Isaac Heeney suffered a knee injury, but it was otherwise only good news for Sydney as they sailed to a 38-point win over Melbourne.
Returning to the MCG for the first time since last year’s AFL grand final loss, the occasion and opposition couldn’t be more different for the Swans.
The Demons outscored Sydney in the second half on Saturday, but John Longmire’s men answered every question asked of them when it mattered most.
Regrettably for the majority of the 26,894-strong crowd, there were few and far between early in the 12.16 (88) to 7.8 (50) triumph.
Melbourne’s father-son selection Billy Stretch booted a goal with his first kick, levelling the scores at seven points apiece early in the first quarter.
The Demons’ next goal came in the fifth minute of the third quarter, when the visitors boasted a 47-point lead.
Heeney, a leading contender for the Rising Star award, was substituted off in the second term with ice on his right knee.
The 19-year-old landed awkwardly in a marking contest, looked distraught on the bench and finished the game on crutches.
Dan Hannebery and Jake Lloyd also copped painful leg knocks during the game, but both Swans returned to the field.
Demons defender Tom McDonald did a magnificent job on Lance Franklin, who failed to boot a single goal.
Yet again it proved to be a case of ‘if Buddy doesn’t get you, Tippo must’.
Responding to Stretch’s major in the opening term, Kurt Tippett kicked three consecutive goals to give Sydney a 19-point buffer.
Tippett finished with four goals, 15 hitouts and six tackles in his most impressive outing of the year.
Josh Kennedy was arguably best on ground, however Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Jetta, Luke Parker and Kieren Jack were also standouts for Sydney.
Kennedy tallied a game-high 31 disposals and seven clearances, providing one of the game’s highlights when he broke through a Dom Tyson tackle to snap an outstanding third-quarter goal.
There was plenty of interest in both substitutes, with former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts and recalled veteran Adam Goodes handed the green vests.
Watts came on for Cameron Pedersen in the third quarter, while Goodes entered the fray at Heeney’s expense.
Neither man starred, however there were limited opportunities to shine give the game was as good as over at half-time.
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