The margin belies what was a thoroughly entertaining Goulburn Valley League clash for the most part, which saw both sides enjoy dominant periods, but ultimately it was the Swans that reigned supreme at Kings Park, running out 16.13 (109) to 11.5 (71) winners.
The intensity matched the autumn heat from the first bounce, as the Lions looked to improve upon their 79-point loss to Rochester in round one, however, it was the Swans that drew first blood, as Tyreece Collison carved his way through the centre of the ground to send the ball forward, with Joeve Cooper finishing the work.
Early momentum was with the visitors, who looked on song early, snagging a second through Andrew Riordan, however Seymour’s leaders through the middle worked into the contest, with Nic Quigg and Nathan Beattie finding plenty of the footy.
Dylan Scopel put the first on the board with a superb strike from the boundary, before Lachlan Waite converted after a 50m penalty took him within range, taking Seymour to within a point at quarter time.
Having been on the back foot early, the Lions leapt into the lead with goals to Nathan Fowler and Lucas Cavigan to start the second term, marking a run of four straight for the game, as they threatened to open up a big advantage.
But as quickly as the momentum had deserted the Swans, they rediscovered it, wresting control to boot the next four themselves, establishing a 6.6 (42) to 4.2 (26) lead at the half, dominating on the outside with some strong running to find space on the spread.
The arm wrestle continued after the main break, as Quigg and Beattie snared their first for the game, either side of a Swans goal, as Seymour drew back to within 10 points, although the visitors seemingly had the answers, booting another two to push the lead beyond 20 for the first time all day.
Fowler and Lewis Lubeck ensured the margin came back under two kicks as Seymour refused to go away, although Nathan Rachele hit back with a goal on the stroke of three-quarter time, handing the Swans a comfortable buffer of 21 points at the final change.
After what had been a brilliant see-sawing affair for three-quarters, the combination of the heat, a 37-minute third term, and the fact they were down to just one rotation on the bench, all seemed to take their toll on the Lions, who couldn’t match the Swans in the last.
Four goals to start the term, amid a run of six straight, pushed the Swans’ lead to a game-high 50 as things began to look ugly for Seymour, although late majors brought it back to the eventual 38-point margin.
Nathan Hrovat and Adam Fichera (one goal) were strong contributors in the Swans win, as were Cooper (two goals) and Zac Alderton, while skipper Rachele finished with an equal game-high three goals to round out the most influential.
The win has the Swans sitting comfortably in third spot on the ladder after two rounds with a percentage above 200, and will be looking to make it three from three when they host Mooroopna in what is a massive Good Friday clash at Princess Park.
Seymour on the other hand slump to 0-2 to start the year, and will be searching for their first win on Easter Saturday when they take on an unbeaten Mansfield in the high country.
