SYDNEY has defeated Melbourne at a sold-out SCG on Thursday night to open the 2024 Toyota AFL Season.

The Swans led by just two points at three-quarter time after a tough contest for much of the night, but blew the game apart with five goals to two in the last term to win the season-opener by 22 points, 12.14 (86) to 9.10 (64).

Clayton Oliver showed few signs of a disrupted pre-season as he returned to the Demons' senior set-up for the first time this year and immediately made his mark.

The star midfielder made his presence felt with 29 disposals and six clearances as the Demons stayed in touch until the final term.

There were no concerns with Christian Salem's ball use as the smooth mover shifted from half-back and into the midfield as the Demons looked to get more from their forward 50 entries. 

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Opening Round | Viney refuses to go down in super show of strength

Jack Viney is pumped up after managing to sneak through this powerful goal

But it was Jack Viney who stood tallest in the Melbourne midfield with a game-high 31 disposals (14 contested) as well as seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals. 

Bayley Fritsch booted four goals for the Demons, including three in a blistering third term that looked like turning the match in the visitors' favour.

The Swans led by only two points at the last change but slammed on five goals to two to race away and start their 150th season in fine fashion.

Fritsch poetry in slow motion
After the Demons had gone goal-for-goal with the Swans to open the third term, Bayley Fritsch put the visitors in front for the first time in more than an hour with his second major in two minutes. The crafty goalsneak was the only player on the field to respond after a Tom Sparrow tackle on James Rowbottom was deemed to be holding the ball and Jack Viney bombed a quick kick inside 50. Even Fritsch was jogging at barely half-pace as he shuffled towards the ball and casually snapped a major to temporarily silence the stunned SCG faithful.

SYDNEY                       3.3       4.3       7.10      12.14 (86)
MELBOURNE              1.6       2.8       7.8       9.10 (64)

GOALS
Sydney: Hayward 2, McLean 2, Florent, Fox, Heeney, McDonald, McInerney, Papley, Warner, Wicks
Melbourne: Fritsch 4, Viney 2, Langdon, Petracca, Van Rooyen

BEST 
Sydney: Heeney, Grundy, Blakey, Warner, Papley, Florent, Rampe
Melbourne: Viney, May, Salem, Petracca, Oliver, Gawn

INJURIES 
Sydney: Nil
Melbourne: Bowey (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Sam Wicks (replaced Joel Amartey in the third quarter)
Melbourne: Jack Billings (replaced Bailey Laurie in the third quarter)

Crowd: 40,012 at the SCG