WEST Coast has started strongly only to crash heavily against fierce rival the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday.
The Eagles matched the Swans' intensity in the first term but they failed to keep pace with the home side as the contest wore on.
Daniel Bradshaw, with six goals, was the game's dominant forward as the Swans ran out comfortable winners, 17.13 (115) to 9.9 (63).
Not since Rodney Eade's side won six of its first seven games in 1998 have the Swans started so strongly and their 4-1 record puts them firmly in the top four after five rounds.
However, they face the Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Western Bulldogs, Fremantle and Hawthorn in a challenging stretch that will establish their top-four credentials.
After four wins against teams entrenched in the bottom half of the ladder, Swans coach Paul Roos welcomed the challenge of taking on the contenders.
"We've played some really good footy up until now, but it's good to play against the best teams in the competition," he said.
"If [the Lions] do win again tonight, they'll be undefeated so it's a really big test for us to see where we're at, to see where the young guys are at and the players from other clubs coming to us.
"It's certainly an opportune time to play them, just to get a feel of how well we're going."
In stark contrast, Eagles coach John Worsfold was frustrated with the recurring lack of on-field leadership from his senior players - several of whom boast a premiership medallion won against the Swans.
"Some of our senior players were well below what we expected from them today and that makes it harder for the other players," he said.
"There are times when you tear your hair out wondering why players make the decisions they do, and with the younger players it's experience.
"For senior players we have to ask them why they are making the decisions. [For example], With Brett Jones he turned the ball over too many times today and we rate him as a good kick."
For much of the first half, the clock could have been turned back five years as the hard, tough football echoed the legendary finals clashes between these now-traditional enemies.
Two clinical goals on the lead in as many minutes to Bradshaw provided some respite from the clinches in the first term while Kieren Jack's stunning three-bounce run and subsequent goal from 50m did the same in the second.
Nic Naitanui was less influential than usual in the first half, but one of his now-trademark running clearances from the centre found Matt Priddis for a flowing team goal not long before half time.
Another major from Dean Cox after the siren cut the Swans' lead to 22 points at the long break.
The Eagles drew even closer 10 minutes into the third term when Josh Kennedy slotted his second, but that proved the visitors' last hurrah.
Successive goals to Jesse White - set up by Jack's bone-shaking bump on Matthew Spangher - and Brett Kirk restored the Swans' four-goal lead and they were never seriously challenged thereafter.
Ryan O'Keefe was outstanding in the midfield, Adam Goodes (two goals) was important in a roaming role throughout the first half and Heath Grundy was excellent at centre half-back.
Kennedy (three goals) was his team's sole shining light in attack, Priddis battled manfully in the midfield and Cox had the better of Swans duo Mark Seaby and Shane Mumford in the ruck.
The Eagles (1-4) will attempt to revive their sputtering season against an in-form Fremantle next Sunday.
Sydney Swans 3.3 7.8 11.9 17.13 (115)
West Coast 2.2 4.4 6.7 9.9 (63)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Bradshaw 6, White 2, Goodes 2, McVeigh, J. Bolton, Jack, Mattner, Kirk, Shaw, Kennedy
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Hams, Priddis, Cox, Naitanui, Hurn, Masten
BEST
Sydney Swans: O'Keefe, Jack, Bradshaw, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Malceski
West Coast: Kennedy, Rosa, Cox, Priddis, Waters, Spangher
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: C. Bolton (ankle)
West Coast: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Kamolins, Meredith
Official crowd: 28,422 at the SCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
