The Sydney Swans have booked a home preliminary final after a ruthless 53-point qualifying final victory over the Brisbane Lions, despite losing...
The City Desk is a contributing writer covering city and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
The Sydney Swans have booked a home preliminary final after a ruthless 53-point qualifying final victory over the Brisbane Lions at the SCG, completing one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent AFL finals history.
The Swans demolished the two-time reigning premiers 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) on Saturday afternoon, earning a week off before hosting the preliminary final at the SCG. The victory came despite the absence of five suspended players and captain Callum Mills, who ruptured his ACL during the match.
Coach Dean Cox said his side had risen to the occasion under extraordinary circumstances. The Swans had been under intense scrutiny following the Pullman Hotel incident in Melbourne, which led to the suspension of Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, James Jordon, and Riley Bice for the remainder of the season.
The club's willingness to sanction its own players before any police findings were delivered was widely praised across the league. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon called the club's actions a model for the industry.
Mills limped off during the first term after a collision and was subsequently diagnosed with a ruptured ACL. The 29-year-old captain will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined well into 2027.
Despite the setbacks, the Swans produced their finest football of the season. The team's depth was on full display, with several players stepping up in unfamiliar roles. The victory earned the Swans a week off before they face the winner of the Fremantle-Geelong elimination final.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir expressed frustration at the airline price gouging affecting his players' travel to Sydney for the preliminary final. "Of course I feel sorry for them," Longmuir said. "A lot of things are supply and demand."
The Swans' preliminary final will be played at the SCG, likely on Friday night. The club will need to navigate the final without its captain and with a significantly depleted squad, making the task of reaching a second consecutive grand final an even more daunting challenge.
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