IN a week in which Sydney signed a Canadian rugby union player and Barry Hall rejected an approach to join the NFL, it appeared just about anything was possible in the AFL.

But then Geelong restored some normality by smashing the Swans off ANZ Stadium and all but ending Sydney's top-four chances.

It was a milestone game for Swans coach Paul Roos, who equalled his predecessor Rodney Eade's record of 152 games for the club. But frustration replaced celebration as the Geelong juggernaut hurtled towards a second consecutive premiership.

The Cats led at every change, pulling away every time the Swans threatened to claw their way back. They led by 22 points at at half-time before winning by 39 points.

The Swans are likely to fall to sixth place at the completion of the round, their chances of a top-four-berth now all but gone. If they lose to Collingwood next week they face the prospect of finishing seventh.

There were any number of vexing questions posed prior to the encounter. Is it time to start engraving Geelong's name on the trophy? Is Gary Ablett the best player in the game? Are the Swans just making up the numbers in the finals? Does the ANZ Stadium playing surface resemble a patchwork quilt? Should Barry Hall have taken a punt on American football? The answers are: Yes. Probably. It appears so. Yes. Maybe (although it would be our loss).

The fact is, this Geelong side remain in contention to go down as one of the best in the history of the game. Their percentage is the highest since the champion West Coast side of 1991. They have extended their season record to 19-1. Only a suspension is likely to rob Ablett of the Brownlow Medal. He had 16 first-half possessions and when he wasn't creating scoring opportunities he was kicking sensational running goals himself.

As for Big, Bad, Bustling Barry and the ground itself, both were patchy. He kept the Swans in the contest with back-to-back goals in the first quarter and looked dangerous every time he got the ball. He didn't get it enough.

As a contest, it appeared it would last about 44 seconds. That's how long it took for Brett Kirk to kick Sydney's first goal. By the time they piloted their second, the visitors had booted seven of their own.

This was pain personified. It started five minutes in when Tadhg Kennelly came off second best in a contest and needed to pop his shoulder into place. The Cats opened up an early 38-point lead, silencing a crowd. Last week, Adam Goodes kicked eight goals. Last night, it took him 23 minutes to notch his first possession. Only three Swans goals late in the quarter kept them in touch. After the early onslaught Roos would have been happy they were only 21 behind at the first siren.

The Swans twice pulled within 16 points. The Cats turned on the afterburners early in the third quarter, kicking six straight goals. Game over. Pity North Melbourne next weekend.

GEELONG 7.4 9.8 16.10 20.13 (133)
SYDNEY 4.1 6.4 8.5 14.10 (94)

GOALS Geelong: Ablett 3, Byrnes 3, Lonergan 3, S Johnson 2, Mooney 2, Varcoe 2, Stokes, Prismall, Bartel, Gamble, Ottens. Sydney: Hall 5, Moore 2, McVeigh 2, Goodes 2, Kirk, Mattner, Bird.

BEST Geelong: Ablett, Ottens, Corey, Bartel, Byrnes, Enright.Sydney: Hall, Kirk, Buchanan, Mattner, J Bolton, Bevan.

INJURIESGeelong: Scarlett (back soreness) replaced in selected side by Varcoe. Sydney: Barry (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Malceski. Crouch (bruised neck), Moore (twisted ankle).

UMPIRES Donlon, Kennedy, Ryan.

CROWD 44,950 at ANZ Stadium.

THE UPSHOT Geelong can't be beaten, according to Paul Roos, but Sydney finds itself in a real race for finals survival. If other results go against them, the Swans may be watching the September action rather than participating in it.

TALKING POINT The ANZ Stadium surface was the talking point during the week in the lead-up to the match, but it seemed to hold up well with players keeping their feet and the grass not breaking up. However, when asked whether Matthew Scarlett's late withdrawal with back issues was a result of the hardness of the surface, Mark Thompson said much with his half-denial.

HOT AND COLD Barry Hall has been hot under the collar but stone cold form-wise in recent times, yet last night he was back to his best. The big fellow dragged in 15 marks, nine contested, kicked five goals, ran hard and, most importantly, kept his temper in check. In a side that in many respects had its colours seriously lowered, he was one of the Swans' best.