THE SYDNEY Swans have moved a step closer to a top-two finish and ended St Kilda's finals charge with a dominant 70-point win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.



In a fearsome reminder of their premiership credentials, the Swans produced a second-half blitz to turn an arm-wrestle into a cakewalk, kicking their highest score of the season to win 23.8 (146) to 11.10 (76).



And in perhaps the most worrying sign for the rest of the top eight, it was superstar Swan Lance Franklin who returned to his best form to turn the match on its head.

Full match coverage and stats



After booting nine goals in his past five games, Franklin kicked six to leave him three goals behind West Coast's Coleman Medal leader Josh Kennedy (70 goals).



He won 15 possessions in the third quarter alone and finished with 28 and nine marks in a dominant best-on-ground performance.



The Swans soaked up the best of what the young Saints had to throw at them before an eight-goal-to-two third quarter. They kicked six of the final seven goals of the game.

Five talking points: St Kilda v Sydney Swans

"It was just a really powerful second half. Just a fantastic second half," Swans coach John Longmire said.



"We were able to get a combination of the hardness and the effort but also a bit of the finish and the composure. That mix in the second half really stood out to us."

Their task was made easier once St Kilda ruckman Tom Hickey rolled an ankle, severely hindering him and allowing opponent Sam Naismith to exploit him and work into space.

Tippett in line to return to face North



Defender Sam Fisher also suffered a jaw injury late in the third quarter that ended his night early, with backman Jarryn Geary withdrawn pre-game with a back injury.



While Franklin was the headline act, the Swans' A-grade midfield was at its best, with Luke Parker (33 possessions and three goals), Dan Hannebery (37 and nine inside 50s) and Josh Kennedy (35 and eight clearances) all enjoying big nights.



NAB AFL Rising Star contender Callum Mills (27 and eight marks) was typically composed in a match that will only strengthen his case for recognition as the game's standout youngster.



Beating the Saints at Etihad Stadium has not been an easy task in recent times, with Alan Richardson's men winning eight of their past 10 at the venue.



They also boasted four wins from their past five games and belief among the players was the highest it has been in Richardson's 63-game tenure.

Fisher's career in jeopardy



North Melbourne's loss to Hawthorn on Saturday had kept their finals dream alive and, in the AFL's first Pride Game, they played like a team with their season on the line early.



In an entertaining first half, the Swans and Saints traded goals under the roof with no team able to build a meaningful margin and the lead changing 10 times.



The Saints' tackling pressure has become their trademark under Richardson, and it was the one area they had an edge on their opponents, with every other indicator neck and neck.

Richardson was left disappointed and somewhat confused post-match as to why his players fell away so badly after the main break.



"It was as if the guys just completely ran out of legs and just didn't quite have the real appetite for the brutal contest after half-time, which was surprising," the coach said.



"We acknowledge they're at a different level to us, so to match that for a half was positive. But to fall away as badly as we did was disappointing.



"They certainly showed us the way in a few areas and we'll learn from this game."

Returning for his first senior game since round 15, young forward Paddy McCartin imposed himself early, marking well, pushing up the ground and kicking two first-half goals.



Midfielder Blake Acres was also impressive early and kicked on to finish with 23 possessions and 1.3.



Captain Nick Riewoldt was his team's best with 24 touches and a goal, also moving into the ruck to relieve Hickey, while David Armitage (29 and seven clearances) and Leigh Montagna (27 and a goal) battled hard all night.

MEDICAL ROOM

St Kilda: Sam Fisher was taken to hospital on Saturday night for checks on his injured jaw and also suffered hamstring tightness, which he was able to play through. Tom Hickey will require scans on a lower left leg injury, which severely impact his movement and saw him put on ice once the result was settled. Jarryn Geary seized up in his back during a tackling drill in the warm-up but could be cleared to play next week.

Sydney Swans: The Swans got through unscathed. They have been unchanged for two weeks, but tall forward Kurt Tippett has trained fully all week and Longmire said post-match he was a strong chance to play in round 22.



NEXT UP

The Swans travel to Blundstone Arena for the first time since 2013 to face North Melbourne in a match crucial to their top-two aspirations. St Kilda faces Richmond at the MCG and will be looking to end a six-game losing streak against the Tigers.

ST KILDA 5.0 7.5 9.8 11.10 (76)

SYDNEY 4.1 8.4 16.7 23.8 (146)

GOALS

St Kilda: McCartin 2, Membrey, Riewoldt, Gresham, Weller, Acres, Wright, Montagna, Newnes, Dempster

Sydney Swans: Franklin 6, Papley 3, Parker 3, X.Richards 3, Heeney, Jack, Hannebery, Naismith, Nankervis, Kennedy, Hewitt, McVeigh



BEST

St Kilda: Montagna, Riewoldt, Acres, Armitage, Weller, Newnes

Sydney Swans: Franklin, Parker, Hannebery, Kennedy, Lloyd, Mills, McVeigh



INJURIES

St Kilda: Hickey (left ankle), Fisher (jaw and hamstring), McKenzie was a late replacement for Geary (back).

Sydney Swans: Nil



Reports: Nil



Umpires: Nicholls, Schmitt, Fleer



Official crowd: 33,059 at Etihad Stadium