Sydney have monstered AFL strugglers North Melbourne by 79 points to celebrate Callum Mills and Luke Parker's return from injury in style.
Led on-field for the first time this season by first-year captain Mills, the Swans snapped their two-game losing streak and cruised to a 20.18 (138) to 9.5 (59) win on Saturday at the SCG.
The hard-running midfielder was sidelined for eight months after damaging the rotator cuff in his left shoulder at a post-season event in September, before a calf injury in April further set back his return.
Parker joined Mills in the third quarter as a substitute after winger Justin McInerney was taken off with a suspected posterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee.
Three-time club best-and-fairest Parker was named as an emergency during the week, before Sydney coach John Longmire opted for a late change following the club's failed bid to overturn Isaac Heeney's one-match suspension for striking.
Parker (two majors) kicked his 200th career goal to mark his return since breaking his arm in the pre-season, then serving a six-game VFL suspension. He received thunderous applause from the 34,663-strong crowd.
Mills also hit the scoreboard with one goal, gifted a free kick in the final term after North defender Luke McDonald was found to have been holding the 27-year-old.
"The energy they gave the group today was outstanding, and sometimes just their mere presence can make a difference," Longmire said.
"Those two guys were co-captains last year and then neither of them have played a game this year.
"The rest of team has done a pretty good job while they've been out, but it was terrific to have them back in."
Sydney got on top early with a two-point buffer before the first change, then stormed to a 42-point lead with seven goals to one in the second term.
Led by Logan McDonald and Tom Papley in attack, Sydney continued to inflict further pain on North Melbourne in the second half to break the 100-point ceiling and reach their highest score of the year.
After missing potential match-winners in their past two losses, McDonald rediscovered his goal-kicking form with four majors.
A high-octane Papley also bagged four goals, while Chad Warner (two goals, 31 disposals) and Errol Gulden (41 disposals) shone in Heeney's absence.
Luke Davies-Uniacke was a shining light for North, ably supported by Nick Larkey (three goals), Harry Sheezel, Colby McKercher and Jy Simpkin.
The 79-point loss is a rude awakening for Alastair Clarkson's improving Kangaroos side, who had won two of their past five games before meeting Sydney, while also losing two games by less than a goal.
"You just wish your improvement and growth as a footy club is all linear, but you have your ups and downs," Clarkson said.
"We've been pretty good for the last month and a bit, but we well and truly lowered our colours today, which is disappointing, but that's just a learning curve.
"If all we get out of today's game is just to understand the gap that exists between the side that's on top of the ladder and where we are, then we know we've got to roll the sleeves up.
"It's going to take a lot of a lot of work to get there, but we're up for the fight."
