A SIZZLING third-term blitz has helped the Sydney Swans to a 91-point victory and the Marn Grook Trophy against Essendon at ANZ Stadium at Homebush.
The Bombers worked themselves to within two goals late in the third quarter but a late five-goal run gave the Swans a 42-point three-quarter time lead.
They extended that in the final term in emphatic fashion to run out big winners 21.17 (143) to 7.10 (52).
Michael O'Loughlin was the most effective forward on the boggy field with six goals, including three in the last term.
Amazingly the Swans kicked the last 13 goals of the match.
Injuries to Tadhg Kennelly (dislocated knee) and Craig Bird (elbow) were the only sour notes in the win.
The Swans raced away to a 27 point lead by quarter time with ruckman Darren Jolly the star with two goals.
Essendon was kept goalless despite having plenty of inside 50s and ended the quarter with just 0.2 to their name.
But the Bombers came out firing in the second term booting the first four goals to draw to within three points.
And it was their ruckman David Hille who was the star of the second quarter with two goals of his own.
The Swans fought back late with goals to O'Loughlin and Henry Playfair stretching the margin again at half time to 16 points.
Classy Swans defender Nick Malceski showed he had lost none of his pace or poise in his first game back after a knee reconstruction.
But the Swans will need him to produce the goods given Kennelly's latest injury.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.
MATCH DETAILS
Sydney Swans 4.5 6.11 13.15 21.17 (148)
Essendon 0.2 4.7 7.9 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: O'Loughlin 6, Playfair 3, Jolly 3, O'Keefe 2, Moore 2, Barry, Buchanan, Kirk, Jack, Richards
Essendon: Hill 2, Welsh 2, Jetta, Lloyd, Neagle
BEST
Sydney Swans: Jolly, O'Loughlin, Moore, Barry, Kirk
Essendon: Hill, Welsh, Reimers, McVeigh, Fletcher, Stanton
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Kennelly (dislocated knee), Bird (elbow)
Essendon: TBA
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Armstrong, Avon, McBurney
Official crowd: 34,904 at ANZ stadium
