SYDNEY Swans forward Barry Hall has been sensationally reported for striking on Saturday night as the Swans scored a 62-point win over West Coast at ANZ Stadium.

The Swans dominated every quarter to win 16.11 (107) to 5.15 (45), with the under-strength Eagles struggling to keep up.

Former junior boxer Hall, a three-time All-Australian and one of the AFL's most intimidating figures, allegedly punched Eagles defender Brent Staker on the jaw at the 25-minute mark of the first quarter as the pair wrestled behind the play.

After regaining his feet, Staker watched the game from the bench sporting a tracksuit top and a dazed look.

The Swans (3-1) desperately need their six-time leading goalkicker Hall for next week's trip to Geelong to play the unbeaten defending premiers.

Hall was booed by West Coast fans after the incident and also had heated words with West Coast players at the quarter-time break.

In an eventful night, Hall accidentally smashed his hand into the fence on the outer wing late in the game and was taken off with what appeared to be a wrist injury.

The Swans outscored the Eagles four goals to one in each of the first two quarters to hold a 39-point advantage at halftime 8.6 (54) to 2.3 (15).Sydney full forward Michael O'Loughlin (four goals) was in magical touch, kicking two goals in the opening quarter.

With Tadhg Kennelly providing a springboard from defence, the Swans got their running game going as Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Ryan O'Keefe and Jarrad McVeigh all contributed goals in the second quarter.

Ben McKinley (four goals) was West Coast's only goalscorer in the first half with two and followed up with a third after halftime.

But the Swans added another four in the third quarter to lead by 51 points at three-quarter time as O'Loughlin scored his third compliments of a delightful pass from dual Brownlow Medallist Goodes and added a fourth in the last quarter.

Matt Rosa (23 possessions, 11 marks) tried hard to lift the Eagles while leading midfielder Daniel Kerr (15 possessions) struggled to shake off the tag of Kieren Jack.

The Eagles went into the match without 2006 Norm Smith Medallist Andrew Embley (ill) and injured duo Matt Priddis and David Wirrpanda.

The two clubs had a proud history before tonight of close finishes, with the 2005 and 2006 grand finals both decided by less than a goal.

In six of the past seven meetings between the two sides, the margin had been an amazing four points or less - but it couldn't have been any different on this occasion.


SYDNEY SWANS       4.2   8.6   12.8   16.11 (107)
WEST COAST            1.2   2.3   4.5   5.15 (45)

GOALS
Sydney Swans:
O'Loughlin 4, McVeigh 2, Barlow 2, Hall, Mattner, Goodes, O'Keefe, Kirk, J Bolton, Jolly, Jack
West Coast: McKinley 4, Armstrong

BEST
Sydney Swans:
Goodes, O'Loughlin, Jack, Richards, Barry, Mattner, Kennelly
West Coast: McKinley, Rosa, Masten, Armstrong

INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Grundy (foot) replaced in selected side by Brennan, Hall (suspected broken wrist).
West Coast: Embley (ill) replaced in selected side by Nicoski, B Staker (concussion, bruised jaw).

Reports: Hall (Sydney) reported by field umpire S Wenn for allegedly striking Staker (West Coast) in the first quarter.
Umpires: Donlon, Kennedy, Wenn
Crowd: 44,235 at ANZ Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs of the AFL.