Sydney has thumped West Coast by 128 points, sending the Eagles crashing back to earth at Perth Stadium, thanks to a four-goal performance from returning star Isaac Heeney.
Both teams came into the game with 2-1 records, but the Eagles — missing key midfielders Elliot Yeo and Deven Robertson — were cut apart in the midfield by Sydney.
The Swans kicked six goals to none in the first quarter, seven goals to two in the second and six goals to one in the third — Sydney led by 100 points with a quarter to go.
They went on to win 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35). The victory was the biggest winning margin away from home in 151 years of South Melbourne/Sydney history in the VFL/AFL.Â
Heeney booted four goals and was the star of the game, racking up 26 disposals and 12 score involvements.
Sydney coach Dean Cox praised his side for their early dominance, and said the team was coping with the absence of the injured Errol Gulden.
“Justin McInerney has really stepped up [without Errol],” he said.
“His two-way transition is really important for us. Then you have James [Jordon] and Gus [Sheldrick] who do the bullocking stuff, while Chad [Warner] produces the power stuff.
“The mix is okay at the moment, but I’d like it if Errol was here.”Â
Earlier, Port Adelaide notched its first away win of the season with a scrappy 42-point win over Richmond at the MCG.
The Power was wasteful early, kicking 1.6 in the opening quarter.
But from quarter time on, the visitors booted 12 goals to six to run out winners by 13.12 (90) to 6.12 (48).
The Tigers remain winless after a wasteful afternoon in front of the sticks.
Richmond may well be without ruckman Samson Ryan for Gather Round, after Ryan’s off-the-ball gut punch to Port Adelaide’s Jordon Sweet. Â
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
3h ago3 hours agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 12:21pm
4h ago4 hours agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 12:11pm
4h ago4 hours agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:53am
Show all key events10h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 5:41amAFL Saturday scoreboard3h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 12:21pmThat’s where we’ll leave it
Tom Papley was a happy man after his 200th game, even if he only kicked two goals (Getty Images)
3h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 12:21pmThat’s where we’ll leave itThat second game today was not close, but it taught us a bit about both teams.
The Eagles are still well in the learning stage, particularly without the veteran presence of Elliot Yeo.
Having said that, the Swans showed how potent their attack is when Isaac Heeney is on the park — and it didn’t do the team any harm for Charlie Curnow to kick four goals as well.
Earlier, Port Adelaide did what they had to in taking care of Richmond at the MCG.
Coach Josh Carr earned his second win, and the team evened up at 2-2 before heading home for Gather Round.
We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon for another double-header, starting with Melbourne against Gold Coast at the MCG.
Sadly Christian Petracca won’t be there against his old side, but it could be a ripper of a game regardless.
And then we will finish off Easter Sunday with the Western Bulldogs taking on Essendon at Docklands.
In the meantime, I’m Andrew McGarry thanking you for joining us on today’s blog and wishing you all a very good night.
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 12:11pm’They taught us a lesson’: West Coast coach Andrew McQualter praises dominant Swans side
Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said his team was taught a lesson by Sydney (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has spoken to the media after that tough loss at Perth Stadium.
“They [the Swans] were as good a team as I’ve seen this season,” he said.
“Their ball movement was electric, and their speed, their zip [was impressive].”
McQualter said it was partly about his young Eagles side – the 10 youngest players were all West Coast, with six players under 20 – potentially being too young, and partly about Sydney’s age profile being in the zone.
“They taught us a lesson. You don’t want the scoreboard to look like that,” he said.
“We’ve got to endure for longer [against top sides].”
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:53amSydney deliver hapless Eagles a crushing reality check
Isaac Heeney had 26 disposals and four goals in Sydney’s win over West Coast (Getty Images)
Isaac Heeney has put on a scintillating display and Charlie Curnow kicked four goals as Sydney dealt West Coast a harsh reality check with a crushing 128-point win in Perth.
The Swans kicked the first 11 goals of Saturday night’s match on the way to the stunning 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35) victory in front of 50,723 fans at Perth Stadium.
Heeney, on his return from a hamstring injury, was the star of the show with 26 disposals, 12 score involvements, 518m gained and four goals to go with a stunning mark-of-the-year contender over the top of Harley Reid.
Curnow, who had kicked just five goals in his first three games for the Swans, kicked 4.2, while Brodie Grundy (28 disposals, 33 hitouts, nine clearances, one goal) was a monster in the ruck.
It was a memorable way to celebrate the 200-game milestone of Swans forward Tom Papley, who finished with two goals and three goal assists from 24 possessions.
The result boosted Sydney’s record to 3-1 ahead of their Gather Round clash with Gold Coast.
West Coast, who were riding high following comeback wins over North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, slipped to 2-2 and will now have to digest the fifth largest loss in the club’s history.
Star Eagles playmaker Harley Reid, without the help of fellow midfield bulls Elliot Yeo (groin) and Deven Robertson (suspended), was restricted to just 17 disposals and one clearance under the tight attention of tagger James Jordon.
Sydney’s Angus Sheldrick could be in strife after unleashing a forearm to the head of Reuben Ginbey in the final quarter.
Malcolm Rosas was a late withdrawal for the Swans with a calf injury.
Heeney tore the game open from the outset, tallying 10 disposals, four clearances and a goal as Sydney slammed through six goals to nil in the opening term.
The onslaught continued in the second term, with Papley’s snap on the run and Chad Warner’s double fend-off among the many Swans highlights.
Remarkably, when Sydney had 11 goals to their name compared with West Coast’s zero, the inside-50m count was level at 25-25.
The entries were in stark contrast to each other.
Sydney’s ability to slice and dice their way through the corridor meant their forwards had an acre of space to work with, while West Coast’s hurried kicks into attack were easily picked off by Swans defenders.
The Eagles’ first goal of the match came at the 25-minute mark of the second quarter when Jake Waterman snapped truly on the run, but it was already game over by that point.
The margin hit 100 points when Heeney kicked his fourth goal at the 20-minute mark of the third quarter, and Sydney never let up.
AAP
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:49am
Swans win nowhere near the VFL/AFL record margin
Hi Andrew, just curious what the record AFL winning margin is – not that it really matters, this is a drubbing…
– Mike
Mike,
The Swans win by 128 points, while big, is nowhere near the record margin.
It came in 1979, when Fitzroy beat Melbourne by 190 points (238-48).
I don’t think that will be much solace for West Coast, but it is something to keep in mind.
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:46amSydney coach Dean Cox praises Justin McInerney for stepping up in absence of Errol Gulden
Swans coach Dean Cox said the midfield mix was ‘ok’ even without Errol Gulden (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
Sydney coach Dean Cox has been happy with the result, and how the team has gone, particularly the way they started so strongly against West Coast.
Cox had praise for Isaac Heeney for his brilliant return, saying he had been an “unbelievable player for so long.”
But asked about the absence of star midfielder Errol Gulden, Cox pointed to another player as one who was stepping up for Sydney.
“Justin McInerney has really stepped up [without Errol],” he said.
“His two-way transition is really important for us. Then you have James [Jordon] and Gus [Sheldrick] who do the bullocking stuff, while Chad [Warner] produces the power stuff.
“The mix is ok at the moment, but I’d like it if Errol was here.”Â
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:36am’I could have been a plumber’: Tom Papley thanks the Swans after his game 200
Tom Papley celebrated his milestone 200th game with a win (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
Tom Papley has spoken to Fox Footy after the match as he celebrates his 200th game.
“I couldn’t hit a barn door tonight, but I’m proud of the boys,” he said.
Asked about his milestone game, he said he had time in the final quarter to think about it all.
“You pinch yourself sometimes,” he said.
“I could have [still] been a plumber, I could [still] be in Bunyip.
“I was the fat bloke from Bunyip who drank some [alcohol] and are some Pies. But they [the Swans] took a chance on me.”
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:28am’We tagged him for a reason’: Isaac Heeney talks Sydney’s tag of Harley Reid
The quick post-match chats have happened, and the Swans were in good form.
Isaac Heeney was keen to deflect after his huge comeback performance. He grabbed Charlie Curnow in to the interview to talk up the big full-forward.
But he also was complimentary about the Eagles’ young stars despite the extent of the result.
“We tagged him for a reason – he’s a gun,” Heeney said of West Coast’s Harley Reid.
“And [Willem] Duursma is going to be very good as well.”
James Jordon was the man responsible for the Heeney tag, and he managed to kick a goal himself.Â
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:24am
Tom Papley gets chaired off for his 200th game
It’s a happy group of Swans walking off the ground after that win, and they gather to chair off Tom Papley for his 200th game.
They head down to the rooms, and Sydney players are in a circle for the song.
Malcolm Rosas Jr – who was a late out tonight – is there to sing it.
That win is the Swans’ biggest ever win on the road. But you have to say that was a reasonably subdued response after the song.
They know, perhaps, that bigger challenges lay ahead, starting with next Saturday afternoon against Gold Coast.
4h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:21am
FT statsCentre clearances: 17-14 SydneyContested Possessions: 135-92 SydneyUncontested Possessions: 284-186 SydneyMarks inside 50: 24-7 Sydney
These stats show the domination for the visitors. Having more than 100 extra uncontested possessions show how the Swans were able to chip it around and control the game, while 24 marks inside 50 is a crazy number.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:16amFT: Sydney 24.18 (162) beats West Coast 4.11 (35)
Even tagger James Jordon got on the goalsheet for Sydney against West Coast (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
The game ends, and the West Coast fans who are left give their team applause – but that is a tough night at the office for the Eagles.
Sydney wins the game by 128 points, kicking 24 goals to four, and there’s not much else that needs to be said.
Four goals to Isaac Heeney, four more to Charlie Curnow, and another 11 individual scorers beyond them.
That’s a statement from Sydney, and a reality check for West Coast. But it comes with a big asterisk. West Coast were missing some vital players starting with Elliot Yeo.
It wouldn’t have made a difference to the result, but it meant the home side were unable to do much to stop the Swans juggernaut.
Sydney go back into the four, setting up an absolute showdown next week at Gather Round, playing the Suns at Norwood Oval.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:10am
Warner kicks his second as the Swans kick on
Dean Cox’s men are not playing tempo here, they are still trying to score.
And they’ve done it again.
Justin McInerney had the ball in the centre, he held it up and then fed the handball out to a speeding Chad Warner, who ran forward and drilled his second goal.
We’re deep in time on, but I don’t know that the visitors are finished yet.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 11:06am
Jake Lloyd kicks his third and Swans hit 150
We’re more than halfway through the final term, and the Swans are just cruising at this point.
Harley Reid left his tagger James Jordon in space, and Jordon hit up Jake Lloyd in the left forward pocket.
Lloyd, not exactly a noted goalkicker, lined up and nailed it for his third of the night.
The Swans have gone past 150 points, and the Eagles are just playing out time at this point.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:55am
James Jordon adds another for Sydney
West Coast can count themselves unlucky there.
Angus Sheldrick laid a high elbow to Reuben Ginbey, but wasn’t pinged – however Harley Reid did give a free away for his retaliation.
The free kick was paid in the pocket, and James Jordon – who has kept Reid quiet all night – has finished brilliantly.
That’s Sydney’s 22nd goal of the night.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:50am
Papley answers in game 200
That was a simple reply from Sydney. The ball surged forward and a spot-on chip to the pocket found Tom Papley.
The goalsneak marked and curled the ball home from 35.
That’s his second of the night in his 200th AFL game.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:48am
Duursma kicks another goal as Eagles get first of final term
A solid start to the final quarter for West Coast, who are still crashing into contests.
They get a free kick on the wing for a high tackle, and Matt Owies sends one to the hotspot – and Willem Duursma leaps to take the mark!
The Perth Stadium crowd are happy with that, and Duursma kicks the goal.
The lead is back under 100.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:38am3QT: Sydney 20.10 (130) leads West Coast 3.11 (29)
Sam Wicks has kicked one of five Sydney goals from outside 50 at Perth Stadium (Getty Images/AFL Photos)
The siren goes, and West Coast are 101 points behind with a quarter to go. A late goal from Willem Duursma gave the home side something to hold on to after a tough quarter.
For coach Andrew McQualter, this last term becomes about trying to stick with the visitors, and even the scoring or limit the damage.
The Eagles took a couple of vital intercept marks in the final minutes of the term – and they’re going to have to do more of the same in the last quarter.
With Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Joel Amartey and Charlie Curnow all keen to get in on the act, the Werst Coast defence will continue to be tested.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:33am
Warner gets on the list as Sydney keep the foot down
The Swans have the competition points in the bag, but they are not showing any signs of slowing down yet.
They went inside 50 for the 44th time, and kicked their 20th goal – Chad Warner drilling a kick from outside 50.
That’s the fifth goal kicked from beyond the arc so far, as we go deep in time on.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:27am
Isaac Heeney kicks his fourth, Swans lead hits 100
There’s not much you can say about this performance.
The Swans lead contested possessions by 25, uncontested possessions by 50, and they’ve just waltzed downfield and Isaac Heeney has kicked his fourth of the night.
Sydney’s lead has hit 100 points, with just under a quarter and a half still to go.
5h agoSat 4 Apr 2026 at 10:24am
Swans kick a long bomb from Sam Wicks
The comparisons have been stark between the two teams so far tonight, in their ability to take their chances.
A great disposal from Jake Lloyd on the wing, centreing the ball for the Swans led to a fast movement through the corridor.
Justin McInerney played a vital role to clear space for Sam Wicks, who kicked a brilliant goal from outside 50.
The lead is beyond 90 points.
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