Lance Franklin has helped Sydney make history at the SCG, smashing AFL rivals Carlton by 71 points on Saturday night to equal their all-time club record of 12 straight wins.
Not since their days as South Melbourne have they enjoyed such a streak, the most recent in 1935.
The 18.14 (122) to 7.9 (51) victory keeps the Swans one game clear of Hawthorn at the top of the ladder and red-hot favourites to take out the 2014 premiership.
It’s a tag John Longmire’s men never looked in danger of losing against the Blues, who went into the match clear underdogs.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse knew his side’s round-17 clash was going to be a challenge – claiming mid-week that Sydney had the strongest and deepest list he’d ever seen in football.
And, boy, did they prove him right.
A 10-goal, third-quarter blitz – including five from superstar forward Lance Franklin – turned what was a tough early battle into a whitewash in front 34,965 fans.
Wind and occasional rain kept goals at a premium early on, with just seven points separating the sides at half-time.
But that blew out to as much as 78 points in the final term, as the Swans looked to the stars and took flight.
Franklin booted an impressive six goals, while fellow forward Sam Reid nabbed four.
It did, however, take the home side nearly 18 minutes to get the game’s first major, thanks to a hard-running Gary Rohan.
The visitors hit back through Brock McLean moments later, only for Nick Malceski to nail a 50m penalty just before the first break to keep the Swans ahead by eight.
The 2012 premiers remained in control in the second quarter, although the Blues refused to give in.
They laid on four majors in the term, including one after the half-time siren from Blaine Johnson – his first in AFL – to take it to 6.6 (42) to 5.5 (35).
While the Blues managed to restrict $10 million man Franklin to just five touches – and no points – in the opening half, it later proved worthless.
A free kick early in the third term gave him his first goal of the night and triggered an avalanche of majors to the Swans.
Adam Goodes, Jared McVeigh and Luke Parker joined Franklin and Reid as scorers in the penultimate quarter, in which the Blues were kept goalless.
Brownlow Medal contender Josh Kennedy put in another stunning performance, finishing with a massive 29 contested possessions.
Dane Rampe also impressed in defence before being subbed, while Ben McGlynn successfully kept Blues star Chris Judd at bay.
Michael huston
Guest
Fantastic night for the Swans. Kennedy breaking the record for contested possessions. Ten-goal third quarter. Six goals for Buddy, four for Reid. Pyke dominating in the center. Handy percentage booster. All in a game. Buddy and Kennedy also helped their Brownlow chances. Sydney just have an immense quantity of talent all over the ground, ranging from 21 year old Parker to 34 year old Goodes. What's impressed me most about the team this year is the manner in which the victories have come. Backs-against-the-wall-victory vs Freo - check Defensive slog vs Melbourne - check Routine thrashing vs Brisbane - check Inaccurate-in-front-of-goals vs Hawks - check Victory on the big stage vs Bombers - check Post-bye/bogey team vs Geelong - double check Cruise control win vs Gold Coast - check Nail-biting to-the-final-siren win vs Port - check Come-from-behind win vs Richmond - check Redemption win vs GWS - check Wet weather slog vs Eagles - check And run-away victory vs Carlton - check It's a brilliant narrative that's deserving of a flag, but hopefully the boys will know that they have to bring their best every week. The flag won't be handed to them, especially with equally deserving teams such as Freo and Hawthorn chasing their tails. Best on ground: 1. Kennedy 2. Parker 3. Franklin 4. McVeigh 5. Jack/Malceski/Reid
Momentbymoment
Guest
Bosk just needs a bit of attention.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
The Swans administration, and the recruitment department in particular, don't get nearly enough credit. The blowhards like Eddie McGuire have been shown up for the duds they are. All that Magpie money and where are they on the ladder?
Olivia Watts
Roar Guru
Bosk, EVERY team buys its success. That is why we have professional players being identified and drafted by professional recruiters to be trained within a professional club structure by professional coaches. Sydney doesn't do anything other clubs don't do; they simply do it with more skill and efficiency than other clubs. And please, don't drag out the old hoary COLA chestnut - everyone from the AFL down to your own coach knows there was never any way of stockpiling that money to effectively increase the salary cap - it was an addition built into contracts formulated and signed within the salary cap limits and monitored to death by the AFL and the McGuire-led media. We didn't to it differently than any other club, we simply did it better and smarter and selected superior players. Good luck with your recruiting over the next few years - you'll need it.
EddyJ
Guest
I suppose these are the sort of ill-informed comments we'll just have to get used. Sydney is a great team developed over a decade, but no, they're cheats because they've signed up two expensive players – all within the rules, and all above board – who wanted to play for the club. Never mind the fact that they are a very professional and very well managed club, a good coach and have managed to develop players who were rejected by other clubs, the Swans will be derided and labelled as cheats whenever they achieve success. Getting a bit boring really – no claims of cheating when they were 1-3 at the beginning of the season. Picked up Lewis Jetta and San Reid after coming 13th in 2009. Luke Parker at #40 in 2010. Is Nick Smith a star, Heath Grundy, McGlynn or Laider (rejected by Carlton)? No, they are players that were nurtured over time and have developed into a very good team. How about Dane Rampe? Was he stolen as well? We keep getting these silly comments about the Swans being a bought team, implying that cheating has been going on but it's not the case. Time to grow up a bit.
Bosk
Guest
Best winning streak* money can buy! :D