THE SYDNEY Swans have tackled the life out of Melbourne in atrocious conditions at the SCG to romp to an important 55-point win over Melbourne on Sunday.
Persistent rain made the contest a hard slog from the opening bounce, but it was the home side that played the best wet weather footy, eventually winning 12.14 (86) to 4.7 (31).
The Swans laid an incredible 155 tackles for the day, beating the AFL record of Richmond’s 142 against Port Adelaide in 2010.
Luke Parker (17) and Isaac Heeney (14) led the tackle count for the Swans, while Lance Franklin showed his class to boot four vital goals in the low scoring match.
Co-captain Jarrad McVeigh was outstanding in defence for the winners alongside Dane Rampe, Zak Jones and Callum Mills, with 200-gamer Heath Grundy also very good in keeping Demons star Jesse Hogan to one last quarter goal.
Melbourne midfielders Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Bernie Vince worked hard all afternoon for the visitors, while forward Jack Watts and young defender Josh Wagner both showed plenty of fight.
Recalled forward Dean Towers was a star in the opening quarter with 11 possessions and a goal, while Parker, Kennedy and McVeigh also enjoyed seeing plenty of footy on the deck.
As expected, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn gave his midfielders first use of the ball and dominated the hit-out count with Kurt Tippett missing for the Swans, with Viney, Jones and Tomas Bugg providing plenty of early drive for the visitors.
The Swans laid 87 tackles in the first half with small forwards James Rose, Heeney and George Hewett contributing 23 of those between them in a high pressure contest.
Franklin found the slippery conditions tough going in the first half against a close-checking Tom McDonald, but his first major in the second term gave him a significant personal milestone, his 750th career goal.
The triple Coleman medallist then added another two in the third term – the Swans' only two goals of the quarter – to help the home side to an important 25-point lead at the last change.
Four goals in five minutes to Franklin, Towers, Hewett and Ben McGlynn early in the final term then took the Swans' lead to 50 points and ended any hope of a Melbourne comeback, with the game played in the home side's forward half for the rest of the quarter.
MEDICAL ROOM
The Swans and the Demons both came through the game without any major injury concerns.
NEXT UP
Both teams will enjoy the week off for their mid-season bye.
SYDNEY SWANS 2.6 4.8 6.13 12.14 (86)
MELBOURNE 1.1 2.3 3.6 4.7 (31)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 4, Towers, McGlynn 2, Hewett, Kennedy, Nankervis, Lloyd
Melbourne: Petracca 2, Kent, Hogan
BEST
Sydney Swans: McVeigh, Parker, Hannebery, Franklin, Jones, Towers
Melbourne: Vince, Jones, Gawn, Petracca, Viney, Wagner
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Stephens, Kamolins, Jeffery
Official crowd: 19,086 at SCG
