A career-best seven-goal haul from recruit Malcolm Rosas has fired Sydney to a thrilling 17-point win over Melbourne.
After seven lead changes in a see-sawing first quarter, Rosas slotted five goals before halftime to help set up a 19.17 (131) to 17.12 (114) victory at the SCG on Saturday.
The Demons slammed through four-straight goals in the final quarter to send a scare through the Swans camp, but Joel Amartey kicked his fourth goal late on to seal the deal.
Moving to the Harbour City this year after six seasons at Gold Coast, the 24-year-old Rosas became only the fifth Swans player in the past 10 years to kick seven or more goals in a game.
The joint ladder leading Swans improved their record to 6-1, with Logan McDonald kicking three goals as former Demons ruck Brodie Grundy marked his 250th game in fine style in front of 40,673 fans.
Melbourne were gallant but hit another speed bump in their first season under coach Steven King, dropping from fourth to sixth (5-2).
A hamstring injury to key forward Brody Mihocek only added to the club’s woes after a week of off-field turmoil.
The Demons are preparing for a legal battle with former chief executive Paul Guerra, who was sensationally axed on Tuesday in favour of Daniel Taylor.
SEVEN FOR MALCOM ROSAS 😲#AFLSwansDees pic.twitter.com/9Ylzsw6S8w
— AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2026
Melbourne’s leading goalkicker with 13 goals so far, Mihocek lasted less than four minutes on Saturday after straining his left hamstring in a contest with Swans defender Lewis Melican.
Mihocek’s absence meant captain Max Gawn was moved deeper into attack, and youngster Max Heath was tasked with an in-form Grundy.
Heath tried earnestly but Grundy (one goal, 10 clearances, 45 hit-outs) easily shone in his milestone match.
Justin McInerney (one goal, 29 disposals, five clearances) was just as crucial and ran rampant alongside Nick Blakey and Isaac Heeney, on return from a calf injury.
Rosas slotted two goals in the opening quarter before Demons youngster Harry Sharp matched the feat to help the visitors hold on to a two-point lead at the first break.
But Melbourne couldn’t build on their momentum, with Rosas kicking three more goals as the Swans broke out to a 22-point advantage by halftime.
Sydney could only grow their margin by three points in the third term as Melbourne refused to be blown away, with Gawn kicking his second goal of the game.
Proven Demons match-winner Kysaiah Pickett tried to be the fire starter and kicked the first of four majors in the final quarter, but Amartey killed off the challenge when the Demons gave away a costly 50 metre penalty.
