The champion forward headed the Swans' charge in an unforgettable celebration of his return after mental health issues forced him to stand down from the team late last season. Lance Franklin plays game 250. Credit:Cameron Spencer In a match scheduled to have been played at ANZ Stadium until the club's deal with the ground was ended a year early, Sydney returned 'home' for their 350th match at the SCG and put the cleaners through one of the form teams of the pre-season challenge in front of 33,857 fans. Certainly, questions will be asked as to whether Collingwood's inept display was at least partly due to an emotional toll from the leaking of information about a number of their players testing positive to illicit drugs in the off-season. The Magpies' woeful night was compounded by what appeared to be a serious injury to Dane Swan, who hyper-extended his ankle in a challenge with Zak Jones in the first quarter and did not return. And even though former GWS Giants star Adam Treloar topped Collingwood's list of possession gatherers, the boom midfielder will not look back on his first game in the famous black and white fondly.

In contrast to the Magpies' troubles, Sydney for most of the game ran like a well-oiled machine, controlling all areas of the ground for long periods. Their dominance was reflected statistically, particularly in contested possessions, which they won by nearly 50. Had they been a bit more accurate in front of goal they would have inflicted considerably more damage. Scott Pendlebury's Magpies had a horrid night. Credit:Getty Images A fit and determined Franklin kicked four goals and appeared to love every minute. Tom Mitchell kicked three and Harry Cunningham two. Luke Parker gathered a career-high 40 touches, teaming with Jake Lloyd, Kieren Jack (35 each) and Dan Hannebery to strangle Collingwood's much celebrated midfield, while Heath Grundy kept Travis Cloke scoreless. Additionally - and encouragingly after the departures of Goodes, Rhyce Shaw, Mike Pyke, Lewis Jetta and Craig Bird - first-gamers Callum Mills, Tom Papley and George Hewett looked right at home. Small forward Papley scored three goals and laid five tackles, No.3 draft pick Mills was in the action with 18 disposals and Hewett had 15 touches and made seven tackles. Setting it up: Isaac Heeney of the Swans handpasses to launch an attack. Credit:Cameron Spencer