Sydney’s stars fire to deliver Swans second win of season in impressive performance over North Melbourne

THEY were rated as the best bottom in history when they were winless but Sydney may well be back in town after Josh Kennedy and Dan Hannebery powered the Swans to a big with over North.

Dan Hannebery and the Sydney midfielders did as they pleased. Picture: Michael Klein

FOOTY’S sleeping giant re-opened an eye at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Plenty have written off Sydney this season, and fair enough considering their struggles around the contested ball over the first six rounds.

Finals have looked like a long shot.

But Sunday’s 42-point win over a flat North Melbourne shows there is a pulse in the red and white outfit, as the big-gun midfield combination that has been MIA in the early part of the year roared back to life.

SUNDAY FOOTY: SWANS WIN BIG OVER NORTH

And in what is shaping as one of the most even and volatile seasons in recent years, the 81s on offer for Sydney to win the flag a couple of weeks back might have been the best bet in footy.

“You wouldn’t want to be playing them in the next few weeks,” Terry Wallace said on SEN. “They’re a side that would worry me.”

North have shown plenty of ticker this year and was brilliant last week smashing Adelaide down in Hobart.

Dan Hannebery and the Sydney midfielders did as they pleased. Picture: Michael Klein

But the Roos’ midfield was nowhere near as sharp or as damaging as the Swans and they got blown apart as Sydney made its move kicking four-straight goals in the second term on Sunday.

With a list rated 13th for quality by Champion Data, you could strongly argue Brad Scott’s men have been punching above their weight so far this season, after making the tough calls to part with five key veterans last year.

But this was perhaps their worst performance of the year so far and the Roos’ lack of outside polish underlined their need for a classy prime mover such as Greater Western Sydney’s Josh Kelly.

North has a wretched record without suspended forward Jarrad Waite and his absence hurt the Roos again as fellow key forward Ben Brown was well held by Heath Grundy and Harry Marsh did the job shutting down exciting forward Mason Wood.

Small forward recruits Nathan Hrovat and Jed Anderson faded in and out but Kayne Turner rolled up his sleeves, laying a career-high 10 tackles to match his two goals.

Josh Kennedy had the ball on a string all game.

The Kangas also lost first-round draft pick Jy Simpkin to a serious-looking shoulder injury in a major blow early on and Sydney premiership veteran Jarrad McVeigh suffered a hamstring injury which could threaten his career.

But it was Sydney which made the big statement.

By half time, Swans captain Josh Kennedy looked like a wrecking ball again, Daniel Hannebery had regained that missing zip and confidence, and Luke Parker looked like his old self, snapping two clever goals over his shoulder.

Zak Jones will continue to attract strong interest from Victorian clubs, and in particular Melbourne, if he punches through goals like the ripper he bombed home early in the first quarter.

Midfield bolter Nic Newman amassed a remarkable career-high 35 possessions in only his fifth game and livewire forward Will Hayward has serious x-factor.

And Sydney’s intercept-mark game in the defensive half was back on song.

The rest of the competition would have taken notice of Sydney’s triumph, but bigger tests against St Kilda and Hawthorn over the next fortnight await.

Nic Newman was a late inclusion and was one of Sydney’s best. Picture: Michael Klein

By mid-way through the third quarter, the Swans had skipped to away to a 40-point lead and were so dominant in the middle in periods they had racked up almost more 100 possessions more than their younger opponents.

The superstar sheen was back.

The only query was what really happened when an umpire paid a free-kick against Luke Parker against Ben Brown in the second term for a supposed ruck infringement.

Lance Franklin had an even and physical battle with Robbie Tarrant with the superstar Swan threatening to blow his lid a couple of times for some off-the-all attention.

But “Buddy” was arguably giving it as good as he was getting it and it was party time midway through the last term when he snagged one out of mid-air.

North ruckman Todd Goldstein looked in control of the ruck contests in his battle with Sam Naismith and slotted two early goals, but the difference in class at ground level was significant.

Originally published as Sydney’s stars fire to deliver Swans second win of season in impressive performance over North Melbourne