IT WAS a wet weather slugfest, but the Sydney Swans were too clean and ultimately too classy for Gold Coast, winning by 38 points at a waterlogged Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.

The game was played in atrocious conditions after the Gold Coast was bucketed with more than 200mm of rain in the 24 hours prior to its start, but the Swans were convincing 11.13 (79) to 6.5 (41) winners.

The Suns led by 11 points at quarter-time, but the Swans took charge thereafter, kicking 10 of the game's final 13 goals to inflict the home team's eighth successive loss.

Five talking points: Gold Coast v Sydney Swans

Gold Coast vice-captain Tom Lynch was reported in the dying minutes for a stomach punch to Jeremy Laidler, which coach Rodney Eade described as "totally undisciplined".

The Swans are second at the season's halfway mark with a 9-2 record, and face a mouth-watering local derby against Greater Western Sydney next Sunday.

They used a five-goal burst to start the second quarter to set up victory.

Gold Coast product Kurt Tippett returned to his hometown to dominate in front of 4368 diehard fans, finishing with 16 disposals, 50 hitouts – many to advantage – and five clearances.

Dan Hannebery continued his stellar season with 36 disposals, while Tom Mitchell not only collected 33 touches and 14 tackles of his own, but ran with Suns skipper Gary Ablett (26) in an engrossing duel.

Swans coach John Longmire was relieved to walk away with a strong win, four premiership points and just the one injury, to youngster George Hewett (concussion).

"It’s been a long time, I can’t even remember playing in conditions like that," Longmire said.

"It was so wet, it was an absolute battle, just a slog-fest.

"I was unsure what the ground would be like, but it actually held up OK considering really the rain that we had, it was amazing.

"I thought we were a little bit inconsistent at times, during the quarters, but then when we got going we were pretty good."

Despite its incredible drainage, puddles of surface water covered Metricon Stadium as rain lashed the ground for most of the four quarters.

It was particularly heavy in the first half as players had no hope of keeping their feet, before easing in the last term.

Every kick was earned, every mark cherished and every goal like a gold nugget.

On a night when both teams set club records for tackles – the Swans with 131 and the Suns 115 - Luke Parker's two exquisite goals highlighted the class gap.

After a slick handpass from Gary Rohan, the All Australian midfielder executed a perfect banana kick off the right foot in the second term, before an even better set shot in the final term that he slotted from 40m on the right boundary line.

Gold Coast was brave though, and despite another loss can hold its heads high.

They were over-run in the last quarter, but won the clearances (52-44) despite Tippett's dominance and created enough chances with 56 inside 50s to the Swans' 58.

Eade was pleased with his team's performance, saying they were just outclassed by "close to the best team in the competition".

"I think we grew tonight considering the conditions," he said.

"It was just the experience and talent differential in the end, to be able to do things under that extreme pressure."

Matt Rosa (33 touches) was brilliant in his first match back after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury, while Touk Miller (32) and Jarrod Harbrow (24) battled hard alongside Ablett.

With Adam Saad, Sam Day, Rory Thompson and Trent McKenzie all a chance to return next week, they can expect further improvement for the remainder of the season.

MEDICAL ROOM
Gold Coast: Midfielder Jesse Lonergan copped a cork above his knee in the first quarter but battled on and played out the match under duress. Suns coach Rodney Eade expects him to be fine for next week. The same goes for defender Kade Kolodjashnij who twisted his ankle, and skipper Gary Ablett, who had his left shoulder attended to late in the match.

Sydney Swans: Coach John Longmire might have been worried about injuries on such an atrocious night, but the Swans were relatively lucky. Youngster George Hewett came off early with concussion and did not return, while Callum Mills was a late withdrawal, but was just rested and will be fine for next week.

NEXT UP
The Swans have a mouth-watering contest next Sunday when they take on crosstown rivals Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium. A win would not only give them bragging rights, but firm up their spot in the top two. Gold Coast travels to Melbourne to play Richmond at the MCG on Sunday in a match they would fancy themselves in.


GOLD COAST  3.2   4.5     5.5      6.5   (41)
SYDNEY           1.3   6.6    8.13  11.13   (79)           

GOALS
Gold Coast: Sexton, Davis, Lonergan, Lynch, Rosa, Matera
Sydney: Rohan 2, Parker 2, Sinclair, Lloyd, Franklin, Rose, Mitchell, Jack, Heeney 

BEST 
Gold Coast: Rosa, Miller, Ablett, Harbrow, Ah Chee, Prestia
Sydney: Tippett, Hannebery, Mitchell, Rohan, Kennedy, Rampe 

INJURIES 
Gold Coast: Lonergan (knee)
Sydney: Mills (managed) replaced in selected side by Rose, Hewett (concussion) 

Reports: Tom Lynch (GC) reported for striking Jeremy Laidler (Syd) in the fourth quarter

Umpires: Rosebury, O’Gorman, Wallace 

Official crowd: 4368 at Metricon Stadium

The Swans get a natural hose-down during their warm-up. Picture: AFL Media