Sydney fans turned out in the hope of watching Lance Franklin get his 1000th AFL goal but it was another Swans champion, Luke Parker, who starred with five goals in their 20-point win over GWS at Accor Stadium.
Franklin, who started the game on 995 goals, added just one in the second quarter and was well held by Phil Davis.
Sydney kicked seven straight goals either side of three-quarter time to break open a previously close game, with the visitors winning 17.10 (112) to 13.14 (92) in front of 25,572 spectators.
Parker ignited the Swans’ second-half charge with four majors and it was his second five-goal haul of a 236-game career, equalling his effort against Geelong at the same venue in 2015.
With fellow midfielders Oliver Florent and Isaac Heeney each kicking three goals and Hayden McLean two, Sydney won comfortably despite a quite game from Franklin, who notched eight touches, three marks and two score assists.
Franklin brought up goal 996 in the second quarter when he split the big sticks after GWS key defender Sam Taylor gave away a free kick.
Parker kicked three of his four goals in the third quarter, which ended with Sydney leading by six points.
He added another early in the fourth and then handballed to Heeney for his second goal, with a third coming soon after as Sydney finished over the top of the Giants.
The first half was a wildly entertaining shootout, GWS kicking ten goals to nine to lead by nine points at halftime.
Sydney booted three of the first four goals to lead by 12, but the Giants slammed on the last flour of the term to lead by 15 at quarter time.
Daniel Lloyd kicked two trademark long distance goals and Harry Himmelberg also bagged an opening-quarter double on his way to a team-high three majors.
Up against this old nemesis in Davis, Franklin made a subdued start to the game, not logging a possession in the first quarter.
Tom Green was one of the Giants’ best earning 31 touches, eight clearances and two goals.
AAP
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