Sydney Swans destroy West Coast as AFL world reacts to historic bloodbath

The Sydney Swans have left the AFL world in disbelief after a record-breaking massacre of West Coast on Saturday night, in which they piled on more than 200 points against the hapless Eagles. The 31.19 (205) to 5.4 (34) drubbing was the heaviest loss suffered by the Eagles in the proud club's AFL history.

For the Swans, the result was the second-highest score ever for the club and greatest since 1987, with the 171-point massacre equalling the biggest winning margin in club history. It's also the equal-fourth highest ever in the AFL/VFL.

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It took the Swans (6-8) just 26 seconds to boot their first goal through Chad Warner in an early sign of what was to come. The Swans finished with 9.4 to 1.0 at the first change in their highest opening term score since 1997 and equal-third best ever, then topped that in the third term with 11.5 to 0.2.

The rampant Swans had winners all over the ground, starting with Errol Gulden (32 disposals, three goals), Chad Warner (33, two), Angus Sheldrick (29, one) and co-captain Luke Parker (28, two) around the stoppages. The Swans had 12 goalkickers with nine of those finishing with multiple majors, as Isaac Heeney filled his boots with 5.4 and promising tall forwards Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey both kicked four.

Hayden McLean booted the goal that took the Swans past a double ton as they became the first team to reach the milestone since 2011. The Eagles' (1-13) have now been defeated by more than 100 points four times this season but this was their most humiliating as the slick Swans fine-tuned for what looms as a late season surge toward the top eight.

Sydney Swans overwhelm West Coast in AFL massacre

Swans coach John Longmire says he wasn't bothered about the records that tumbled at the SCG on Saturday night. Longmire said he did not push his players to set new benchmarks even when several were within reach in the final term.

"In those times, you probably as a coach, you step back and let the players go. I didn't have much of an involvement," the Sydney coach said. "They were in the moment and they knew what they had to do. So, I think, step out of their way."

West Coast captain Luke Shuey (28 disposals) battled hard around the ball along with Tim Kelly (27, one goal), while Oscar Allen and Jack Darling were shining lights in the Eagles forward line with two goals each. The undermanned Eagles were again hit hard by injury with Jack Williams ruled out with an ankle injury before halftime, while Sam Petrevski-Seton was heavily restricted for much of the contest.

Key defender Tom Barrass also spent time in the changerooms being assessed in his return game after being sidelined with a hip complaint. However, West Coast coach Adam Simpson was at a loss to explain the record thumping after the match.

"I'm pretty embarrassed about today," Simpson said. "We tried lots of things, but none of them worked.

"From start to finish, we were on the back foot and we couldn't gain any type of ascendancy at all. In the end, we got what we deserved."

with AAP

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