AFL round 23 LIVE: Alarm bells ringing for Dons; Top-placed Swans ...

Nic Martin has kicked his third goal - his first two came in the first term.

The cheer was pretty tepid. The Essendon fans are deep in their feelings as they contemplate another year without finals.

Swans 98, Dons 59 with two mins to go.

Hayward won a free kick close to goal and kicked his third.

By my count, the Swans have kicked six of the last seven goals in this final term.

Swans 98, Dons 52 with four mins to go.

Swans forward Joel Amarty has a habit of coming up with the unexpected whether it is a mark, goal or something else.

He just grabbed the ball off the ground and snapped for goal while being turned by a tackler.

He still managed to put it right through the middle from a tight angle.

Dons fans are walking out.

Swans 85, Dons 52 with eight mins left to go.

Joel Amartey of the Swans and Ben McKay of the Bombers.Credit: Getty Images

Essendon’s season is almost at the point of no return. Isaac Heeney’s left-foot set shot snap from the boundary has put the Swans up by 27 points.

The one-time Brownlow Medal favourite has booted three goals, and is up to 21 touches after only five in the first half. Kyle Langford has the quick reply to trim the gap to 21 points - so Dons fans don’t turn the TV off just yet.

The Swans are all but home now after Heeney booted another goal.

Essendon just can’t move the ball out of defence, or anywhere on the ground - Sydney are just too good.

Isaac Heeney of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Kyle Langford responded from the centre bounce with a goal for the Dons.

Both clubs have used their subs with Nick Bryan (Bombers) and Taylor Adams (Swans) both subbed out of the game.

Swans 73, Dons 52 with 12 mins left to play.

The Swans needed a response and Luke Parker bobbed up again to win the footy and kick a goal.

He took a lovely mark on his knees as well.

Swans 67, Dons 46 with 16 mins left to play.

Luke Parker of the Swans celebrates kicking a goal.Credit: Getty Images

Essendon have won two quarters, Sydney one - but at three-quarter time it’s Sydney who own a 21-point lead. Jake Stringer’s miss after the siren sums up much of the Bombers’ night - they have not taken their chances.

They should have been much further ahead at half-time than seven points, but their wastefulness going inside 50 came back to bite them on the bum.

The Swans lifted their intensity at the contest, their pressure rose with it, and so too did their ball use. Quiet in the first half, Isaac Heeney had 12 touches in the third quarter.

But I felt the spark came from Luke Parker, who booted two goals and won vital clearances. He’s not the player he was but for the second week in a row the veteran has ignited his team.

The Bombers cracked under pressure. Yet again, they were unable to lift their game when their opponent surged. Their senior and supposedly better players let them down. Jayden Laverde’s dropped mark set up a goal for Will Hayward, one of six that quarter and the middle pin of a three-goal spurt in as many minutes.

Jye Caldwell’s skill error set up another to Braeden Campbell. This game remains very much winnable for the Dons, but it’s a big test of their character. If they pass, they’ll be seventh tonight. If not, it’s goodnight for 2024.

Caldwell has made a good start to the last term with a goal.

Swans 61, Dons 46 with 18 mins left.