Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide AFL Finals: Swans defeat Power 95-59 to book Grand Final spot
They’ve been the best team all season. Now, the Swans are set to play for the AFL premiership after dismantling the Power at home to book their ticket to the big dance.
For the majority of season 2024 the Swans have been the dominant force in the AFL, and now they’re one game away from getting their just desserts.
Sydney made an emphatic statement in a crushing 36-point preliminary final defeat of Port Adelaide in front of a huge crowd of 44,053.
The Power kicked the opening goal of the contest on the back of a fortuitous whistle, but they were barely in the contest as the minor premiers flexed their muscles in a big way.
Once the Swans took the lead 10 minutes into the contest they were never headed as the usual suspects tore apart the Power with clinical precision.
Errol Gulden showed why he’ll be among the favourites for the Norm Smith Medal as he dominated in the middle.
While Isaac Heeney didn’t produce the highlight moments of a fortnight ago, he was similarly brilliant with two goals, six clearances and six tackles.
Sydney came out on top 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) and will now await the winner of Geelong and Brisbane to see if they can claim their first flag since 2012.
For Swans coach John Longmire it’s a reward for their strong season as he reflected on a balanced performance across the board.
“It’s a great spot to be in. It’s what you work for, it’s what you start training for from last year,” he said.
“I thought we executed as well as we could have. We concentrated on our process and got the job done.
“Things aren’t going to go your way and they didn’t with clearances and a few other things. Sometimes those things change and I thought our players did that well.
“We used a strong method tonight. We had an even performance with both our offence and defence.”
Power coach Ken Hinkley couldn’t make any excuses for his side, acknowledging they just couldn’t keep up with the Swans.
“Right now it’s really disappointing. We came up here with optimism. We know as a footy club more than any how hard it is to get through that final step,” Hinkley said.
“We gave ourselves a chance again right to the point
“They were playing a better brand of footy tonight. They were a better team than us tonight.”
MILLS’ GRAND FINAL CALL
Sydney co-captain Callum Mills says he will give it everything he can to try and feature in next week’s Grand Final.
Mills is now in a race against time to feature in the clash against either Geelong or Brisbane after he continues to deal with a hamstring injury.
On Channel 7 he said he was excited that the Swans were in another grand final and he would do everything to try and prove his fitness.
“I’ll give it a crack and we will see how we go,” he said.
Veteran Taylor Adams was left out of the Swans side despite Mills’ injury.
It follows on from Adams not being a part of Collingwood’s flag triumph last year, which led to his move to Sydney.
He said he was embracing what was in front of him this year.
“After having gone through last year, I have learnt to really enjoy what is being thrown at me,” he said.
ACCURATE SWANS PUNISH POWER
Sydney held a dominant 25-point lead at the main break, but Port certainly had its chances to build a margin of their own.
They had 17 more clearances, five more inside 50s through the opening half and the same amount of scoring shots, but had nothing to show for it.
The difference? Sydney nailed every set shot in the first half, kicking nine goals with the only behind an ambitious snap from Isaac Heeney near the boundary line.
Their accuracy was incredible, with the sell-out crowd erupting into a sea of red such was their fine form in front of goal.
TURNOVERS CAUSE POWER OUTAGE
Port Adelaide shot itself in the foot in more ways than one.
The Power kicked the last goal of the half to give them a bit of momentum coming into the third, but that was swiftly swung in the space of 36 seconds.
Defensive pressure from the bounce forced a holding the ball and a booming kick from the perimeter by Chad Warner off a handball receive.
Again Port looked to build momentum with a goal midway through the quarter, but the Swans machine swiftly snuffed out any hopes of back-to-back majors.
Travis Boak missed a target and within three kicks the Swans went from just outside their own 50 to Tom Papley having a shot at the top of the goalsquare.
By that point in the game 67 of Sydney’s 76 points came from turnovers.
“They deserved the win and to play next week. They’ve been the best team all year and they made us pay,” Hinkley said.
“They were too clean when they had their chances and we were very much the opposite.
“We gave them great looks. You can’t do that against a Sydney Swans team who are dominant when they’re running like that.
“We knew we were going to have to be absolutely at our best. We weren’t capable of going with them.”
LET THE BOYS PLAY
An off the ball whistle inside the opening minute set the tone for what was an overzealous performance from the umpires.
The men in green were fittingly able to raise the bat at the SCG with 50 free kicks awarded throughout the evening.
Players and spectators alike are hoping they can put the whistles away next weekend.
SCOREBOARD
SYDNEY 4.0 9.1 13.7 14.11 (95)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 4.6 6.9 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Swans: Joel Amartey 3, Tom Papley 3, Logan McDonald 2, Chad Warner 2, Isaac Heeney 2, Jake Lloyd, Hayden McLean
Power: Connor Rozee 2, Jase Burgoyne, Ryan Burton, Willie Rioli, Mitch Georgiades, Charlie Dixon, Travis Boak
BEST
Swans: Errol Gulden, Joel Amartey, Chad Warner, James Rowbottom, Isaac Heeney
Power: Ryan Burton, Travis Boak, Jase Burgoyne, Jordon Sweet
INJURIES
Swans: Logan McDonald (foot)
Power: N/A
CROWD: 44,053 at SCG
Fixture leaks: Houston’s Port face-off revealed, Saints’ MCG push
Dan Houston will emerge from a five-game suspension to face his former club, while St Kilda have been granted another MCG home game. Plus plenty more fixture news.
‘Matter of time’: Former top-10 pick eyes Blues lifeline
Denver Grainger-Barras’ manager says it’s “a matter of time” before the No.6 draft pick ends up on another AFL list after being delisted by Hawthorn — could it be at Carlton?