Crows have no answer for the AFL premiers who dominate from start to finish.
The Sydney Swans have put together their most impressive win of the AFL season to date, in thumping the Adelaide Crows by 77 points at AAMI Stadium.
In what shaped as a season-defining game for the Crows, who are battling to get a foot-hold in the top eight, they were blown off the park by a precise and sharp Swans outfit.
The pressure around the ball by the Swans and their clean and effective use of it through the hands was sensational as they ran out deserving winners 19.13 (127) to 6.14 (50).
Dan Hannebery was outstanding for the victors as he racked up an incredible 42 possessions for the game, while Tom Mitchell had 31 possessions and 10 tackles.
Despite the massive margin in the end, the game started out evenly as the ball pressure by Adelaide was excellent early, testament to what the game meant to them.
The home side had dominated inside 50s early on, with 7-0 coming their way inside the first five minutes.
Craig Bird kicked the first goal for the game and for the Swans, as the Sydney side showed how to be clinical when presented with a scoring chance.
Adelaide were getting first use of the ball but thereafter, the Swans bustling style of play started to come up trumps, as they dominated the contested possessions statistic.
Ian Callahan responded well to the Swans second goal to stay in touch on the scoreboard, as the game continued to be a tough arm-wrestle.
Sydney ramped up the intensity late in the first quarter as they took control of the ball around the ground with Luke Parker kicking a goal on the quarter time siren to make the lead 18.
Swans started to pull away early in the second quarter as they made the Crows pay for any turnovers they committed.
Ben McGlynn kicked truly to make the margin 40 and the men in red and white had kicked four goals in the second.
Sydney simply working harder than the Crows giving their man on the ball more options as Hannebery finished with 27 disposals at half-time, and the margin was 47 to the Swans.
Jesse White kicked a fantastic goal early in the third term that broke the hearts of the Crows as they were making a small comeback as the margin went back to 49.
Despite the Crows kicking four behinds to begin the third term, the Swans answered back with two quick goals as the normally vocal crowd at AAMI Stadium was stunned, as their side was made to look second-rate.
Mitch Morton typified the Swans’ night as he pulled off a stunning, improvised kick off the ground off the outside of his boot to continue the punishment for the home side as the lead got out to 66.
Seven unanswered goals for the Swans in the third quarter as the Swans stretched the lead
to an incredible lead going into the final term.
Sydney looked set to win by more than 100 points early in the fourth term when Ben McGlynn bagged another major for the away side.
But Adelaide showed some fight late to put some respectability back into the score, but the game had been over as a contest since mid-way through the first term, as the Swans showed they have the depth, skill and flexibility in their squad to win the title again this year.
Sydney has the bye next round as they continue to push towards the top two on the ladder.
The loss could see Adelaide slip as low as 12th after this weekend, as look to bounce back to form when they travel to take on Richmond at the MCG.
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