In round ten, the Sydney Swans set up an impressive 52-point win on the back of a big opening half, before holding a spirited Gold Coast at bay after the main break.
The Swans were made to work hard for their scrappy 13.15 (93) to 5.11 (41) victory against a resilient Gold Coast side battling an injury toll nudging double figures and minus key forward Charlie Dixon due to a club-imposed suspension.
Adam Goodes made headlines last weekend by directing an indigenous dance towards Carlton supporters during the Swans’ 60-point win at the SCG and was booed from the outset by Gold Coast locals on Saturday night at Metricon Stadium.
The crowd gained further volume when the dual Brownlow medallist conceded a 50m penalty which directly led to the SUNS opening goal through Tom Lynch.
The 35-year-old delivered the perfect response to the 13,068 spectators by kicking his one and only goal midway through the opening quarter.
The jeers subsided for Goodes over the course of the contest with the veteran finishing with 17 disposals and six marks.
Lance Franklin kicked three goals including a sublime effort from a tight angle in the opening term, while forward partner Kurt Tippett booted three majors from only four kicks before being substituted during the final quarter.
Leading by 44 at half-time, the Swans were outplayed by the SUNS in patches during a rain-affected second half.
Coach John Longmire said there were a number of reasons the Swans didn't kick away after the main break.
"They put an extra number back, it was a bit slippery, we didn't use the ball well and our intensity needed to ramp up and it plateaued a bit," Longmire said.
"It's good to win a game of footy. In the end we won by 50 points, but we had a really strong advantage at half-time and it would have been good to make a bigger advantage in the second half."
A goal to debutant Peter Wright sparked a mini revival for the SUNS as they shaved the deficit to 39 points at the end of the third term.
It took until the ninth minute of the final quarter for a goal to be kicked, with Franklin snapping for his third after marking a kick from Goodes.
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade described the second-half effort as "terrific”.
"It's very easy to fade away against one of the best teams in the competition with the team we had," Eade said.
"I thought to the kids' credit they really showed a lot of spirit. I was thrilled."
Sam Reid's goal after the siren ended the dour affair with the Swans notching their eighth win of the season to remain in second place on the ladder.
GOLD COAST 2.2 2.6 4.8 5.11 (41)
SYDNEY SWANS 5.5 9.8 10.11 13.15 (93)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Wright, Rischitelli, Lynch, Harbrow, Kolodjashnij
Sydney Swans: Tippett 3, Franklin 3, Cunningham 2, Reid, Goodes, Jack, Parker, Mitchell
BEST
Gold Coast: Nicholls, Kolodjashnij, Hallahan, Miller, Lynch, Stanley
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, McVeigh, Franklin, Mitchell, Parker, Jetta
Official crowd: 13,068 at Metricon Stadium
