GIANTS defender Heath Shaw has escaped with only concussion from a heavy hit from Kurt Tippett in the Sydney Swans' record-breaking victory over Greater Western Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.
Shaw copped an accidental knee to the face trying unsuccessfully to prevent Tippett taking a mark midway through the first quarter and was knocked out cold.
He took no further part in the match in an early blow to a Giants side chasing a third straight victory, but has since been cleared of structural damage and will be assessed in the coming days
The Swans jumped out to an early lead and were rarely troubled in a 15.16 (106) to 8.12 (60) triumph, their 10th win in a row, the longest winning streak since equalling a club record with 12 in a row way back in 1935.
The victory takes the Swans to 11-3 for the year and while coach John Longmire was pleased with the victory, he wasn't taking too much notice of the winning run.
"It's certainly better than losing," he said.
"In the end, coming into this weekend we were still third on the ladder and a game off top spot and fighting to stay in that top four.
"That's where we sit. It's a pretty ruthless competition and you need to keep winning.
"It's good we've been on a roll after the slow start we got off to and it's a credit to the players they've been able to consistently play well.
"But you have to keep going."
Lance Franklin was again dominant for the Swans, finishing with five goals to take his tally to 40 for the season.
Kieren Jack was also brilliant, finishing with 32 touches, including 22 in the first half, with Josh Kennedy, Nick Malceski and Heath Grundy leading a well-balanced display.
Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith and StephenConiglio had their moments for the visitors, while Tomas Bugg bobbed up with two goals and Jeremy Cameron added another two on his return from an ankle injury.
But it was a comfortable night for the Swans, who reversed their shock round one loss to the Giants to stay right in touch with Port Adelaide and Hawthorn at the top of the AFL ladder.
The game got off to a cagey start, with a strong breeze causing havoc on the western side of the ground in front of the Members Stand.
The home side seemed to adjust to the chilly conditions better, with Franklin kicking the opening goal before theawful injury to Shaw caused a long stoppage.
Upon the resumption, the Swans quickly slammed through three more goals in the space of four minutes to break open an early lead.
GWS had its fair share of possession, but was unable to convert until a late Bugg major made it a three-goal deficit at the first change.
The Swans then took over in a one-sided second quarter, kicking another four goals to just three behinds to march to a 44-point half-time lead.
Franklin had four goals at the main break, with his behind late in the second term snapping a run of 12 consecutive goals dating back to the Port Adelaide game two weeks ago.
The lead had stretched to 49 points by the final change and while GWS won the final term, the home side had little trouble regaining bragging rights in the Harbour City.
GWS had enjoyed a solid last month, pushing Hawthorn and Essendon before picking up wins over the Brisbane Lions and Carlton, and coach Leon Cameron could also find positives from Saturday night's performance.
"We take positives out of most games," Cameron said.
"Obviously there's some games we look back and try to wipe, which we've seen this year, but we take positives out of most games.
"We hung in for the second half and even our first quarter was neck-and-neck for part of it, but we made too many mistakes and they pounced."
Former teammates locked in an absorbing battle with Mike Pyke taking the honors. Picture: AFL Media
SYDNEY SWANS 4.4 8.9 12.11 15.16 (106)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.4 1.7 4.10 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 5, Tippett 2, Kennedy 2, Jack, McGlynn, Jones, Reid, Jetta, Bird
GWS: Bugg 2, Cameron 2, Whitfield, Ward, Smith, Hoskin-Elliott
BEST
Sydney Swans: Franklin, K Jack, Kennedy, Malceski, Grundy, Pyke, McGlynn
GWS: Shiel, Coniglio, Smith, Treloar, Bugg
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: TBC
GWS: Shaw (face)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Brandon Jack replaced Kurt Tippett at in the fourth quarter
GWS: Nathan Wilson replaced Heath Shaw in the first term
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Burgess, Pannell
Official crowd: 27,778 at the SCG
