FLEXING their muscles against a younger opponent, Sydney Swans crushed Gold Coast Suns in a dominant 82-point win at People First Stadium on Saturday with the visitors reaching the ton in a 15.13 (103) to 3.3 (21) victory.

The incredible performance – which marked the Swans’ best ever result – was headlined by a record-equalling seven-goal haul from star forward Chloe Molloy. Sydney coach Scott Gowans has regularly said Molloy is the best female footballer he has watched, and after an impressive four goals in her first game back from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, was simply unstoppable against the Suns.

Ever the holistic view, Gowans said Molloy’s massive day out was the result of good work up the ground, and while she deserved ever plaudit that came her way, so did the rest of the team.

“I know I said it last week, I think she’s a superstar, and she’s just building into her game and what she’s done over her rehab is able to get really strong, so she’s at a new level of fitness and the talent’s undeniable, and now she’s marrying that today,” he said. “She’ll take a month or so to get really going, but today she was a beneficiary of a lot of good work up the ground, and you’ve still got to kick them and she did, and credit to her.

“I really felt it’s one of those ones where you look at it and say ‘that’s a team effort’. People like Tanya Kennedy, 18 disposals but 10 tackles, you just highlight people like that, and we’ve got several people with their pressure acts and ability to force turnovers and give the ball to players like Chloe and Montana Ham is really important for us.”

Ham herself had a massive day out, finishing with 27 disposals, 10 marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and two goals. It is likely she and Laura Gardiner (38 disposals, three marks 10 tackles, seven clearances, eight inside 50s and a goal) will fill out the minor votes in what was a dominant team performance. Throw in Round 2 Rising Star Zippy Fish (27 disposals, four marks, four tackles and 565 metres gained) and the Swans are firing on all cylinders.

“There’s a lot of talent at the top-end that people will talk about and highlight and so they should because they’re doing well,” Gowans said. “When as a coach I do deep dive into the other players on the list and they’re the ones that are feeding the ball to the right positions and sacrificial leading and just playing their role on the team which allows us to get the ball on our terms, and once you win the ball in the past, our problem has been we’re okay at winning the ball but we just couldn’t do anything with it, now we’ve added that onto our game i think. “It’s exciting to see and I think fans are enjoying it.”

Gowans said he did feel for the Suns at the moment, having been in their position a few years back in the Swans’ inaugural year, which is why he knows fortunes can change quickly.

“It’s nice to play four quarters, now Gold Coast definitely had their moments and mindful they’re a very young and up-and-coming side as well,” Gowans said. “They’ll give cheek as they go along, and we’ve been in that position that they’re in. “From our perspective I think it’s nice to play a game where you can get momentum and use it. “That’s a sign of a developing side that’s heading in the right direction.”

As for the reason why the Swans were able to dominate so heavily and pile on the goals, Gowans credited the team’s work rate and ability for everyone to assist in transition.

“I think we’ve done a lot of work with our field shape and when you play against any side, they’re always going to get momentum and they’re always going to have their moments of ball movement,” he said. “But it’s when you turn that ball over it’s what you do with it. “And the big change for us is what do with that turnover from there, and that’s based on as the opposition are going up the field with the ball we have a certain shape that we’re looking for, and off the back of that we were able to take advantage of turnovers and get territory and hopefully score.”

Despite all the positives, Gowans is well aware it is only Round 2 of a 12-round season, and the Swans have faced two of the lower ranked teams in the Suns and Richmond. The next fortnight will be a great indicator of where the red and white side is at, taking on Geelong down at GMHBA Stadium before hosting fellow finals hopefuls Fremantle at Henson Park.

“A lot worked right today, there’s still some growths there believe me,” Gowans said. “But I thought our ball movement was a highlight today. “It might not have been noticed, but we gave a couple of different ways to move the footy and we were able to execute most of it pretty well.

“Still some decision making to develop and some game state stuff that we have to work on. “Then our contest work was very good today against a traditionally contested team, that was pleasing. It was more what we’re doing with the ball that worked quite well. just some decision making to help out of our back half I thought today as a bit of a growth.”

The Swans coach said he was looking forward to taking on the Cats, who despite being 0-2 to start the season, had faced two premiership contenders in North Melbourne and Adelaide.

“Geelong are an amazing side and boy they play really well down there and that’s a great challenge,” Gowans said. “We spoke about it after the game and said to celebrate and enjoy the moments from today, but we’ll do a recovery tonight and we’re staying her again tonight so it’s a great opportunity as a team to have a night of dinner and enjoy it, but recover well because it’s a massive challenge and we’re taking the season step by step, and Geelong’s a significant step next week.”