The Sydney Swans have stormed into the top four after a convincing 73-point win over the GIANTS at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
After a competitive first 20 minutes, the Swans shifted gears and showed little mercy on their struggling rivals, kicking nine unanswered goals at one stage to run out 17.10 (112) to 5.9 (39) winners.
It was their fourth consecutive victory and temporarily moves them into fourth place ahead of Brisbane, who play Richmond on Sunday.
John Longmire could have little to complain about as his men put together a complete performance, harassing the GIANTS defensively and moving the ball aggressively when they had the chance.
They extended their lead at every break and had contributors all over the field.
Luke Parker (34 disposals, six tackles and six clearances) was magnificent, winning his third consecutive Brett Kirk Medal, and fifth overall.
Errol Gulden (33 and two goals), Callum Mills (27) and James Rowbottom (23) were all part of a dominant midfield that won the clearance count 44-34 and gave their team a whopping 68-36 inside 50 advantage.
Sam Reid, Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney kicked three goals apiece among nine individual goalkickers.
Sydney dominated from the early stages, establishing a 19-point lead at quarter-time on the back of suffocating pressure and a willingness to move the ball quickly once they won it.
Paddy McCartin (nine intercepts for the day) and Nick Blakey (11) took intercept marks forward of centre that were the springboard for quick transition and goals to Heeney and Mills respectively.
Tom Papley typified the defensive intent, trapping Callum Brown with a textbook tackle that he then finished with a classy around-the-corner set shot from 40m.
It helped set the tone for a Swans team that won the tackle count 72-49.
Reid kicked two of the Swans' six first-quarter goals, including one from a downfield free kick against Braydon Preuss for a late hit on Rowbottom.
Things got a little better for the GIANTS in the second term, as the Swans kicked three unanswered goals to continue their domination.
Every time Sydney won the ball back, waves of free men would stream through the SCG corridor calling for the ball.
If it wasn't for Sam Taylor's heroics on Lance Franklin, the margin would have been far greater than the 37 points it showed at half-time.
Despite Franklin kicking three second-half goals, Taylor was magnificent in defeat.
SYDNEY 6.2 9.6 13.8 17.10 (112)
GIANTS 3.1 3.5 5.6 5.9 (39)
GOALS
Sydney: Reid 3, Franklin 3, Heeney 3, Papley 2, Gulden 2, Hayward, Mills, Rowbottom, Blakey
GIANTS: Greene 2, Himmelberg, Hogan, Preuss
BEST
Sydney: Parker, Rowbottom, Gulden, Mills, P.McCartin, Reid, Heeney
GIANTS: Taylor, Kelly, Whitfield, Haynes
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
GIANTS: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Nil
GIANTS: Stephen Coniglio (replaced in selected side by Xavier O'Halloran)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Josh Kennedy (unused)
GIANTS: Lachlan Keeffe (unused)
