Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney have starred as Sydney dispatched a fighting Greater Western Sydney by 21 points.
The Swans prevailed 16.15 (111) to 12.18 (90) in an absorbing AFL derby at the SCG on Saturday, delivering their cross-town rivals a reality check as to who rules the harbour city.
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As the self-relegated Adam Goodes watched from the sidelines, young revelation Heeney showed strength, poise and accuracy to grab four goals in his first game at the SCG before being subbed out late on.
The 18-year-old combined beautifully with Franklin, providing two assists to the star forward a decade his senior, who yet again proved his worth with a five-goal performance to maintain Sydney’s unbeaten start to the season.
“Lance kicked some important goals at important times, and he’s able to stand up when needed,” Swans coach John Longmire said after the game.
The Giants were impressive and dominated early in each term, matching the Swans in vigour if not on the scoreboard as they notched 406 disposals to Sydney’s 381 and led contested possessions 135 to 122.
But it wasn’t enough against a staunch Sydney midfield led by Daniel Hannebery (34 disposals) and Jarrad McVeigh (17 kicks), and their profligacy in front of goal ultimately cost them.
Heeney drew first blood, ramming home a classy snap goal in the fifth minute.
The Swans applied their trademark forward pressure, with Franklin unleashing from the centre square to drill a brilliant goal from 60m out before Heeney and Hannebery added to the first-quarter spoils.
Rhys Palmer gave the Giants a much-needed major just before halftime – the 26-year-old topscored for his side with three nifty goals in his 99th game.
That was before Luke Parker delivered a contender for the freak goal of the season to give the Swans a 30-point lead just before the main break, dribbling through at an acute angle after somehow throwing the ball back at his own foot when he lost balance and fell face-first.
Longmire warned this week of the Giants’ danger in the back end of games, and the visitors duly delivered four goals in the third stanza, including a double in quick succession from forward Cameron McCarthy to close the gap to 14 points.
They maintained the momentum in the final term with a rapid three goals that included a beauty from Palmer.
But while the Giants fought gallantly, Sydney were irresistible in front of a 31,966-strong crowd and Franklin’s 50m set shot from the boundary in the dying minutes steered his side home.
GWS coach Leon Cameron praised his team but admitted their early inaccuracy left them too much to do.
The Giants only managed one goal six in the opening term – when Jeremy Cameron missed three shots – and three goals 13 in the first half.
“It’s been a bit of a problem the last two weeks. You can’t give sides that much of a start coming into the halftime mark, and a lot of those shots were probably gettable,” Cameron said.
Shane Mumford was reported for rough conduct after what appeared to be a headbutt on Jeremy Laidler in the second term.
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