Swans back on track, finals bound

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JOHN Longmire won't hear a word of it but it's time for Swans fans to start booking accommodation in Melbourne late in September.

It is hard to ignore the significance of monstering a team such as Geelong, who are second on the ladder and have been the best side in the competition for the past decade.

DEADLY SWANS SMASH CATS BY 110 POINTS

The Swans brought a champion team to its knees, one which before last night's match

had beaten the Swans in 12 of their past 14 outings, including the past three.

Geelong were without defenders Tom Lonergan and Corey Enright but their absence did not come anywhere near to accounting for a 110-point loss.

Forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett celebrate another Swans goal. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

Rarely has a team so comprehensively beaten another of such quality in the way the red and whites did at the SCG.

Are the Swans really the same team which lost by 32 points to the GWS Giants in round one?

Sydney have made their adjustments and, with the help of a good run with injuries, have every department of the ground covered, plus some depth to spare.

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They have reinvented the tall forward line through Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, who have shown they can work perfectly together.

Tippett kicked five goals and Franklin four but their dominance only told part of the story.

Twelve of the Swans' first 14 goals were kicked by players more than 195cm tall.

Nick Malceski had 37 disposals. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

Adam Goodes also kicked three goals and ruckman Tom Derickx two.

And because Goodes and Franklin both play with the agility of much smaller players, the Swans' forward line can hardly be described as lumbering.

It is a combination which is enormously hard for opposition defences to combat.

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Making the forward line more difficult to deal with is the service it gets from arguably the best midfield in the competition.

Last year the Swans had three All Australian midfielders in Dan Hannebery, Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack. Josh Kennedy is clearly in that class as well.

They also have another midfielder who is very close to that standard in Luke Parker.

Former Hawk Ben McGlynn is another player who's skill level is not far from that group.

Lance Franklin celebrates his 4th goal with Kurt Tippett. pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

They are backed up by an excellent defensive midfielder in Craig Bird. Young players Harry Cunningham, Jake Lloyd, Brandon Jack and Tom Mitchell add depth and development potential.

In defence the Swans are also very well established and reliable.

All of their back six have played every one of their 10 games this season.

In last night they held one of the best forward lines in the competition to just 38 points after they had 45 inside 50s.

Key defenders Ted Richards and Heath Grundy anchor the key posts with cool heads and experience.

Tippett celebrates as the ball sails over the umpires hat. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Corp Australia

They are supported with enormous run and excellent ball use from Nick Malceski, Rhyce Shaw, Jeremy Laidler, Nick Smith and Dane Rampe.

Rampe has proven to be the perfect replacement for premiership defender Alex Johnson. Like Johnson he can play on both tall and small opponents equally well.

Smith is the go to man for lock down roles on dangerous forwards like Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli.

Even more alarming for opposition teams is the quality of players playing in their reserves.

Norm Smith medallist Ryan O'Keefe, dual premiership player Lewis Roberts-Thomson, number six draft pick Gary Rohan and talented youngsters Tom Mitchell and Brandon Jack are all playing in the NEAFL tomorrow.

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