1. Come and take the Coleman off me says Buddy
The superstar Swan started the game five goals behind Eagle Josh Kennedy with 59 for the year and wasted no time adding to his tally five minutes into the opening term. He booted two more before half-time with his third making it 150 majors at the SCG, but saved a Buddy special for his fourth. Franklin dropped a mark in the goalsquare and looked to have blown his chance, but got a lucky bounce and the footy bounced off his heel and dribbled over the line. It wasn't a memorable way to bring up his 850th goal and become just the 10th player in history to reach the mark. By the time three-quarter-time siren had sounded the West Australian had slotted two more to take the outright lead off Kennedy, and he finished the night in style with four more in the last term, giving him a lazy 10 for the game and 69 for the season. Franklin's 10.2 (62) for the game even gave him a personal win over the Blues, who managed just 8.9 (57). It's now up to Kennedy (64 goals), with Essendon's Joe Daniher (60) a slim chance but not out of the race, to deny Franklin a fourth Coleman Medal on Sunday.
WATCH: Buddy's 10 of the best buries Blues
Franklin kicks his fourth, off the back of his boot! #AFLSwansBlues pic.twitter.com/Xby9WcOfPS
— AFL (@AFL) August 26, 2017
2. Jed Lamb couldn't find a dance partner at the SCG
The Carlton forward hit the headlines last week when he annoyed Hawthorn's James Sicily into submission and set his sights on Swan Jake Lloyd at the first bounce, but the niggle didn't last long. John Longmire immediately moved Lloyd to the wing opposed to Dale Thomas where he gathered 15 first-half possessions, and with no target to pester, Lamb had no impact on the game. The former Swan and Giant had another crack when Lloyd started at half back in the second half, but while he got a few minutes to tangle with Lloyd, Longmire wasted no time getting his man out of the firing line again. Lloyd's fellow defenders Dane Rampe and Nick Smith took great delight in hammering Lamb whenever he came in their vicinity, and the verbal barrage looked just as harsh as the physical treatment he copped.
Click here for full match details and stats
3. Hayward makes his mark as Sydney's Mr Efficiency
The draftee had kicked 19 goals from 16 games heading into the last game of the regular season, and looked like he wanted to conserve his energy ahead of his maiden finals campaign in two weeks time. Hayward didn't touch the footy until he took a mark in the goalsquare and kicked truly just seconds before the siren sounded for half-time, then had two more kicks in the third term, and you guessed it, he booted two more with the first and last goals of the quarter. The 18-year-old failed to get another disposal for the match, perhaps not wanting to blemish his perfect record of three kicks and three goals in the massive win.
4. Have we seen the last of 'Daisy'?
Out of contract and set to turn 31 next year, it remains to be seen if Dale Thomas will get another year with the Blues, so his 218th senior match might have been his last. Thomas looked to have damaged his left hamstring in the third term but continued to play out the match. It was still a dark night for the former Magpie. It looks like the club's list management team will decide Thomas' future, and if the Blues continue to back their youth going, 'Daisy' might have bowed out without any fanfare on the back of an 81-point drubbing, which would be sad for the 2010 premiership star.
5. Swans' changerooms needed a revolving door for their ruckmen
The home side's medical staff was kept busy in the first half with both Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair going down with injury. Tippett was the first to hobble off in the first term with a left ankle issue, while Sinclair followed him with the same problem in the second quarter. Tippett retreated to the rooms twice before finally coming back on late in the second term, and Sinclair joined him just before half-time. The sight of their two big men in trouble would have sent a scare through the Swans' coaches' box, especially given Sam Naismith (hip) has missed the past three games. Naismith was passed fit on Thursday but couldn't force his way into the team thanks to the recent form of Tippett and Sinclair, but even with next week's pre-finals bye, coach John Longmire will be sweating on scans for both players come Monday.
An ideal start from the Swans' big man. #AFLSwansBlues pic.twitter.com/ryXJ1jBAAb
— AFL (@AFL) August 26, 2017