‘This is disturbing’: Swans thrashed by 112 points in AFL bloodbath

The Sydney Swans will have to overcome 79 years of history if they’re going to win the 2024 flag after an absurd bloodbath in Adelaide.

The Swans didn’t get off the plane in Adelaide. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Sydney Swans have crashed right back to earth after Port Adelaide gave the AFL ladder leaders an absolute hiding at Adelaide Oval.

The 22.16 (148) to 5.6 (36) result was a complete and utter humiliation with Port Adelaide holding the Swans scoreless in the first quarter to lead by 45 at quarter time, the 20th instance in VFL/AFL history the side sitting on top of the ladder were kept to zero in the first quarter.

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Even worse, the Swans became the first team this season to not have a possession inside 50 in a quarter.

It didn’t get any better from there.

The Swans finally scored with Port at 11.5 (71).

At halftime, Port kicked away to a 13.8 (86) to 1.3 (9) lead.

Coach John Longmire spoke with Fox Footy at halftime, and was asked how’d describe the first half.

“It was terrible — I can’t really describe how bad it was that half of footy,” Longmire said.

“At some point you’ve got to start winning a contest.

“Serving up that sort of stuff is just not acceptable.”

Wow. Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images

While the scoring slowed somewhat in the third, Port still kicked another 22 points ahead.

The commentators were left shell-shocked as the Swans looked to keep the lead under 100 points.

In the fourth quarter, down by 96 points, Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson called the performance “an atrocity”.

The Swans did get one back soon after, but Dermott Brereton was not convinced.

“This is disturbing, it’s not a mulligan going on here, they’ve lost five of the last six and this is an absolute walloping,” he added.

But the Swans couldn’t avoid the horrific scoreline and will now have to make history to claim the flag as the biggest ever loss by an eventual premier is 100 points by 1945 champions Carlton.

The 112-point scoreline is also the second biggest for a team on top of the ladder in history, beaten only by the 150-point loss for North Melbourne against Fitzroy in round 13 of 1983. For the record, North Melbourne won the minor premiership that season, but were knocked out in the preliminary final in an 86-point drubbing to Essendon.

It’s one of the wildest falls from grace with many fans believing it was the Swans’ premiership to lose a month ago.

Chad Warner didn’t look like he could believe it. Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

After round 15, the Swans were flying high, having lost just one match all season.

Then they lost to the Dockers by a point, which started a bizarre run of what is now five losses in six matched to sit just one win ahead of the second placed Cats.

The first three losses in that run were by a combined five points but the alarm bells are certainly ringing now after a 39-point loss to the Bulldogs in round 20 and now a 112-point obliteration.

At full-time, Hudson was stunned by “the indignity of it all”.

“In this bizarre, crazy season, this might just be the craziest result of all,” he said.

Former Swans star Jude Bolton tweeted: “Any danger of the Swans showing some backbone? “One way traffic. Port continuing to absolutely smoke them!”

The Age’s Marnie Vinall posted: “Every year, halfway through the season we all act like the ladder and contenders are set. This is the most unpredictable game in the world. I love it sm.”

NewsWire’s Ronny Lerner commented: “This has been one of the most dramatic drop-offs in form from a one-time red-hot premiership favourite that I can ever remember. It’s hard to fathom Sydney’s six-week capitulation.”

Another fan arguably said it best, tweeting: “just saw the score … wtf?”

Port Adelaide have obliterated Sydney. Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The result sees Port Adelaide jump to second on the AFL ladder after six wins in their last seven games.

It’s a long way from where they were earlier in the season when head coach Ken Hinkley’s job appeared to be no longer tenable.

But the response has been clear with Port Adelaide now potentially in position to snatch not only a spot in the top four, but even potentially the minor premiership.

With matches against Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle to come for Port Adelaide, who knows what could happen with Sydney seemingly falling in a hole.