Sydney have overcome an hour-long lightning delay to claim a 41-point derby win over a toothless GWS.
The Swans navigated wet and windy conditions best to build a 19-point lead at the SCG before play was delayed at halftime because of nearby lightning strikes.
Play resumed at 10.02pm, with the Swans prevailing 17.5 (107) to 8.18 (66) after a brief Giants challenge in front of 43,986 fans on Friday night after a 7.50pm start.
The Giants‘ goalscoring output told the story, with spearhead Jesse Hogan (quad) a late scratching as the visitors failed to capitalise on 59 forward entries.
GWS were already without fellow forward star Aaron Cadman (concussion) and are left languishing in 14th place (2-4).
League leaders Sydney (5-1) wrestled back local bragging rights after last year’s round-20 loss – the first time the Swans had suffered defeat after five-straight wins.
Swans defender Nick Blakey won the Kirk-Ward Medal for his best-on-ground performance, finishing with one goal, 34 disposals and nine score involvements.
Originally called the Brett Kirk Medal after the former Swans captain, the award is now shared with Giants great Callan Ward, who retired last year after a season-ending ACL injury.
Charlie Curnow kicked three goals, while Isaac Heeney had 28 touches and seven clearances after shaking off close attention from Giants youngster Ryan Angwin.
Clayton Oliver was easily the Giants‘ best at the contest, but his 37-disposal, nine-clearance effort wasn’t enough to spark GWS.
Jake Riccardi stood tall in Hogan’s absence with three goals, with Callum Brown called up after playing in the VFL immediately before.
Bursting from the blocks after the lengthy delay, Giants skipper Toby Greene notched three straight behinds, before Toby Bedford finally kicked truly to get the Giants humming.
But the challenge was short-lived, killed off by a Curnow goal.
A free kick paid against Giants defender Jayden Laverde for off-the-ball contact only added further insult to injury, with Swans tall Logan McDonald easily converting from 30 metres out in front of goal.
Finn Callaghan finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter after being kept on a short leash by Swans tagger James Jordon (two goals), before Giants defender Leek Aleer kicked his first AFL goal in his first game of the season.
But the damage had already been done, and Blakey capped off his night with a sensational goal from within the centre square.
