Sydney Swans produced a stunning 53-point victory over Brisbane Lions in a qualifying final at the SCG on Saturday, with midfielder Errol Gulden starring in wet and wild conditions. The final score was 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88).
Swans revive season after turbulent weeks
The club's chair, Andrew Pridham, had said a couple of weeks ago that Sydney's season had been "torpedoed" even before they were locked in to meet the two-time reigning premier Brisbane in a qualifying final. Five players had been suspended by the club for a breach of club standards, and few thought the season was heading toward anything but the most inglorious of endings.
Despite missing suspended midfielder Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner in the front half and Nick Blakey breaking the lines from defence, the Swans looked as eye-catching and familiar as any to run out in the red and white this year. The rapid and relentless ball movement that has been critical to their resurgence was on display, along with newfound strength at stoppage with 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.
Mills injury mars victory
The 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, taking no further part in the game. 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.
Mills had earned respect for the way he fronted up to answer questions in the days after the five players' post-round 23 celebrations, then led the side to a stirring win over a listless North Melbourne. His emotions spilled over in the dying stages of that game as he felt the support of Swans fans. Now the Swans are left feeling for their skipper as they hope for the best but fear the worst.
Gulden and forwards shine
Gulden finished with a game-high 34 disposals, eight clearances, 915 metres gained and a goal. His greatest contribution was in setting the standard with tireless running on the outside and tenacity at the coalface.
Key forwards Charlie Curnow and Logan McDonald delivered career-defining games. Curnow, who moved to Sydney from Carlton in last year's trade period, bounced back from booting only 32 goals in 18 matches in his final season with the Blues to win a third Coleman medal with 69 goals in a first campaign with the Swans. 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 goals for Sydney.
Lions face longer route to three-peat
For Brisbane, the suggestion that this was one that got away would do Sydney a disservice. The Lions challenged through the second and third terms but could not string enough goals together to truly threaten. 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 an elimination final between Adelaide and Western Bulldogs.
Sydney had averaged crowds of 44,283 in their three home finals at the SCG since 2022, but not many more than 37,000 fans turned up for this top-four clash. The Swans will now have a week's break to prepare to face the winner of the Fremantle and Geelong semi-final.
