJURIES 
Sydney: Nil
Waalitj Marawar: Nil

Crowd: 2,685 at Henson Park