The Swans run rampant to overrun hot starting Cats in top-end clash

The Sydney Swans have cemented their position as the premiership favourites after blowing away Geelong by 30 points at the SCG.

The Cats started hot, nailing the first six goals of the match while holding the Swans goalless in the first term.

Sydney went at just 45 per cent by foot in the first quarter, their lowest in a single term so far this season, as the Cats looked dangerous courtesy of some Tyson Stengle magic.

The Geelong back six looked impenetrable as the second term got underway, with the likes of Jade Kolodjashnij and Mark O’Connor standing firm with three intercepts apiece, while the Swans remained without a major until the half-way point of the quarter.

As to be expected, the strength of the Swans was too much to hold after quarter-time, with Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney driving the home side to a five goal to one return ahead of the main break.

A back-and-forth affair unfolded in the third as Stengle found his third major, but two late Tom Papley goals saw the Swans take the lead for the first time in the contest to enter the final exchange with an 11-point lead.

A shootout in the final term saw the Swans kick seven to Geelong’s four as Sydney walk away with a five-goal advantage, claiming the contest (16.16) 112 to (12.10) 82. Sydney managed 16 of the last 22 majors after Geelong’s early six-goal buffer, a feat that truly signified the very best of the competition.

Sydney travel to South Australia to take on the Crows next Saturday, while Geelong head into the bye at risk of falling out of the top four.