GWS caused a huge stir when it ran past the Swans in a massive upset victory in round one. It didn't sit well with the established Sydney club, which had to wait more than three months for a shot at redemption. Normal service resumed at the SCG, with the Swans kicking eight goals to one to half-time en route to a commanding 46-point victory. The Giants will have better days ahead against their cross-town rival, but an early facial injury to Heath Shaw didn't help matters and Buddy Franklin was on song in a day out for the premiership favourites.

 

Key forwards Franklin and Kurt Tippett are the poster boys for the Swans, with Tippett welcomed back on Saturday night following knee surgery to join his goalkicking mate up front. All Australian Jeremy Cameron is also the marquee man for GWS, so it was a boost to the SCG crowd to also have him back from a minor ankle injury. While the Swans forwards played their part, with Franklin kicking five and Tippett adding two before being subbed out in the final term, Cameron seemed far from full fitness. He didn't get his first touch until well into the second term and finished with two goals.

 

Shane Mumford and Mike Pyke were teammates for four seasons at the Swans, culminating in the 2012 premiership. But at the end of last year, following Franklin's arrival, Mumford was squeezed out and signed a long-term deal with the cross-town Giants. Mumford got the better of Pyke in GWS' round one victory and is on track for a possible first All Australian berth this year. Pyke was playing his second game back from a hamstring injury on Saturday night and was hopeful of a more competitive effort in his second clash with his former teammate. And so it proved, with Pyke more than matching Mumford in an encouraging display from the big Canadian.

 

Following his five-week ban for breaking team protocols, Toby Greene was back in the GWS reserves for their curtain raiser against the Swans ahead of the main event. It was an impressive return, with the young midfielder tallying 40 possessions and kicking a goal in a duel with Tom Mitchell, who returned from an ankle injury. Greene has pleased all at the club with his attitude since his club-imposed ban and it will be interesting to see how long it takes for him to slip back into the senior side. Named the best player in his return to football in a 43-point win over the NEAFL ladder leaders certainly won't hurt.

 

The new stand at the SCG has been operational since the turn of the year, but was officially opened by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Saturday night. Crowds at the ground had been badly affected as the stand was constructed, but the historical venue now holds 48,000 and the work has been warmly approved by most attendees. Almost 42,000 turned up for the Swans' top-of-the-table clash with Port Adelaide two weeks ago, the fourth biggest attendance ever at the ground. A chilly night in Sydney meant only 27,778 turned out for Saturday's game, but crowds are likely to build as the season heads towards September.