Young Sydney forward Sam Reid enjoyed a career-best game as the surging Swans took a turn at top spot in the AFL on Saturday with a 47-point win over Brisbane at the SCG.
Reid, who had never kicked more than three goals in a game, finished with 6.1 in the Swans’ 16.14 (110) to 9.9 (63) victory.
It was their fifth straight win heading into what should be a mouth-watering clash with fellow high-fliers West Coast in Perth.
Reid’s key forward colleague Adam Goodes also terrorised the Lions defence, kicking 3.1, taking 13 marks and tallying 22 touches in his third and best game since returning from injury.
The Swans trailed 19-2 early on but kicked eight of the next nine goals to take control and set up a fifth successive win over Brisbane.
Reid’s strength and aerial ability proved too much for Brisbane’s Irish fullback Niall McKeever, who was finally moved off him and replaced by Daniel Merrett after the Swans forward kicked his fifth major.
Goals to Patrick Karnezis, Andrew Raines and Rohan Bewick set up the Lions’ early advantage.
The stunned Sydney crowd were roused by three of their most potent weapons.
Goodes and Lewis Jetta both kicked truly from 50 metres and Reid took two great soaring marks and converted both to set up a four-point quarter-time lead.
Sydney carried the momentum into the second quarter and led by as many as 31.
A couple of great long distance goals on the run by Daniel Rich kept Brisbane in the contest and they trailed by 21 at halftime.
Sydney booted the first four goals of the third quarter and kicked five to one in the term, which they finished with a 47-point buffer.
Brisbane suffered a blow before the game when midfield linchpin Simon Black aggravated a knee during the warmup, with Claye Beams joining the 22.
Sydney also announced a late change as Martin Mattner pulled out with groin soreness.
He was replaced by Nick Malceski, who was one of Sydney’s best, along with Jarrad McVeigh, Rhyce Shaw, Reid and Goodes.
Brisbane’s best included Dayne Zorko, Pearce Hanley and Rich, who along with Karnezis and Jonathan Brown, kicked two goals.
