Buddy and his boys turn on a power show
Lance Franklin kicked three goals as Sydney gave Port Adelaide a 48-point drubbing on Saturday night to remain unbeaten this AFL season.
The Swans prevailed 14.8 (92) to 6.8 (44) at Adelaide Oval, handing Port consecutive losses to start their campaign.
Sydney, with Franklin prominent and Dan Hannebery and Lewis Jetta kicking two goals each, suffocated the Power with their trademark pressure.
Franklin was the dominant forward on the ground, collecting 17 disposals and taking eight marks.
The star Swan feasted on chances from a commanding midfield led by Josh Kennedy (36 disposals), Hannebery, Kieren Jack (31 touches), Luke Parker (30 disposals) and Jarrad McVeigh (26 possessions).
Port’s timing was off from the outset – the coin toss from Tim Farriss of INXS fame lobbed on a photographer and their pre-game anthem, Never Tear Us Apart, continued after the opening siren.
Power players made frequent skill blunders and struggled to find an attacking threat – recruit Paddy Ryder was their only multiple goalscorer, slotting two – while backman Jasper Pittard gathered 34 touches and onballers Robbie Gray (32 possessions) and Ollie Wines (29 disposals) toiled hard.
But Sydney controlled proceedings after a frenetic opening stalemate: the first goal didn’t come until the 17th minute when Jetta potted a snap-shot.
The Swans were then never headed and extended their lead in every quarter – up 12, 20 and 31 points at the breaks.
When Franklin dribbled a remarkable soccer goal from near the boundary line nine minutes into the last term, the Swans – who host another unbeaten outfit in Greater Western Sydney next Saturday – had silenced the parochial 49,765-strong Port crowd.
And the Power will lose Jarman Impey for next Saturday night’s away fixture against North Melbourne, the defender substituted in the second stanza because of a hamstring strain.
In tonight’s other match, St Kilda has notched its first AFL win of 2015 with by holding off the Suns for a 28-point victory on the Gold Coast.
SCOREBOARD: GC v STK
 10.16 (76) |
Gold Coast v St Kilda |
 16.8 (104) |
|---|---|---|
| in Carrara, April 11, 2015 | ||
| 357 | Disposals | 380 |
| 52 | Clearances | 34 |
| 50 | Inside 50 | 54 |
| 53 | Tackles | 64 |
|
Gold Coast: T Lynch 3, D Prestia 2, G Ablett, J Garlett, M Hallahan, H Bennell, M Rischitelli
St Kilda: J Bruce 6, J Sinclair 2, A Saad 2, N Riewoldt 2, T Curren, L Dunstan, J Lonie, D Robertson | ||
A late surge from the Suns, which saw them score five straight majors in the final quarter, was not enough to get them home, as the Saints won 16.8 (104) to 10.16 (76).
Josh Bruce was the most potent Saints player in front of goal, scoring six majors.
Gold Coast has now lost its first two games of the season and much of the preseason optimism surrounding the club will already be fading.
