Sydney have monstered AFL strugglers North Melbourne by 79 points to celebrate Callum Mills and Luke Parker’s return from injury in style.
Led on-field for the first time this season by first-year captain Mills, the Swans snapped their two-game losing streak and cruised to a 20.18 (138) to 9.5 (59) win on Saturday at the SCG.
The hard-running midfielder was sidelined for eight months after damaging the rotator cuff in his left shoulder at a post-season event in September, before a calf injury set back his return in April.
Parker joined Mills in the third quarter as a substitute after winger Justin McInerney was taken off with a suspected posterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee.
Three-time club best-and-fairest Parker was named as an emergency during the week, before Sydney coach John Longmire opted for a late change following the club’s failed bid to overturn Isaac Heeney’s one-match suspension for striking.
Parker (two majors) kicked his 200th career goal to mark his return since breaking his arm in the pre-season and serving a six-game VFL suspension. He received thunderous applause from the 34,663-strong crowd
Mills also hit the scoreboard with one goal, gifted a free kick in the final term after Luke McDonald was found to have been holding the 27-year-old.
Sydney got on top early with a two-point buffer before the first change, then stormed to a 42-point lead with seven goals to one in the second term.
Led by Logan McDonald and Tom Papley in attack, Sydney continued to inflict further pain in the second half on an improving North Melbourne side to break the 100-point ceiling and reach their highest score of the year.
After missing potential match-winners in their past two losses, McDonald rediscovered his goalkicking form with four majors.
A high-octane Papley also bagged four goals, while Chad Warner (two goals, 31 disposals) and Errol Gulden (41 disposals) shone in Heeney’s absence.
Luke Davies-Uniacke was a shining light for North, ably supported by Nick Larkey (three goals), Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and Jy Simpkin.