By Justin Chadwick
Isaac Heeney has put on a scintillating display and Charlie Curnow kicked four goals as Sydney dealt West Coast a harsh reality check with a crushing 128-point win in Perth.
The Swans kicked the first 11 goals of Saturday night’s match on the way to the stunning 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35) victory in front of 50,723 fans at Optus Stadium.
Heeney, on his return from a hamstring injury, was the star of the show with 26 disposals, 12 score involvements, 518m gained and four goals to go with a stunning mark-of-the-year contender over the top of Harley Reid.
Curnow, who had kicked just five goals in his first three games for the Swans, kicked 4.2, while Brodie Grundy (28 disposals, 33 hitouts, nine clearances, one goal) was a monster in the ruck.
It was a memorable way to celebrate the 200-game milestone of Swans forward Tom Papley, who finished with two goals and three goal assists from 24 possessions.
The result boosted Sydney’s record to 3-1 ahead of their Gather Round clash with Gold Coast.
West Coast, who were riding high following comeback wins over North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, slipped to 2-2 and will now have to digest the fifth largest loss in the club’s history.
“We’re not anywhere near where we need and want to be,” Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said when comparing his team to the competition’s elite sides.
“Clearly, playing the best teams in the comp, we can’t get any part of the game really on our own terms. “The Swans to me, to my eye and every bit of data today, they were as good a team as I’ve seen this year. Clearly their back-half ball movement is electric. “We had plenty of plans in place, but we were not able to stop them. I thought their speed, their zip, their reaction, was at a completely different level to ours.”
Star Eagles playmaker Harley Reid, without the help of fellow midfield bulls Elliot Yeo (groin) and Deven Robertson (suspended), was restricted to just 17 disposals and one clearance under the tight attention of tagger James Jordon.
Sydney’s Angus Sheldrick could be in strife after unleashing a forearm to the head of Reuben Ginbey in the final quarter.
Malcolm Rosas was a late withdrawal for the Swans with a calf injury.
Heeney tore the game open from the outset, tallying 10 disposals, four clearances and a major as Sydney slammed through six goals to nil in the opening term.
“He’s been doing it for years,” Sydney coach Dean Cox said of Heeney.
“His work as an on-baller, his ability to push forward – he stands up in big moments.
“A lot of people probably see goals and speccy marks, but he’s selfless, team orientated, and he’s our vice captain for a reason.”
The onslaught continued in the second term, with Papley’s snap on the run and Chad Warner’s double fend-off among the many Swans highlights.
Remarkably, when Sydney had 11 goals to their name compared with West Coast’s zero, the inside-50m count was level at 25.
The Eagles’ first goal of the match came at the 25-minute mark of the second quarter when Jake Waterman snapped truly on the run, but it was already game over by that point.
The margin hit 100 points when Heeney kicked his fourth goal at the 20-minute mark of the third term, and Sydney never let up.
In yesterday’s other match, Aliir Aliir has been lauded for his leadership in defence after Port Adelaide eased early-season pressure on first-year coach Josh Carr with a 42-point hammering of winless Richmond.
The Tigers slumped to their worst start to a season in 16 years, falling behind early when they conceded the first five goals in the Power’s 13.12 (90) to 6.12 (48) victory at the MCG on Saturday.
Maurice Rioli took a spectacular mark on Logan Evans’ back and converted his set shot for Richmond’s first goal 20 minutes into the second term.
But it was one of few moments of joy for Adem Yze’s side in a fourth consecutive loss in the new campaign.
Port (2-2) squared their season record, rebounding from a horror home defeat to West Coast with an improved team display.
It could come at a cost, with Willem Drew to be scrutinised over a sling tackle on Steely Green, whose head hit the ground in the incident.
Zak Butters (30 disposals), Darcy Byrne-Jones (26) and Kane Farrell (24) were all key contributors, and Aliir (18 intercepts) gleefully mopped up loose balls in the back half.
“Aliir led the way off the back of a week of being challenged,” Carr said.
“After the loss last week, having one of our leaders stand up under pressure and lead the way was what we needed, and he did that.”
Mitch Georgiades, Jack Lukosius, Jason Horne-Francis and Jack Whitlock kicked two goals each for Port.
Recalled veteran Ollie Wines had 11 touches in 55 per cent game time in his first appearance of the season.
“He came in and played the role that we wanted him to,” Carr said.
“He won some contested footy, and his seniority and calmness around the group was what we needed, especially in those times when the game was going against us.”