After 96 games at four clubs, Swan Joel Hamling's first goal at AFL level helped his side snap a three-game losing streak in a high-emotion Sydney Derby.

The 32-year-old Yorta Yorta defender was thrown up front against the Giants on Sunday afternoon and registered his first major score from a decade-long career mid-way through the final term.

Sydney lodged their third win for 2025 and fifth consecutive derby win 12.15 (87) - 10.13 (73) in the two clubs' 30th meeting at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

The home side jumped out of the gates to lead by 21 at the first change, and at one point grew their lead beyond 30 before GWS fought back to trail by a kick at the main break.

Inaccuracy threatened to keep the door open for the Giants as Sydney added four behinds (two rushed) to start the final term after Jake Stringer brought his side within two majors shortly after the break.

A week earlier, the Swans were handed a 38-point loss to the Gold Coast after giving up a 25 point quarter time lead to concede a run of 12 consecutive goals.

The Giants were outdone by the Bulldogs by 32 points at home the previous week after being held to four goals by the Crows in round six.

Depleted by a long injury list across the park - including Callum Mills, Errol Gulden and forwards Logan McDonald, Joel Amartey and Tom Papley, Sydney coach Dean Cox continued his recent turns at moving the magnets starting Hamling at half forward.

After handing off a tight shot from the pocket allowing James Jordan to give the Swans some breathing space, Hamling chest-marked an Isaac Heeney forward entry with eight and a half minutes on the clock before extending the margin to 27 points.

His first career goal might have come off lucky, and could come under scrutiny in match review, after clipping Jack Buckley post marking contest while attempting to give the GWS defender some attention.

Joel Hamling FINALLY has an AFL goal 🥰#AFLSwansGiants pic.twitter.com/mzEAQS8Go9

— AFL (@AFL) May 4, 2025

Tensions, largely led by the home side, threatened to boil over across regular spotfires during the game.

Hamling made his club debut in round one against Brisbane having not been able to break into their senior side across the 2024 season after arriving from Fremantle in the previous draft period.

The Cable beach product was originally drafted to Geelong before a senior AFL debut with the Bulldogs - where he lifted the 2016 premiership cup over his current club, followed by a seven-year, injury-hampered tenure at the Dockers.

Against the Lions earlier this year, Hamling became Sydney's first Indigenous AFL player since Lance Franklin's retirement late in 2023.

He was a late inclusion in the Indigenous All Stars squad for February's season curtain raiser against the Dockers.

Sydney back Lewis Melican will sweat on the MRO's look at a swinging arm which caught Toby Bedford high and ruled the Bunuba midfielder out of the match during the second quarter.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley revealed Bedford was subbed out with blurry vision out of one eye as a result of the incident, but couldn't clarify whether a HIA was passed.

Toby Bedford left the field after this incident with Lewis Melican.#AFLSwansGiants pic.twitter.com/2lqKbtuJYz

— AFL (@AFL) May 4, 2025

"It was over the other side of the field. I didn't really see it. I haven't watched the replay, so it's probably not fair for me to make comment on that," Kingsley said post-match, agreeing it's 'frustrating' to have a player ruled out in that matter.

"When it's a really important player to the way that you play structurally, then you've got to go to plan B."

Bedford had started on Swans mid Heeney before switching on to eventual Brett Kirk medallist Chad Warner.

"I don't actually know to be for, to be fair (if Bedford passed a HIA). I haven't been told that he's got concussion or if there's an issue there, so I imagine he has. As I understand, it was blurred vision, that was the reason (Bedford was subbed out), not concussion or anything like that."

Melican is likely to receive a ban from the MRO.

Swans coach Dean Cox conceded the contact will be looked at, and expressed his wishes for Bedford.

"On top of that as well, Lewis has probably got an immaculate record the way he plays his footy. He isn't malicious. He's always been a ball player, and that's why we love having to be our footy club.

"That'll play out in the next couple of days. You want to back your players in that they play at a level that doesn't step over the mark."