Sydney’s season had been “torpedoed” even before they were locked in to meet two-time reigning premiers Brisbane in a qualifying final, at least according to the club’s chair, Andrew Pridham, a couple of weeks ago. But a season that seemed to be heading toward an inglorious ending – with five players suspended by the club for a breach of club standards – has suddenly taken flight again, after the Swans blew away the Lions for a stunning 53-point triumph at the SCG.
Related: Dangerfield bends AFL elimination final to his will as Geelong end Carlton’s fairytale run
Even without the suspended Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice, the Swans who lined up against the Lions on Saturday afternoon looked as familiar as any to run out in red and white this year. The rapid and relentless ball movement that has been critical to the Swans’ resurgence this year was there for all to see. So was the newfound strength at stoppage with Errol Gulden rising to the occasion, James Rowbottom putting his head over the ball, and unheralded recruit Jai Serong playing the most influential game of his career as he clamped down on the Lions’ dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale.
But the Swans’ victory could have come at a huge cost after captain Callum Mills jarred a knee and had to be helped from the field late in the first term. The scene is one that even occasional fans have seen too many times before, as Mills went to change direction in an attempt to tackle Lions midfielder Will Ashcroft, but slipped a touch, collapsed to the turf and immediately grabbed at his knee.
There was little warmth for Sydney as they managed the fallout from their five players’ post-round 23 celebrations. But Mills earned respect for the way he fronted up to answer questions in the days after, then led the side to a stirring win over a listless North Melbourne. Mills’ emotions spilled over in the dying stages of the game against the Kangaroos as he felt the support of Swans fans. Now the Swans are left hurting for their skipper as they hope for the best but fear the worst, in a reminder of how harsh the game can be.
The undermanned Sydney were always likely to ride their emotions again after a tumultuous few weeks for the club. But the opening-term blitz that left Brisbane shellshocked was more than even the most optimistic Swans fans could have hoped for. It was less surprising to see Gulden take command of the midfield as the architect of the rousing win. The Swans academy graduate has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and finished with a game-high 34 disposals, eight clearances, 915 metres gained and a goal. But his greatest contribution was in leading the way with his tireless running on the outside and tenacity at the coalface.
On a day when key forwards might have been irrelevant in wet and wild conditions, Charlie Curnow and Logan McDonald delivered career-defining games. Prized recruit Curnow bounced back from booting 32 goals with Carlton last year to more than double that and win a third Coleman medal in a first campaign with the Swans. But a dark cloud remained over the 29-year-old even before a storm descended on the SCG on Saturday. Curnow had booted only three goals in as many finals matches with his former club before his move to the harbour city.
The Sydney spearhead looked determined to turn that record around as he soared for a majestic one-handed mark in the middle of the field to set up the opening goal to McDonald. He hit the scoreboard himself for the second goal of the game before the Swans unleashed four goals in a blistering six minutes. Curnow smashed his finals average as he finished with five goals, while McDonald booted a career-high six majors. Firebrand forward Tom Papley brushed off a pre-match fitness test to add five of his own and like his teammates will now have an extra week’s break to prepare to face the winner of the Fremantle and Geelong semi-final.
For Brisbane, the suggestion that this is one that got away would do Sydney a disservice. The Lions finally woke up and challenged through the second and third terms. But they could not string enough goals together to truly threaten a comeback. Their path to becoming the third side in the AFL era to claim a premiership three-peat will now take a longer route with a home semi-final against the winner of the Adelaide and Western Bulldogs elimination final.
Sydney had averaged crowds of 44,283 in their three home finals at the SCG since 2022 but only 37,261 fans turned up for this top-four clash with the Lions. Whether the empty seats were due to unease over what happened around the club in recent weeks, a lack of confidence in the side’s chances, the unnerving weather forecast or a combination of reasons, the Swans did all they could to earn back some respect and turn the doubters into believers.
Related: Dangerfield bends AFL elimination final to his will as Geelong end Carlton’s fairytale run
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Martin Pegan. Published 5 Sept 2026, 08:26 am.
