Despite the lightning and weather, Sydney was clean as ever as the Swans sliced and diced Greater Western Sydney in Round 6.
Emerging from super star Swan Isaac Heeney's shadow is Justin McInerney. The 25-year-old has announced himself as one of the most improved players in the league this year, and his performance on Friday night was excellent as he kicked two goals from 26 disposals.
Sydney coach Dean Cox said he "can't speak highly enough" of McInerney and how hard he has worked to become one of the Swans' best players.
"(McInerney's) tall for an on-baller, he's worked in the gym to build some size and confidence for around the contest, and then his link-up work has always been strong," he said.
"I think you talk about a leader of our football club and someone who has really grown and developed, and a player that we missed when he didn't play last year. His appetite to work as hard as he can, and he is finishing off his work now, he is getting some really good looks through the middle of the ground to run and carry.
"He complements a lot of other players in our team, and he has had a fantastic start to the year."
A lot of media talk and scrutiny has fallen on the development of the game in NSW in recent weeks, but after a 43,986-strong crowd attended the derby at the SCG on Friday, Cox believes the game is going strong in the nation's biggest city.
"I can't speak highly enough of (Swans fans), it was unbelievable," he said.
"The red and whites and the support that we do get, you look at our first three games, we had almost 41,000, almost 40,000 and now almost 44,000. I heard it was the fifth biggest crowd we have had, the biggest derby crowd. On a night like tonight (weather impacted).
"That's exactly what it is starting to show, the support of AFL in Sydney and especially for our football club. They come, they get here early, and support as loud as they possibly can."
Star key forward Charlie Curnow enjoyed an accurate night in front of the big sticks, kicking an equal game-high three goals.
Cox said the external criticism on Curnow's impact at the Swans after arriving on a big-money move last off-season is not something new for his star recruit.
"(Curnow's) had it for most of his career," he said. "That's the hardest part, you see players have lighter starts or lighter patches throughout years or seasons, but he has got broad shoulders, he can wear most of it, he's alright.
"Good players are expected to perform really well every week. That's the nature of the beast.
"Charlie's role has been a new one within our football club, and he is still getting used to players up the ground and how we move the ball. But I think it is about him and the collective, I have always said that, and Charlie's no different.
"Tonight, it was great to see him get on the end of it and get some reward for effort, but he will do his homework again and go to the Bulldogs on Thursday night."
