The Swans booted eight goals to one in the game’s opening stanza to record successive wins for the first time this season, 18.15 (123) to 10.8 (68).
Jarrad McVeigh and Barry Hall were among the Swans’ best, booting two goals each and creating a raft of opportunities for their teammates.
Jude Bolton and Brett Kirk also worked hard in the clinches, while Amon Buchanan was outstanding when the game was won in the first term.
Port Adelaide had few four-quarter performers but Hamish Hartlett was impressive for large periods and Kane Cornes had the better of several Swans opponents. Hartlett and Warren Tredrea both finished with two goals each.
Swans coach Paul Roos had sought greater consistency from his men all season and he got it in the first quarter.
The home side simply blew Port Adelaide away with the first seven goals, each kicked by a different player.
Hall started the run with the game’s opening major inside the first minute and he continued to be influential with a hand in at least five of the Swans’ eight goals.
Amon Buchanan and McVeigh were also creative across half-forward and their efforts were rewarded with a goal apiece.
Ruckman Jesse White had the locals on their feet when he burst from a centre clearance and kicked truly from 55m to give the Swans a 43-point lead after 21 minutes.
The Power hardly troubled the Swans’ defenders until Hartlett stemmed the tide with his side’s first goal.
But Jarred Moore’s classy shot on the run – after yet another assist from Hall – ensured the Swans finished the term on a high.
Port Adelaide began the second term in more positive fashion through Tredrea’s first goal.
The Swans replied swiftly through McVeigh and Jolly to snuff out any prospect of a Power revival, stretching the lead out to 51 points.
With their confidence sky-high, the Swans produced a series of moments for the season highlight reel.
Adam Goodes, Michael O’Loughlin and Heath Grundy each took sensational marks, with Grundy’s soaring leap over two Power players the pick of the bunch.
Despite the Swans’ continued dominance, the goals had dried up and it took another courageous grab from Port Adelaide’s Daniel Motlop, going back with the flight of the ball against two opponents, to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Hall’s second goal late in the term restored the Swans’ 51-point advantage at the long break.
With the contest all but over by half time, Port Adelaide had little to play for except pride in the second half and early goals to Tredrea and Hartlett went some way to rectifying the situation.
Swans midfielder Craig Bird was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was concussed in a marking contest involving Hall and Chad Cornes.
The midfielder was taken from the field on a stretcher as his side struggled to recreate the momentum it enjoyed in the first half.
The Swans continued to generate chances but they failed to capitalise. Moore missed two gilt-edged opportunities while Peter Burgoyne showed him how to do it at the other end.
Port Adelaide eventually won the term, booting three goals to two, but they still had a power of work to do in the final quarter to overhaul the Swans’ 49-point lead.
The Power never looked like mounting such a comeback as the Swans booted five goals to four.
Sydney Swans 8.1 11.6 13.13 18.15 (123)
Port Adelaide 1.0 3.3 6.6 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: McVeigh 2, Jolly 2, Hall 2, White 2, Goodes 2, Kirk 2, Buchanan, Moore, OLoughlin, Mattner, OKeefe, J Bolton
Port Adelaide: Tredrea 2, Hartlett 2, Ebert 2, D Motlop, P Burgoyne, Cassisi, Logan
BEST
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Hall, J Bolton, Kirk, OKeefe, Jolly, Buchanan
Port Adelaide: K Cornes, Hartlett, P Burgoyne, Pearce, Cassisi
Injuries
Sydney Swans: Bird (concussion), Roberts-Thomson (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Jared Crouch,
Port Adelaide: Chaplin (groin)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Kennedy, Stevic, Ryan
Official crowd: 23,229 at the SCG
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The views contained in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
