A career-best seven-goal haul from recruit Malcolm Rosas has propelled Sydney to a thrilling 17-point victory over Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday.
In a match that featured seven lead changes in the opening quarter alone, Rosas kicked five goals before halftime to help set up a 19.17 (131) to 17.12 (114) triumph.
The Demons mounted a fierce comeback with four consecutive goals in the final term, but Joel Amartey's fourth goal late in the game sealed the result for the Swans.
Rosas, who joined Sydney this year after six seasons with Gold Coast, became only the fifth Swans player in the past decade to kick seven or more goals in a single match.
The joint ladder-leading Swans improved their record to 6-1, with Logan McDonald contributing three goals. Former Demons ruckman Brodie Grundy marked his 250th game in style in front of 40,673 fans.
Grundy was so focused on the game that he only learned of Rosas' achievement during a post-match interview with Channel 7's Jude Bolton.
"It was good fun, mate, and I thought the boys played really well," Grundy said, before asking: "How 'bout Malcolm Rosas? How many goals did he kick?"
"Seven," Bolton replied, leaving Grundy visibly stunned.
"Oh my god! Seven?" he exclaimed. "I thought he was electric down there."
Melbourne were gallant but faced another setback in their first season under coach Steven King, dropping from fourth to sixth with a 5-2 record.
A hamstring injury to key forward Brody Mihocek compounded the club's woes after a week of off-field turmoil. The Demons are preparing for a legal battle with former chief executive Paul Guerra, who was sacked on Tuesday in favour of Daniel Taylor.
Mihocek, Melbourne's leading goalkicker with 13 goals this season, lasted less than four minutes after straining his left hamstring in a contest with Swans defender Lewis Melican.
His absence forced captain Max Gawn deeper into attack, while young Max Heath was tasked with containing an in-form Grundy. Heath tried valiantly, but Grundy (one goal, 10 clearances, 45 hit-outs) dominated in his milestone match.
Justin McInerney (one goal, 29 disposals, five clearances) was equally influential, running rampant alongside Nick Blakey and Isaac Heeney, who returned from a calf injury.
Rosas kicked two goals in the opening quarter before Demons youngster Harry Sharp matched the feat, helping the visitors hold a two-point lead at the first break.
But Melbourne couldn't sustain their momentum, as Rosas added three more goals to give Sydney a 22-point advantage by halftime.
Sydney extended their lead by only three points in the third term as Melbourne refused to capitulate, with Gawn kicking his second goal.
Proven Demons match-winner Kysaiah Pickett ignited a final-quarter surge with the first of four majors, but Amartey ended the challenge after Melbourne conceded a costly 50-metre penalty.
