For the Swans,it was a dispiriting defeat,leaving the visitors with nine wins and a major battle for a top-four berth.
The dashing Nick Hind,midfielder Zach Merrett,skipper Dyson Heppell and Massimo D’Ambrosio were busy all day but it was the man nicknamed “The Package” who will dominate the headlines. He conceded a 50m penalty which allowed Chad Warner to goal,cutting the lead to three points with two minutes remaining,but it did not matter.
“It’s pretty nice,I thought I was going to be the villain. Hopefully,we get some continuity and get some more wins,” Stringer said.
“This group they stick at it - that’s a good thing about them. The performance we put in against Sydney was poor and we had something to prove.”
Parker,in his 250th match,was superb with 25 touches (nine clearances),as was Chad Warner,while Lance Franklin,on a day club chief executive Tom Harley said the Swans wanted him to play on next season,had two goals,and a crunching tackle to end the third term which resulted in a crucial goal. However,he sprayed a vital set shot in the final term.
The Bombers regained the lead when Darcy Parish completed a courageous mark,and found Mason Redman just outside 50m. Merrett then provided a clever shepherd,allowing Redman to run around and drill a long bomb.