Swans Dismantle Roos in Statement Win at Marvel
Alright, let’s talk about what went down at Marvel Stadium tonight—because wow, that was one-sided. Sydney Swans absolutely steamrolled North Melbourne in Round 4 of the 2025 AFL season, pulling off a 65-point win that’ll be remembered more for the Swans’ sharpness than anything the Roos did.
The final score? 18.9 (117) to 8.4 (52). And yeah, it looked every bit that dominant by the end. What makes this even more impressive is Sydney came into this match heavily undermanned. But despite missing some big names, they played with cohesion, structure, and, honestly, some serious polish—especially in the second half.
It was a competitive first half, no doubt. North Melbourne hung in there and showed glimpses of their improved form from earlier rounds. But after halftime? The floodgates opened. Sydney slammed on 10 goals in the second half alone. Will Hayward was electric—four goals, 15 disposals, and just constantly threatening in the forward line. He set the tone early with two first-quarter goals, and the Roos simply had no answer for his agility and smart positioning.
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Chad Warner, who played despite being ill the night before, chipped in with two goals and was rested in the final quarter—proof of just how comfortable Sydney were by then. And let’s not forget Riley Bice. Only his second AFL game, and the guy plays like a veteran. 26 disposals, nine intercepts, and a calmness off half-back that’s rare to see in someone so fresh. You could tell he’s built for this level.
Now, to North Melbourne’s side of things—it’s tough. Coach Alastair Clarkson was still trying to find positives post-match, saying the group is on the right path and that these heavy losses are part of a long-term rebuild. But even he couldn’t ignore how badly they were beaten in key areas, especially stoppages in the second half where Sydney simply outmuscled them.
Roos captain Jy Simpkin admitted it stung. He even said it felt like a throwback to “the old us,” which isn’t what fans wanted to hear after some decent early-season signs. Their defensive setup was torn apart by Sydney’s pace through the corridor. Over and over, the Swans just chipped their way forward with ease, slicing through North’s structure like it wasn’t even there.
But look, footy’s about resilience too. The Roos are still a young side with promise. Harry Sheezel had a blinder—34 disposals and never stopped trying. Luke Davies-Uniacke pushed through with a hip knock to keep battling. And there’s another chance next week to regroup when they face Gold Coast during Gather Round.
For Sydney, this was a warning shot to the rest of the comp. Undermanned or not, if they play like that—slick, efficient, and fearless—they’ll be very hard to stop.
One thing's for sure: the Swans just reminded everyone exactly why they’re always in the finals conversation.
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