THE SYDNEY Swans have enjoyed a Sunday afternoon stroll at the SCG, easily dismissing a disappointing Brisbane Lions outfit by 60 points.
Sam Reid (three goals) and Lewis Jetta (21 possessions, two goals) showed some welcome form in a 17.13 (115) to 8.7 (55) victory that moves the premiers to 5-1 for the season ahead of a huge showdown with Hawthorn at the MCG.
Five talking points: Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions
But the result, and more specifically the manner of the performance, will likely put a blowtorch on the Lions' out-of-contract coach Michael Voss.
Yes, they were playing the defending premiers on their own turf and the Lions were heavy outsiders before the match, but it was the way they started that beggared belief.
Second to every ball and lacking urgency and competitiveness, the Lions were more like newborn kittens in perfect, sunlit conditions.
The Swans had 6.4 on the board virtually before the Lions had made it anywhere near their forward 50.
The Swans won the disposals 121-56, reportedly the most touches in a quarter in the club's history, and dominated the marks (23-10) and inside 50s (15-6).
Click here to vote for the three best Swans players from the game
Perhaps most worryingly for Voss, his side also lost the tackle count 20-16, despite barely touching the Sherrin.
Voss was searching for answers after the game.
"We look at our training and our program and our players and you can find all the little things that might be making a difference," he said.
"I think it's been very sound. There should be no reason why we're coming into games not in the right frame of mind.
"I felt quite OK at the start of the game looking at the players, so it's about being able to absorb the pressure when it's coming at you.
"Clearly we're not doing that at the moment."
The Lions finally kicked their first score with a Pearce Hanley goal 25 minutes into the quarter, going into the break trailing by 40 points.
The visitors did lift in the second quarter, matching the Swans with three goals, but it was still all too easy for the premiers.
The remaining three quarters were relatively even but the damage had all been done early on by the Swans.
Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack and Nick Malceski were excellent for the Swans in Jarrad McVeigh's 200th game.
Coach John Longmire could barely hide his delight at his side's most complete display of the season.
"It was a really good performance I thought," he said.
"We jumped out of the blocks really strongly in the first quarter and really had control of the game I guess from that point.
"I was pleased with the contribution of almost everyone. Everyone played a really strong role."
For the Lions, Ryan Lester and Jed Adcock had their moments and Joel Patfull did a reasonable job on Adam Goodes but there was little else to write home about for the visitors.
Click here to vote for the three best Lions players from the game
There is also no relief in sight. The Lions' next seven opponents are West Coast, Essendon, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong and Hawthorn.
Mike Pyke gets his kick away despite the attention of two Lions opponents. Picture: AFL Media
SYDNEY SWANS 7.4 10.8 13.11 17.13 (115)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.0 4.2 5.5 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Reid 3, Pyke 2, Bolton 2, Goodes 2, Jetta 2, Hannebery, O'Keefe, Parker, Kennedy, McGlynn, McVeigh
Brisbane Lions: Green 2, Hanley, Lester, Zorko, Redden, Brown, Leuenberger
BEST
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, Jack, Malceski, O'Keefe, Reid, Jetta, Parker, Smith
Brisbane Lions: Lester, Adcock, Patfull, Polkinghorne
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Jed Lamb replaced Ben McGlynn in the fourth quarter
Brisbane Lions: Josh Green replaced Aaron Cornelius at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Pannell, Mollison
Official crowd: 23,315 at the SCG
James Dampney is a reporter for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
