Sydney have bounced back to form emphatically, consolidating second spot on the AFL ladder with a 51-point trouncing of crosstown rivals Greater Western Sydney.
The Swans were untroubled from the opening ball-up on Saturday as they cruised to a 21.13 (139) to 13.10 (88) victory on Saturday.
Errol Gulden collected his fourth Kirk-Ward Medal as the best player in the Sydney Derby, racking up 41 disposals, seven clearances and 1045 metres gained, the most in Swans history.
Brodie Grundy (23 disposals, one goal) was supreme in ruck, while Chad Warner (32, one), Isaac Heeney (25, one), Nick Blakey (24, one) and James Rowbottom (23, two) all had the Giants’ measure.
Charlie Curnow kicked four goals and Logan McDonald added three.
Adding injury to insult for GWS, who have now lost seven of the past eight derbies, midfielder Finn Callaghan hobbled off in the dying minutes after rolling his right ankle.
GWS showed a lot more fight after the main break, outscoring Sydney in the second half but the damage was already done.
Clayton Oliver (29 touches, one goal) toiled hard in the midfield for the Giants, as did Connor Idun (27), Lachie Whitfield (26) and Lachie Ash (26) in defence.
AAP
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