An Isaac Heeney-inspired Sydney have overcome their own wastefulness to beat Gold Coast by 32 points in Gather Round and charge to the top of the AFL ladder.
In a high-pressure clash at Norwood Oval, the Swans were the better team from the outset against the Suns but wasteful in front of goal.
But weight of numbers won out and the Swans found their teeth when it mattered to claim a 14.16 (100) to 9.14 (68) win.
Dean Cox’s Sydney move to 4-1 and will be on top of the ladder – unless the Western Bulldogs draw or win against Hawthorn on Saturday night.
Damien Hardwick’s Suns slip to 3-2 with their second consecutive defeat.
Heeney proved the difference, jagging two goals along with his 33 disposals, 10 clearances, 11 tackles and 18 contested possessions, with stellar support from Chad Warner (two goals, 22 disposals) and Justin McInerney (26 disposals).
Brodie Grundy (20 disposals, 12 tackles, 36 hitouts, seven clearances) worked over Jarrod Witts (30 hitouts, five clearances) and Mac Andrew (17 disposals, 11 hitouts, six marks) in the ruck.
Joel Hamling kept Ben King to two goals, while Tom McCartin and Callum Mills intercepted at will.
Sydney spearhead Charlie Curnow kicked 0.4 and sent another shot out of bounds on the full on a wasteful day, but Tom Papley kicked three great goals.
Sydney were dominant in the air, with Gold Coast failing to take a contested mark, compared with 10 by the Swans.
Matt Rowell (32 disposals, nine clearances), Touk Miller (26 disposals) and Suns defender Bodhi Uwland (26 disposals) were typically prolific, while Ben Long kicked three sensational goals
Mills was in distress after copping a knee to his lower back in a marking contest early in the opening term, but returned and played out the game.
Sydney were up by 23 points at quarter-time and should have led by more, with Curnow kicking three behinds.
In the second term Gold Coast burst to life, before King’s second goal brought the Suns within 10 points late in the third quarter.
But former Sun Malcolm Rosas Jnr kicked a superb goal from the pocket, before Warner’s terrific second goal threatened to turn The Parade into a Swans party.
Alex Davies kept the Suns in it, with Sydney holding a 17-point lead at the final change.
Then Papley and Logan McDonald put the game out of reach.
Sydney return to action with their derby against GWS on Friday, before Gold Coast host Essendon on Saturday.
