1. The start from hell for the Saints
Talk about being slow out of the blocks. With Saints coach Alan Richardson already a man under the pump going into Saturday night's fixture, the pressure was dialled up a notch when his side handed the Swans a 48-point buffer by the first change. Sydney kicked nine goals from 13 forward entries in a blistering opening term, with the side's efficiency out of the middle particularly telling in a dominant start to the game. Swans were free everywhere inside 50, with the Saints' defensive mechanisms falling to pieces as their hopes of securing an upset were ripped away before they could even begin in earnest. Richardson, coaching from the bench, cut a forlorn figure throughout the early blitz.

SWANS SMASH SORRY SAINTS Full match coverage and stats

2. Swans savage Saints … again
Sydney has developed a habit of feasting on St Kilda recently. And with nine unanswered goals to start Saturday night's clash, the Swans never looked like breaking that run. John Longmire's side extended its winning streak over the Saints to nine straight games with another comprehensive victory at Etihad Stadium, now unbeaten against St Kilda in more than six years. Claiming a virtually unassailable lead by quarter-time on this occasion, another rout loomed very early and indeed that proved to be the case. Sydney's past seven wins against St Kilda have now come at an average of almost 66 points.

3. Light at the end of the tunnel
Make that 10 straight defeats. St Kilda is breaking new ground in ways coach Alan Richardson would not want to know about, with the club now in the midst of its worst start to a season since its disastrous 2000 campaign. In that year, it finished bottom of the ladder with just two victories for the year. Pressure is mounting on Richardson, who is running out of ways to rescue hope from St Kilda's season. If desperate Saints fans are looking for positives, the club secured its long-term future by claiming Nick Riewoldt with pick one at the end of that disastrous season. They might be starting to picture a scenario in which Riewoldt-clone and fellow pick one hopeful Jack Lukosius is just as good this time around.

4. The best in the business
Lance Franklin might have started this clash more than 10 goals behind in the race for the Coleman Medal, but you should never rule him out. Despite missing three games already with a foot injury, the four-time winner remains the League's most entertaining player to watch when he's lighting up stadiums, as he was on Saturday night. Nathan Brown had the unenviable task of matching up on Franklin from the outset, before he was replaced by Logan Austin having suffered a concussion. 'Buddy' finished with 18 disposals, 12 marks, four goals and a further two goal assists in another standout display.

5. Cal stands tall
Callum Sinclair is starting to match it with the AFL's big boys. It was a five-goal performance against St Kilda last season where the Sydney ruckman enjoyed perhaps his breakout game in senior footy. But he's gone to new levels since. Having enjoyed the better of a host of influential opponents so far this season, Sinclair again dominated against the Saints on Saturday night. Showcasing his improved craft in the ruck with his ability to break clear from stoppages and move forward effectively, Sinclair finished with 29 hit-outs, three goals and two goal assists. He's having a career-best season and was again in the Swans' best at Etihad Stadium.