Proof Swans will 'scare lots of teams'; no Suns answers for 'triple ...

Sydney’s unlikely late-season surge has continued, blitzing Gold Coast in an emphatic second-half effort to register a fifth straight win and, temporarily, jump into the top eight.

The Suns stunned Sydney early, kicking three of the game’s first four goals and skipping out to a 14-point lead midway through the second quarter.

But the Swans kicked six goals to two in the third quarter then booted the first three majors of the final quarter to put the result beyond doubt, running out 24-point winners, 18.6 (114) to 13.12 (90) at the SCG.

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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT

There were no late changes for either side, with Ryan Clarke (Sydney) and James Tsitas (Gold Coast) named the starting subs.

It was a fast start to the game with two set-shot goals — the first one a long-range attempt from Jack Lukosius for the Suns before Swans star Isaac Heeney responded with a strong mark and conversion minutes later.

The Suns then got on a run, with Sam Flanders and Brandon Ellis both snapping terrific goals to give the Suns a 13-point lead.

“Unbelievable,” Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell said after Ellis’ goal.

Heeney responded with his second major before James Rowbottom snapped a brilliant left-foot goal to give the Swans the lead, but Nick Holman conjured an excellent goal just before quarter-time to give the Suns a five-point lead.

Heeney continued his excellent start to the game early in the second term, setting up two Will Hayward goals.

“He’s looking extremely dangerous,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said of Heeney, who was involved in six of the Swans’ first seven scores.

But the Suns hit back, with Levi Casboult, Touk Miller and Lukosius responding to give Gold Coast a game-high 14-point lead.

“Trouble in paradise again for the home team,” Russell said.

The Swans responded with a clever goal to Logan McDonald before Hayward kicked his third for the quarter to cut Gold Coast’s lead to two points. But Noah Anderson and Malcolm Rosas hit back for the Suns as they continued to punish the Swans on stoppage.

“This is a real concern for the Sydney Swans, especially if they’re kicking goals out of stoppage,” Fox Footy’s Dermott Brereton said.

But a goal to McDonald on the half-time siren meant the Swans only trailed by two points at the major break.

Tom Papley then gave Sydney the perfect start to the third quarter, converting a set-shot attempt to give the Swans back the lead.

Rosas responded with a brilliant crumbing goal before McLean kicked his second as the goal fiesta continued.

The Swans then began to gain control of the match, kicking three of the next four goals — including an epic goal to Chad Warner — to open up a 15-point lead.

McDonald kicked his third before Hayward added his fourth to give the Swans a 22-point lead at three quarter-time — a 36-point swing after trailing by 14 points midway through the second term.

The Suns kept on coming, getting on top in contested possessions and generating ample inside 50s. Their defensive pressure went up a notch, highlighted by a double defensive play from Rosas and Mac Andrew.

But they squandered an array of chances in front of goal, with the five of the first six scoring shots of the final term being Suns behinds.

And to rub salt into the wounds, second-year Swan Matt Roberts nailed his first AFL goal to give the Swans a comfortable 25-point lead.

Harry Cunningham drifted forward to add a rare goal before Warner kicked his second to seal a big win for the Swans.

THE 3-2-1 …

3. ‘GOING TO SCARE A LOT OF TEAMS’: PROMISING SIGNS IN 38-POINT TURNAROUND

Beware of the Swans.

A fifth win in a row has John Longmire’s troops now right in the finals mix.

It was far from an easy task, though, against the Suns, who kicked three of the game’s first four goals and skipped out to a 14-point lead in the second quarter as the Swans’ Achilles heel threatened to undo them again.

The Suns at quarter-time led the clearance and contested possession count as the Swans again struggled to get their hands on the ball. Gold Coast was able to kick three forward-50 stoppage goals in a concerning sign for Sydney.

“The way the Gold Coast have been able to score from stoppage inside their forward 50 has been excellent,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson told Fox Footy. “Keeping it alive, first possession win and feeding it effectively to the open players. It’s been really impressive from a Gold Coast point of view against a Sydney midfield that is super competitive.”

But the Swans’ midfield flipped the script in the third quarter, laying 31 tackles to 22 and winning both the contested possession and clearance counts to give Sydney’s forwards greater opportunities. From 15 Sydney inside 50s in the third term, it scored 6.2.

“We battled in that first half and got a bit wrong,” Swans co-captain Luke Parker told Fox Footy post-game. “They were coming through us a bit easy, but we were able to match them in the second half and get it going our way.

“We just tried to play power football. We were probably a bit cute in the first couple of quarters and their pressure was right up, so credit to them. But it was nice for the boys to finish off down forward.”

Five-time premiership Hawk Dermott Brereton said “a lot came together for Sydney”.

“They’ve been terrible at clearance and contested possession in recent weeks, but they’ve turned that around since quarter-time on top of their ability to score off turnover,” Brereton told Fox Footy.

“If they can keep trending that way, winning the ball at contest and at least breaking even at clearance … they are going to scare a lot of teams that come up against them in September.”

2. SUNS NO MATCH FOR SWANS ‘TRIPLE THREAT’ STAR

When Isaac Heeney is flying, the Swans are a much more watchable outfit.

After a sluggish start to the season that saw him kick 10 goals from his first 12 matches, Heeney entered Saturday’s match in decent touch after 15 goals from seven games.

And against the Suns, the 27-year-old showed glimpses of his stunning form that saw him earn All-Australian selection last year, booting two goals from 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions, eight score involvements and six marks.

Heeney was too classy and crafty for first direct opponent Jy Farrar, using his body to outmark the Suns defender then quickly play on to set up goals for both himself and teammates.

“He (Heeney) has got Amartey and McLean in the forward line, but he is the most difficult match-up,” Dal Santo told Fox Footy.

“He’s a triple threat: He can do it at ground level, he can mark it on the lead but he can also take those really good contested marks.

“He‘s the key for the Sydney Swans, not just for this match, but for them to get back into the top eight.”

Brereton added: “His footy IQ is just through the roof. He’s wonderful at the gamesmanship at knowing how to lose his opponent on a lead and how to create space with and early bodycheck.”

The Suns made a match-up change late in the second term, moving Farrar off Heeney and sending Sean Lemmens to the Sydney star.

While Heeney’s output dipped slightly in the second half, the likes of Will Hayward (4 goals), Logan McDonald (3) and Hayden McLean (2) all stood up and looked lively inside 50.

“He (Hayward) has the ability to get in the right place at the right time … This man’s got something different about him,” Dal Santo said.

“He doesn’t take the key defender, yet he finds himself in really prominent positions.”

1. GULDEN CLAMPED BY SUNS STAR

One week after pulling off the game of his life, Sydney star Errol Gulden received a baptism of fire via one of the AFL’s best and most in-form shutdown players.

Gulden claimed the Brett Kirk medal last week for being the best player on the ground in the Swans’ derby win over the Giants, booting 2.2 from 32 disposals and seven inside 50s against the Giants.

But Gulden on Saturday was clamped by Suns star Touk Miller, who again proved why he’s one of the best run-with players in the competition.

Gulden, who’s in line for his maiden All-Australian blazer after averaging a team-high 24.6 disposals, was held to just six disposals in the first half. The Swans star started on the ball then went to the wing – and everywhere Gulden went, Miller went with him.

“It’s a really difficult position to be as a winger when you’re being tagged because you have no variety and the decisions are being made for you,” Dal Santo said.

“He (Gulden) either needs to go into congestion to try and confuse Miller or isolate yourself either behind or in front of the ball. The wing is an isolated spot, but easy to defend.”

To rub salt into Gulden’s wounds, Miller snuck forward and kicked a goal in second term.

Dal Santo joked Gulden late in the second term finally got some space from Miller “but unfortunately had to come from the ground to get it”.

Asked at half-time what his focus was, Miller told Fox Footy: “He’s really good at getting handball receives and he’s got a wicked left foot, so I’m trying my best to make sure he doesn’t get on the end of them. I’ve just got to keep my eye on the job.”

Gulden started the third term as a high half-forward, prompting Suns interim coach Steven King to drop the Miller tag. Subsequently, Gulden had 13 disposals in the second half and played an important role in the Swans’ midfield improvement in the second half.

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