North Melbourne has gone down to the Sydney Swans by 11 points after a dramatic 48-point turnaround at Tramway Oval in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

SWANS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

Inaccuracy came back to bite the Roos, who kicked 3.10 after quarter time, allowing Sydney to capitalise and run out 14.8 (92) to 11.15 (81) winners.

Sydney could barely lay a glove on the Roos in a relentless opening term, as North Melbourne kicked away with 8.5 from just 16 forward 50 entries to hit the half-ton before the first change.

But the Swans were then able to get the game back on their terms, kicking eight of the next nine goals to flip the game on its head. 

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It was a successful return for George Wardlaw, running the game out in a standout performance which saw him finish with 27 disposals and a game-high nine clearances.

The midfield bull attacked the ball fiercely around the contest and showed his explosiveness with a breakaway clearance to set up the side's opener in the opening seconds.

Finnbar Maley (13 disposals, seven tackles) brought his physicality to the contest, providing a bustling option up forward. 

The big man’s work on the lead saw him rewarded with a couple of set-shot goals in the opening term, while finding the footy and applying tackle pressure around the stoppage as a pinch-hit ruck.

Taking on the brunt of the ruck duties, Taylor Goad played one of his best games of the year. The former first-round pick notched up a season-high 47 hitouts to go with four clearances to help give his side the edge in a physical battle in the middle.

Cooper Trembath (seven marks, one goal) also showed plenty of positive signs in his shift to the forward line, providing a useful target with his aerial attack on the footy, including a brilliant slips-like-catch late in the final term.

The energy of Robert Hansen jnr was instrumental in the Roos’ ball movement early, using his speed and smarts down forward and around the ball. 

The lively forward was the barometer for his side’s early assault, picking up six touches and two goals in the first quarter.

Returning to the side, Zane Duursma (18 disposals, five intercepts) played most of the afternoon in defence, before being swung forward late.

The utility’s best work came down back and in the air, flying high to take a number of contested intercept marks in the opening term. His distribution by foot also helped set up the Roos’ rapid counter-attacks.

Josh Goater (18 disposals, three inside 50s) continued in the same vein as he continues to build in his return from injury, using his speed and composure to kick-start attacks from the back half.

Captain Darcy Macpherson (23 disposals, five tackles) did all he could to get his side over the line, even slotting two first-half goals, while Matthew Keast (22 disposals, five clearances) capped off his performance with a long-range goal late to keep the Roos in the hunt.

Next up

North Melbourne will return home to take on Geelong at Arden Street next Sunday, July 27. The first bounce is scheduled for 12.05pm AEST.

SYDNEY SWANS               3.2    7.5      12.5     14.8    (92)
NORTH MELBOURNE        8.5    9.8     10.12    11.15   (81)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Hanily 4, Dattoli 3, Lloyd 3, Francis, Green, McNamara, Kluske 
North Melbourne: Maley 2, Hansen jnr 2, Macpherson 2, Trembath, Lowe, Tarrant, George, Keast

BEST
North Melbourne: Wardlaw, Macpherson, Keast, Duursma, Goad, Hansen