THE SYDNEY Swans have snapped a two-game losing streak with a 101-point thrashing of a dismal Demons outfit at the SCG.
Following an uncharacteristic performance in last week's loss to Richmond, the Swans were switched on from the start on Saturday, never threatened in an all-too-easy 21.12 (138) to 5.7 (37) victory.
In a match that lacked any intensity due to Melbourne's effort, Lewis Jetta kicked three goals for the Swans to move to 17 for the season, with the excellent Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker also kicking three apiece.
The recalled Jack Watts (34 possessions) and Nathan Jones (22 possessions, two goals) were the only real bright spots for the visitors, with Liam Jurrah having little influence in his return to the side.
Jurrah also limped off late in the match with the assistance of trainers.
On a night they celebrated 30 years in Sydney, the Swans kicked their highest score in four seasons and recorded their first 100-point victory since beating Richmond by 118 in 2006.
But the Demons should steel themselves for another week of criticism after stretching their winless start to the season to eight games.
The tone was set in a horribly one-sided opening term, when the Swans kicked 7.1 to just three Melbourne behinds.
Neeld started Watts as a spare man in defence in his return to the senior team, but it was Jack who didn't appear to have an opponent in the early stages, kicking the game's first two goals.
Kennedy also kicked two for the quarter and singles to Parker and Jetta gave the Swans a 40-point lead at the first break.
It was more of the same in the second quarter, with Melbourne unable to get its hands on the ball.
Jetta kicked his second after gaining possession in the middle of the ground, accelerating forward and putting it through from the 50m arc before Parker's second pushed the margin past 50 points.
Tommy Walsh then got in on the act, with an Alex Johnson forward entry finding the big Irishman alone in the goalsquare and he nearly kicked the ball out of the stadium to get off the mark in his first AFL game.
Ryan O'Keefe underlined Melbourne's lack of effort when he somehow marked the ball one metre from the goal line behind a pack of players, kicking the Swans' 11th of the night to cap their best half of the year.
Just about the only moment of any significance for the visitors was a contender for mark of the year by Jeremy Howe, who took a terrific grab riding high on Heath Grundy's shoulders.
But it was otherwise an unacceptable performance from the Demons, who face Carlton, Essendon and Collingwood in the next three weeks before hosting Greater Western Sydney.
It is a very different story for the Swans, who improve to 6-2 for the season and find themselves back in the top four.
SYDNEY SWANS 7.1 11.4 16.9 21.12 (138)
MELBOURNE 0.3 1.5 2.7 5.7 ( 37)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Jack, Parker, Jetta 3, Dennis-Lane, Walsh, McGlynn 2, O'Keefe, Reid, Mattner
Melbourne: Jones 2, Bennell, Sylvia, Green
BEST
Sydney Swans: Jack, Jetta, Parker, O'Keefe, Mattner, Grundy, Walsh
Melbourne: Watts, Jones, Howe
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Melbourne: Jurrah (ankle, wrist), Jones (sore)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Alex Johnson replaced by Craig Bird in the fourth quarter.
Melbourne: Cale Morton replaced by Jamie Bennell in the fourth quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Hosking, Kamolins
Official crowd: 20,818 at SCG.
James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club
