Larkey 7’s not enough

Swans back in top 4

A SEVEN-GOAL haul from young North Melbourne star Nick Larkey wasn’t enough to stop the bottom-placed Kangaroos suffering their 18th loss of the year on Sunday as Sydney re-entered the top four courtesy of a 38-point win at Marvel Stadium.

But the Swans blew a giltedged chance to overtake Melbourne in third spot on the ladder after they found themselves 59 points up in the final quarter, before switching off and allowing North to kick the final three goals which denied the visitors a larger percentage boost.

The Kangaroos had a dip, but the gulf in class and skill was telling in the wash-up, and a key reason the game was still alive in the third quarter was Sydney’s poor goalkicking.

The Swans should have been further ahead, but the Roos got within 15 points early in the second half, before Sydney kicked nine of the next 11 majors as the margin got out to 10 goals.

The 18.18 (126) to 13.10 (88) result saw the Swans continue their pursuit of not only a double chance, but also a top-two spot which would guarantee them two home finals.

Meanwhile, North remains on course for back-to-back wooden spoons for the first time since 1934-35.

One area North prided itself on in recent weeks had been its clearance work, but the Swans took that away from it, winning that category 44-36.

The Swans also finished with comfortable wins in contested possessions (150-136) and inside 50s (58-47), while their tackling pressure was a feature all afternoon as they comprehensively out-tackled North 81-59 which led to numerous skill errors as the Swans dined out on scores from turnover for much of the match.

Sydney trio Lance Franklin (four), Tom Papley (three) and Chad Warner (three) finished with 10 goals between them, while Tom Hickey was fantastic in the ruck with 20 touches, 37 hitouts and nine clearances.

Luke Parker (29 touches) was also influential.

STEPHENSON NOT SWITCHED ON

NORTH Melbourne’s Jaidyn Stephenson had a few moments he would rather forget.

Early in the first term he had his back to Errol Gulden, totally oblivious to the young Swan who ran into goal and nailed it from 40m out.

Then early in the final term, his kick-in was chopped off by Franklin and instead of manning the mark, Stephenson yet again had his back to his opponent with his arms on his head in the goal square as Franklin ran into the easy goal.

BUDDY’S ALL RIGHT

MIDWAY through the third term, Franklin gathered the loose ball on the boundary, evaded a pair of Kangaroos, wheeled around on to his nonpreferred right foot and snapped a ripper from 30m. For the second time in as many weeks, he used his right peg, proving in the twilight of his career, an old dog can learn new tricks.

JED JUMPS OVER JAKE

NORTH Melbourne’s Jed Anderson provided a huge highlight five minutes into the game when he flew over Jake Lloyd and pulled in a sensational hanger on the halfforward flank.