The Cats have fallen to Sydney by 30 points at the SCG, despite a spirited performance against the ladder leading Swans on Sunday afternoon.

In a see-sawing contest, the Cats made a scintillating start and piled on the first six goals of the game, before the Swans surged back just before half time and took control of the match.

Geelong made a late fightback to close the margin to 12 points midway through the final quarter, but couldn’t get any closer as the Swans closed out a 16.16 (112) to 12.10 (82) triumph on Sunday in front of over 44,000 fans.

The Cats showed signs of returning to their best as they led by as much as 35 points in the second term, but the Swans midfielders went to work and quickly closed the gap.

Tyson Stengle (3 Goals, 5 Score Involvements) lit up the match early, snapping a superb goal from deep in the forward pocket, then adding another from a set shot soon after.

The goal-sneak's second major came from a free kick in the same pocket after he ran down Lewis Melican, as the Cats ramped up the pressure inside their forward 50.

Max Holmes (23 disposals, one goal) added dash for the Cats, while Jeremy Cameron (21 disposals, two goals) was a valuable outlet playing off a wing and down forward.

Geelong will have their bye next week, a chance to reset before heading to the MCG to face Carlton the following Friday.

SYDNEY 0.3 5.6 9.13 16.16 (112)
GEELONG 5.2 6.5 8.8 12.10 (82)

GOALS

Sydney: Papley 4, Amartey 3, Warner 2, Heeney 2, McInerney, Lloyd, Jordon, Hayward, Gulden
Geelong: Stengle 3, Cameron 2, Bowes 2, Neale, Miers, Holmes, Hawkins, Close

BEST

Sydney: Warner, Grundy, Gulden, Heeney, Amartey, Adams, McInerney
Geelong: Holmes, Cameron, Stengle, O'Connor, Stewart

INJURIES

Sydney: Nil
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES

Sydney: Braeden Campbell (replaced Nick Blakey in the fourth quarter)
Geelong: Gary Rohan (replaced Shannon Neale in the third quarter)

Crowd: 44,714 at the SCG