Sydney have continued their astonishing AFL turnaround, downing Melbourne by 35 points in a hot-tempered clash at the MCG.
Lance Franklin booted four majors and Luke Parker had 38 disposals as Sydney powered their way to an 11.19 (85)-7.8 (50) victory on Friday night.
Melbourne kicked four goals in quick succession to lead at quarter-time but quickly ran out of puff and were thoroughly outplayed.
The impressive win – Sydney’s fourth in a row – propels them into the top eight after a 0-6 start to the season.
But it was marred by an ugly behind-play hit on Callum Mills from Melbourne’s Tomas Bugg, which left the Swans youngster concussed.
Bugg was reported after knocking out Mills with a nasty left hook to the chin in the opening minutes.
The 24-year-old is likely to be referred directly to the tribunal and, after a week where the fallout from Bachar Houli’s hit on Jed Lamb dominated the headlines, Bugg could face a lengthy suspension.
Melbourne also went a man down after halftime with co-captain Jack Viney succumbing to a foot injury.
Sydney dominated from the early going but were wayward in front of goal, booting 1.8 compared to Melbourne’s 4.0 as the Dees quickly capitalised on a brief period of control.
The Swans maintained their outstanding forward pressure and soon found reward for effort, with Franklin’s first major of the night opening the floodgates for John Longmire’s men.
“We were always confident that we’d be able to get going,” Longmire said of the Swans’ improved form.
“We’ve been able to get into a bit of rhythm in regards to our footy and knowing what works, and that’s really important. It gives the players confidence.”
After wins over West Coast and the Western Bulldogs, it was a flat performance from Melbourne, who were without stars Jesse Hogan, Jack Watts and Nathan Jones.
The Dees were coming off their third consecutive six-day break but coach Simon Goodwin downplayed the effect of the schedule.
“Clearly we’ve lost some players through that period so it’s taken a little bit of a toll from a personnel perspective,” he said.
“The boys have still got great belief … I think now we just get an opportunity to reset as a football club.”
Mitcher
Guest
Deflect, deflect, adjust, attack. As above, irrational.
Mark
Guest
Nice deflection
Mark
Guest
One week for every possession. What a hack.
Mark
Guest
Glad you're not on the MRP. Clueless is being generous.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Hit the nail on the head there Kavvy. Its been tiresome from the get go.
Internal Fixation
Guest
Rubbish. Watched 2 full games this weekend with an eye out for that sort of crap. Not one similar cheap shot when a player wasn't looking in 2 full games that was caught on camera.
Internal Fixation
Guest
Actually I had a good look at the footage and decided Bugg was provoked by a cheap shot. I'm not sure if you have played contact sport at any decent level. Actually I'm pretty sure you have not. That blow would have hurt. Mills has to accept some responsibility here.
Mitcher
Guest
You're irrational.
deccas
Guest
Literally every player in the league would be on report most weeks if we go to that standard.
deccas
Guest
I've seen it, it was the sort of niggle you see 100 times a game. Looking at it again confirms that. The friday night big game pep talk got to Bugg and he responded to an incident he will have experienced once or twice every game he has played with a straight left to the jaw of someone who was looking away. Mills wasn't even looking at him when he initiated the contact, let alone when he wore it. I agree that that sort of niggle is unnecessary but there isn't a player in the league that doesn't engage in it, and if there was a reaction like buggs even 10% of the time there would be punches thrown every match.
Kavvy
Guest
Half Bugg's luck wouldn't last ten seconds in a fair fight against most of those sydney mids
Kavvy
Guest
As unfunny as is possible. Time to retire this joke you've been running for too long
Internal Fixation
Guest
https://gfycat.com/UnselfishScratchyGerbil?appref%3Dflagship_iphone It's there in the 1st second of the GIF. I'm not trying to absolve Bugg of all blame. He was a very naughty boy. But clearly he was provoked.
Bruce
Guest
Did it knock him out cold?
DonsR
Guest
4 weeks - you wouldn't be a dees supporter would you? Minimum 6 weeks. Complete dog act. Enough said.
DonsR
Guest
Wow, leading elbow.. cheap shot!! Kidding me - you cannot rationalise Buggs behaviour. Looked like pretty standard niggling that most defenders do to annoy there opponents. 10 players would be getting knocked out a game if all players reacted like this. Was mills reported for this so called 'elbow'??
Mitcher
Guest
Agree decca. IF got me interested with these pretty sensational claims, and it didn't take me much convincing to whack the game back on the tv. Carn the boys. But calling that a leading elbow when it looked like your standard forearm shove (granted a bit of a blindside) is pretty over the top. As above, good intentions on the niggle campaign, but fairly atrociously executed.
Jon boy
Guest
100% Right,,,,,,,,Bugg is not a "Good Bloke" His so called Apology was as week as he is
deccas
Guest
Typical response of someone who realises he is in trouble.
deccas
Guest
I think you're really overstating the niggle that mills put in here Internal Fixation. Calling it Elbow when its largely arm, its pretty standard and you'd see upward of 100 of those every match. Blaming someone who gets a punch to the head, and a concussion and no further part in the game, and not the person who threw that punch is ... well its utterly ridiculous.