North Melbourne's unbeaten run is over after the Sydney Swans won a hard-fought contest at the SCG on Friday night by 26 points.
The home side set up the victory with a brilliant opening quarter, and apart from a Kangaroos comeback late in the second term, the Swans always looked in control and eventually took the honours 14.7 (91) to 9.11 (65).
Prolific midfielders Tom Mitchell (41 possessions), Josh Kennedy (35) and Dan Hannebery (34) set the tone for the Swans, while Lance Franklin finished with three goals for the night.
North hard-men Jack Ziebell, Andrew Swallow and Ben Cunnington tried hard against the tide, while Robbie Tarrant did a solid job on Franklin and forward Lindsay Thomas kicked three goals for the visitors, all in the first half.
Roos coach Brad Scott was quick to praise the Swans, and acknowledged his team was beaten by the better team on the night.
"We got beaten around the contest, they got their hands on the ball first," Scott said.
"They transitioned really well and we gave away two sloppy high-tackle free kicks.
"They converted them and put us on the back foot early.
"We didn't play our best, but that wasn't the reason we lost, the Swans played well."
Star North ruckman Todd Goldstein had 15 hitouts in the opening term opposed to Kurt Tippett and Callum Sinclair, but the Swans won the clearances and dominated possession with Kennedy, Jake Lloyd and Mitchell all prominent, and Franklin booting two of the home side's six goals for the quarter.
Lindsay Thomas matched the effort of Franklin to be the Kangaroos' only clear winner early, and the goalsneak added a third just after the break to reduce the deficit to 16 points.
The Swans steadied through goals Hannebery and Jarrad McVeigh, but the visitors turned the momentum of the game after finally taking advantage of Goldstein's efforts, and when they grabbed the last three of the term – the last of which was a brilliant snap from Goldstein himself from deep in the pocket – North trailed by just nine points at half-time.
The third term mirrored that of the opener with the home side more efficient with the footy and the Kangaroos terribly wasteful, especially by foot, and four goals to one for the Swans handed them the advantage with a quarter to play.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: The home side appeared to get through the game without any injury issues.
North Melbourne: Goldstein's right knee could be an issue for him next week, with the big man noticeably limping through the second half.
NEXT UP
The Swans get an eight-day break before they head north to take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium next Saturday night, while North Melbourne backs up for another Friday night clash with Richmond at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
Sydney: 6.1 8.2 12.3 14.7 (91)
North Melbourne: 2.2 6.5 7.7 9.11 (65)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 3,McVeigh 2, Kennedy, Hewett, Heeney, Hannebery, Cunningham, McGlynn, Mitchell, Rohan, Jones
North Melbourne: Thomas 3, Brown, Dumont, Goldstein, Macmillan, Nahas, Wells
BEST
Sydney Swans: Mitchell, Hannebery, Kennedy, McVeigh, Grundy, Lloyd, Tippett
North Melbourne: Cunnington, Ziebell, Thomas, Gibson, Macmillan
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Harris, Ryan, Jeffery
Official crowd: 38,498 at the SCG
