1. Buddy's blitz
Swans superstar Lance Franklin has performed some miraculous feats, but his heroics in the third quarter when the game was on the line were phenomenal even by Buddy's loft standards. Franklin had loosened up with two goals from nine disposals in the first half, before exploding with 15 possessions and three goals in the third term. The Coleman Medal contender was the main reason the Swans were able to turn a seven-point deficit midway through the second term into a crucial percentage-boosting win that kept Sydney in contention for top spot and virtually killed off the Saints' finals hopes. Franklin often competed with multiple opponents but regularly found space and kicked beautifully, finishing with 6.1 from an equal career-best 28 possessions.

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2. Will big Swan Nankervis be in MRP trouble?
During Sydney's third-quarter burst, back-up ruck option Toby Nankervis delivered a bump on Saints veteran Sam Fisher that to the naked eye was inspirational, but on closer inspection could come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel. Fisher went down before leaving the field holding his left jaw and didn't return. It wasn't a great night for Fisher, who had only just returned to the field after being treated for a hamstring issue, with fears he'd aggravated the problem that had sidelined him recently. Incidentally, Nankervis' bump caused a spill and the brilliant Franklin ran onto the loose ball and nailed his fourth goal from a typically stylish effort on the run. 

3. Hobbling Hickey hinders Saints
St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey rolled his left ankle at a centre bounce in the first quarter and spent considerable time receiving treatment in the home team's rooms. The Saints turned to forward Josh Bruce, who gave away 9cms and 11kgs to Swans big man Sam Naismith, and Bruce was soon forced off himself with a facial cut. A proppy Hickey returned in the second quarter under great duress and battled manfully, but his mobility was naturally inhibited. Hickey copped a head knock early in the final term and sat out the rest of the contest. 

4. Hannebery's Midas touch
Dan Hannebery is one of the AFL's most damaging midfielders, and the Sydney star was particularly dangerous forward of centre in the early going. In the first term, the clever left-footer had four kicks, three of which resulted in goals. Six minutes in, he found Kieren Jack, who nailed a long set shot. After 13 minutes, Hannebery hit a leading Lance Franklin, who hammered home a goal from outside 50. Soon after, Hannebery goaled himself. Midway through the second term, he picked out Franklin again for another major. Hannebery amassed a game-high 37 touches and seven clearances to be among the best players afield. 

5. Not one for Membrey's memory bank
Tim Membrey played just one game for the Swans before joining St Kilda as a delisted free agent at the end of 2014, and has this year been a revelation with 40 goals. When he goaled after an early contested mark, it seemed Membrey's first game against his old club might be a fruitful one. But the 22-year-old was rarely sighted after quarter-time on a disappointing evening for him and the Saints. Another ex-Swan, defender Sean Dempster, drifted forward to kick a surprise goal from outside 50 – his first major in more than two years. Meanwhile, Membrey's forward partner Paddy McCartin returned from a third bout of concussion this season and threw himself into the fray with genuine aggression, kicking two early goals before fading like most of his teammates.