First quarter: Melbourne 4.0 (24) to Sydney Swans 1.8 (14)

Sydney dominated the play early in the match. The Swans had seven inside 50s to zip, as they peppered the scoreboard, but failed to capitalise. The visitors kicked six behinds, before the opening goal came when Melbourne gained its first inside 50 entry at the 11-minute mark.

Last round’s hero, Tom McDonald, again came to the fore, with an outstanding pack mark, before converting the first major at the 12-minute mark.

Sam Reid landed the Swans’ seventh straight behind, before Melbourne answered with three goals in four minutes during time-on, courtesy of Mitch Hannan, Jayden Hunt and Christian Petracca.

The Demons led by 16 points, when Oliver Florent made it eight consecutive behinds for the Swans. And just as it looked as if Sydney would remain goalless for the term, Luke Parker marked just before the quarter-time siren. He then registered the Swans’ first after the siren, pegging the deficit back to 10 points at the first break. Jack Viney, who had 38 disposals last round, had 11 touches in the first term.

But there was a blemish for Melbourne when Tom Bugg was reported for striking Swan Callum Mills.

Second quarter: Sydney Swans 5.15 (45) to Melbourne 4.1 (25)

Sydney continued to attack the scoreboard, but again failed to make the most of its opportunities early on.

The Swans booted 1.6, yet led by just two points. However, when Isaac Heeney and Kieren Jack then booted two in a row, Sydney grabbed a 14-point lead.

After 11 successive scores by the Swans – including nine for the term – Alex Neal-Bullen bobbed up with Melbourne’s only score for the quarter: a behind at the 23-minute mark.

It proved to be a frustrating miss, as the Swans answered through Tom Papley just before half-time. And when Sam Naismith missed another on the siren – giving Sydney 15 behinds from 20 scores – the red and white took a 20-point lead into the main change.

Viney and Michael Hibberd both had 17 touches by half-time.

Third quarter: Sydney Swans 8.16 (64) to Melbourne 5.4 (34)

Melbourne started the third term promisingly, when T.McDonald became the first multiple goalkicker of the match.

Although the Demons landed the first four scores of the second half – and narrowed the gap to 11 points – they were wasteful with 1.3.

And when the Swans secured goals via Sam Reid, Jake Lloyd and Lance Franklin, Sydney was up by 30 points entering time-on.  

The five-goal lead proved to be the three quarter-time margin.

Hibberd had 21 touches by the final change.

Final quarter: Sydney Swans 11.19 (85) d Melbourne 7.8 (50)

Melbourne got off to the perfect start in the final term, when Jake Melksham kicked truly 49 seconds in.

But as was the case throughout the night, more missed opportunities came in front of goal, this time through Hannan and Bernie Vince.

Although Melbourne got back to within 22 points, when Franklin kicked two in a row, the Swans were home.

Petracca booted one more for Melbourne, giving him two for the night, and when Papley booted his second for Sydney, the Swans won by 35 points.  

Hibberd finished with a team-high 33 disposals, as Sydney’s Luke Parker had a game-high 38.