The Sydney Swans have roared home to steal an extraordinary victory over fierce rivals GWS and storm into a preliminary final. From 28 points down in the third quarter, Sydney have found a way to get their noses in front of GWS with just two minutes to play. Now they’ve held their nerve to win a famous victory and earn themselves a home preliminary final for a chance at the big dance. The SCG is going off!
4th quarter, 1 minute remaining: Sydney 13.10.88 – GWS 12.10.82
The Giants aren’t dead yet. They win the restart and send it in side 50. They’re right in front of goal but Sydney scramble it clear and again it’s Braeden Campbell who saves Sydney, banging it down the right flank. They’re not out of danger yet. The Giants send it back to the circle. But again the Swans clear. Campbell thumps it downfield to no one. GWS clear but it’s too late. They’ve sent the ball over the sideline!
4th quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 13.10.88 – GWS 12.10.82
Sydney come again! But Perryman marks for the Giants. It’s n ot enough. The Swans steal it back and send it long. Amartey chooses to bump rather than collect and it weorks. He beats his man, spins and regathers. Goals! Sydney in front!
4th quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 12.10.82 – GWS 12.10.82
It’s neck and neck! Buckley and Taylor combined again to repel another Sydney attack and Greene shows calm to get it past halfway. But here comes Heeney! He swerves, steps, surges into space. He’s miles out but there’s no one home back there. He launches. One bounce and it’s home! 82-all!
4th quarter, 4 minutes remaining: Sydney 11.10.76 – GWS 12.10.82
Campbell is everywhere. He won another ground ball then to spark a red wave. Heeney tapped it back in contact as the Swans flew inside 50. But the Giants rush a behind. They’re not out of trouble yet. Jordan wins it back but Taylor intercepts and finds Buckley. The Giants slow it down, sapping time from the clock – and hope from the Swans. One goal game!
4th quarter, 6 minutes remaining: Sydney 11.9.75 – GWS 12.10.82
The Swans respond! Jordan did brilliantly to keep a tumbling pill infield and he then scythed a missile kick infield where Campbell was waiting in space. Goal!
4th quarter, 7 minutes remaining: Sydney 10.9.69 – GWS 12.10.82
Ward goals for the Giants! What a kick that was. He was deep in the pocket but shrugged off Jordan’s attempted tackle and curved it through. He’s now 13.2 for the season!
4th quarter, 8 minutes remaining: Sydney 10.9.69 – GWS 11.10.76
Sydney set up camp in the Giants red zone. Parker snaps but sends it askew. Rampe has moved upfield again and he heroically cleans up the restart. Lloyd finds McDonald who skids it infield to Campbell. But Sam Taylor steals it back for GWS. Now Coniglio roosts it high and long downfield. Blakey saves the day on the sideline but the Giants are pressing. Sydney need Grundy and Heeney back on the field pronto! Seven points the margin.
4th quarter, 10 minutes remaining: Sydney 10.8.68 – GWS 11.10.76
Can the Giants absorb those blows and find a response of their own? Not just yet. It’s all Sydney. Heeney collects a low ball and finds support. But there’s a turnover and GWS reverse the flow, move quickly into attack and a precision kick finds Lachie Ash within range. But he sends it wide and Sydney push back inside 50. The Giants look a little rattled. They’ve got the minor premiers applying ferocious pressure all over the park.
4th quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 10.7.67 – GWS 11.9.75
The SCG lights are on… and so are Sydney! This time it’s Grundy winning the restart and thumping it forward where Jake Lloyd swoops and finds himself in space. He sprints 40m before launching a low bouncing ball that splits the sticks from 60m out. Great goal!
4th quarter, 14 minutes remaining: Sydney 9.7.55 – GWS 11.9.75
Swans bounce back! And who else but the jumping jack Tom Papley. He’s the spark for Sydney and his mark and kick from 55m out brings the margin back to 14 points.
4th quarter, 15 minutes remaining: Sydney 8.7.55 – GWS 11.9.75
Leon Cameron can’t sit still on the sideline. For 10 years he led the Giants, now he’s wearing red as one of John Longmire’s Sydney brains trust. Poor Leon is wincing now. The Giants have drawn a free for a high tackle against Callum Mills and tey’ll make the Swans pay. A snapped goal returns the 21-point deficit.
4th quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 8.7.55 – GWS 10.9.69
What a spoil by Blakey! Sydney looked shot to pieces until the man they call The Lizard flew in and ruined what looked like a certain mark. Inspiring stuff from the moustachioed defender and it sparks a wave of Swans runners. They’re inside 50 in a flash and Ollie Florent finds Will Haywatrd in enough space. Goal!
The Swans emerged from the long break recharged and kicked two straight to get as close as they have been all day. But again the Giants held their nerve and responded in kind, delivering two goals of their own in as many minutes. Both sides continue to exchange words and shoves as they huddle up ahead of what will be a gripping final term. A home preliminary final is at stake. Which Sydbney side will grab it?
3rd quarter, 1 minute remaining: Sydney 7.6.48 – GWS 10.9.69
GWS No 44 Jack Buckley is being strapped up for a head wound as the Giants work it inside 50 where Toby Greene loiters with intent. There’s some aerial warfare and eventually Parker tumbles it out of danger for the Swans where Hayward and Campbell combine nicely to send it close to the sticks. But the siren sounds before there’s any further addition to the scoreboard. Phew! What a frenzied quarter that was.
3rd quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 7.6.48 – GWS 10.9.69
Lachie Whitfield forces a turnover from Isaac Heeney, an ominous sign as the seconds tick down on this quarter. But Logan McDonald forces a slip on the right flank and sprints into space. He’s 60m out but there’s seagulls in goal and he launches… and goals! The 21-point margin intact at halftime remains but the sides are in all-out attack mode and goals are flowing. Six majors so far this quarter and still 100 seconds to go…
3rd quarter, 4 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.6.42 – GWS 10.9.69
Another ferocious tackle from Joel Amartey forces a spill. But we can’t get it away from the boundary line for a minute or two an it allows the Giants times to reset. They pinball handballs downfiel until Josh Kelly bombed it inside 50. But the Swans have stuffed it up again as Melican and Cunningham collide in goal. It bounces clear and the orange socked foot of Aaron Cadman foot lashes out wildly but gets enough of it to goal!
3rd quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.6.42 – GWS 9.9.63
There’s not much of Darcy Jones but he’s standing tall in this quarter. He almost stole another goal in his first final and just his 13th game of senior footy. GWS have stablised after weathering an early onslaught from Sydney either side of the halftime break. Now Greene has a chance from 53m. It doesn’t have the length and the Giants lock it in for a fifth successive inside 50. Amartey spoils again but there’s no sign of Gulden or Papley so far this quarter. They need to go hunting for the ball if the Swans are to peg back this 21 point lead.
3rd quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.6.42 – GWS 9.8.62
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins is on screen, smiling that winning smile and clutching at a Swans scarf. I thought he was a Penrith boy? Doesn’t that align him with the Giants. Whatever… back in the middle young Kelly out-sprints Swans veteran Parker and shoots to thrill but Cunningham cleans up at the back. This qualifying final is opening up now, the action moving in fits and starts from end to end. Two goals apiece mid-way through the quarter. Amartey pulls off two tackles in five seconds to force a turnover. Brilliant second effort! The crowd roars. And he’s won Sydney a free.
3rd quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.6.42 – GWS 9.8.62
Goal to Hogan! The Giants had been under the pump all half but Heeney’s absence created space and Greene lured Callum Mills forward and chipped it inside 50 to where Hogan was on the fly. A nice low kick and it’s through. Sydney scramble from the ruck but Mills misses his man and young Darcy Jones collects the crumbs and snaps truly. Magnificent two-goal combination by the Giants!
3rd quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.6.42 – GWS 7.8.50
Heeney is in the blood bin for a moment seeing to that battered schnoz. He’s inspired a two-goal surge from his team already this quarter. Hang on, could it be three?! Hayward has swooped on a ball in the pocket and snapped it to Jake Lloyd who marks in space. It’s 30m out but floats wide. The Giants need a response n they get it, going inside 50 before McCartin saves the day with a clean mark and safe clearance.
3rd quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Sydney 6.5.41 – GWS 7.8.50
Sydney send a statement! With the crowd still abuzz after Heeney’s high flying mark, veteran defender Dane Rampe charged upfield and got his hands on a tumbling ball on the right flank. Bang! His left foot didn’t hesitate and it’s a vital goal for a reborn Sydney! And here comes Heeney again soaring like a swan heading south. He marks, wipes the blood for his battered bugle… and goals. Sydney roar back into the contest!
3rd quarter, 18 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.5.29 – GWS 7.8.50
Swans coach John Longmire is into his 12th finals campaign in 14 years today. This is his 26th final at the helm of the red-and-white which puts him level with former Kangaroos teammate Alastair Clarkson in 12th place among AFL coaches all-time. But of the last 11 times he’s been behind at halftime, Lomngmire has never got his side home.
Here we go again… and it’s a massive speccy by Isaac Heeney to get us underway! Can he produce a quarter like the one that singlehandedly destroyed Collingwood a month ago?
The Giants ripped the game open in that quarter. Only a late goal by isaac Heeney kept the Swans in it. The Swans will have to come from behind for a sixth time this season to win this qualifying final. But this club is not to be counted out. They are the minor premiers in 2024 and have missed finals only five times in the last 29 years.
Tom Papley shapes as the key man for the Bloods in this back half. He had six goals across three finals contests in 2022, 18 touches in last year’s elimination final and he thrives on the big stage. Can he shuck off the rust of a long injury layoff and keep intact his record of kicking a goal in every one of the eight Swans-Giants contests since round five in 2021?
For GWS the go-to man is Tom Green who is averaging 30.7 disposals a game this season. The big man has been in red-hot form these past months too and has recorded at least 30+ disposals in nine of his last 11 games. And he lifts against the Swans too, notching 35, 38, and 31 disposals in their last trio of meetings.
2nd quarter, 1 minute remaining: Sydney 4.5.29 – GWS 7.8.50
McInerney sends it back inside 50 but it’s too slow and the Giants line is set and spoils it with ease. Buckley plays on and hoofs it long where it goes to ground. Rampe hacks it out of midair, desperate to get to the long break intact. He gets away with it but the siren sounds with the Giants 21-points ahead. Lloyd has 17 touches for the Swans and Kelly has the same for GWS but Sydney aren’t winning enough contests and, asie from that late goal by Heeney, they haven’t been able to get their key forwards into the game.
2nd quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Sydney 4.5.29 – GWS 7.8.50
Sydney need something late here. Dane Rampe has gone forward to inspire something. Heeney and Papley go with him and Tom chips it back to Gulden. Errol is too far out to score so sends it to Hayden Mclean in the pocket but it’s punched clear. Heeney wins the throw in and shoots. It’s high enough, long enough…but wide. More frustration for the Swans. But they’ll get another chance. Lloyd to Papley and Heeney dives wide like a man at first slip and snares the mark! Brilliant stuff. And he ices it with a glorious goal!
2nd quarter, 5 minutes remaining: Sydney 3.4.22 – GWS 7.8.50
That was a goal against the tide by the Swans but they quickly find themselves pinned inside 50 again. The Giants send it wide. Grundy settles things down in the pocket but Taylor forces a turnover and the orange swarm sends it over the boundary. The Swans can’t find any space. Warner reefs a great kick down the right flank where Parker looked to have marked. But it isn’t paid and Rampe’s crash tackle on Cadman is reckless and earns the whistle. He’s 40m out on the angle but it doesn’t matter. Cadman coolly drills a goal!
2nd quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Sydney 3.4.22 – GWS 6.7.43
Uh-oh. Sydney in real trouble now as chaos at the back between Blakey and Melican gifts Aaron Cadman a gift right in front. He goals and puts the Giants further in front. Blakey is roaring his disapproval but it’s too late now Lizard. he shoul be following the lead of his teammates who have scampere downfield and sets up Will Hayward who picks it up on the bounce and snaps it from 40m. Swans hanging on!
2nd quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 2.4.16 – GWS 5.7.37
This quarter has been all Giants. They are now 20 points clear and controlling possession. The Swans look tired – lots of hanging heads and hands on hips. They look like they’re playing this game at altiutude not their fortress of the SCG. GWS sense it too an go in for the kill. Great mark on the goalline by Lachie Keith but he drifts it across the face. Sydney on the ropes – it’s 17 marks to two against them in this quarter so far!
2nd quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 2.4.16 – GWS 5.5.35
A flurry of fast handballs get the Giants inside 50 but Gulden’s fifth touch keeps the red wall intact for now. Warner kicks clear but it’s straight down Harry Himmelburg’s throat and he pings it straight back to – who else? – Toby Greene who spins and kicks it into the red zone where Lachie Keith jumps up to meet the bouncing ball and tows it through for his first goal of the year – what a time to score it. The Giants take control!
2nd quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Sydney 2.4.16 – GWS 4.5.29
The SCG crowd is jeering but it’s another Giants goal this time to Callum Ward. Melican made the initial mistake in goal, Nick Blakey compounded it with a bung clearance and Cunningham thought the contact would draw a free. It didn’t. Play the whistle Harry! The Giants scoop it up and slotted it with ease. Jesse Hogan has limped off. We’ll keep an eye on that…
2nd quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Sydney 2.4.16 – GWS 3.5.23
Great start for the Giants as they goal following a dubious call against Lewis Melican for a high tackle. Looked legit and torso to torso from here but the men in yellow saw it differently. Bang! An early stroke of fortune for the visitors. But here come the Swans. Isaac Heeney wins the contest – that’s just his eighth touch of the day but he makes it counts and gets it inside 50 where Papley draws a free. He doesn’t mess around either and slots a gently curling shot through the midle from 30m out. Sydney strike back!
That was a crazy climax to a torrid quarter of football. Sydney had an early ascendancy but din’t convert their opportunities the scoreboard. Conversely, the Giants made the most of limited chances in the early stages, slotting two goals and narrowly missing several others. Although the Swans pegged one back late, GWS will probably feel aggrieved at not being further ahead. The good news is they have their champions Greene, Green and Hogan in the game whereas Sydney’s stars Heeney, Gulden and Papley have been largely nullified. The frustration boiled over in the final minute when Greene and Papley brawled on the SCG turf and players flocked like dogs to a dropped pie. Here we go for the second quarter…
Quarter time: Sydney 1.4.10 – GWS 2.5.17
Ouch! The Giants miss from bang in front. That one might come back to haunt them. Finally Gulden gets a touch, then another, as Sydney surge inside 50. Grundy and Green go into gladiator mode in the ruck but it’s Tom Papley, cheekiest crummer in the game, who ends with the spoils. He shoots and misses and Greene lets him know about it. Now it’s ON! Players surge into the melee and Papley and Greene are right in the eye of the storm. Game on at the SCG!
1st quarter, 3 minutes remaining: Sydney 1.4.10 – GWS 2.4.16
The Swans hit back! Just in the nick of time too. It was James Rowbottom curling a rightfooter from deep in the pocket. Not pretty but they got numbers in the contest an finally gave their sharpshooter enough space to snap their first major of the day. Suddenly it’s just one goal the difference.
1st quarter, 3 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.4.4 – GWS 2.4.16
Tom Green is piling up the possessions and has 12 (eight contested) in as many minutes as GWS win the battle of the midfield. But they’ve coughed up possession here an Sydney try to bomb it over the top but send it wide again. GWS rebound quickly and find Hogan but his shot for goal doesn’t have the legs. Errol Gudlen has been conspicuous by his absence so far – just one possession for the quarter so far. He finished with 41 the last time these sides met! The Swans have never been kept goalless against the Giants in a first quarter. They have three minutes to remedy that.
1st quarter, 6 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.0.2 – GWS 2.3.15
We went upstairs to confirm that goal. The Swans were sure they’d got a touch but replays show clear air between ball and Blood. Great play by the Giants champion. He had the Swans at sixes and sevens there, too many men in red expecting a teammate to smother the Coleman medallist. But no one did and GWS surge two goals clear. Another sluggish start by Sydney. If they’ve had a weakness in 2024 that’s been it.
1st quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.0.2 – GWS 2.2.14
Rampe and Greene wrestle fiercely for supremacy on the ground. The Giants have setup camp inside 50 and Daniels swings off the right foot trying to curl it back. But not enough an it’s another point. They come again through Callaghan. Chad Warner intercepted for the Swans but Jonesstole it back and sent a wormburner downfield. It half-volleys for the targeted man but Hogan swoops to clean it up and goals!
1st quarter, 11 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.0.2 – GWS 1.0.7
Again the Swans go close but desperate defence foils what seemed a certain goal. It was Heeney flying high but it was three-on-one and he couldn’t nail the mark. The Giants clear quickly and again Hogan charges forward and demolishes the pack to mark. He finds Greene loitering with intent on the flank and Tobey lines up… and misses.
1st quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.0.2 – GWS 1.0.6
End to end stuff now as Cunningham brings down Whitfield in a boots ‘n’ all tackle from behind. The Swans break free and go inside 50 but Amartey can’t get hands to the ball in time. The Giants clear but Nick “The Lizard” Blakey marks smartly and slithers forward to launch a new wave of attack through the corridor. A bouncing ball gets to goal… but only for a minor score. Swans starting to control territory now.
1st quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Sydney 0.0.1 – GWS 1.0.6
Now it’s the Giants on attack. And who else is it splitting the sticks for the first goal of the day but Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan? Wonderful counter attack by GWS with fast hands sowing chaos in the midfield and Hogan marking cleanly for his 70th goal of the season.
1st quarter, 17 remaining: Sydney 0.0.1 – GWS 0.0.0
And we’re away! Grundy fumbled from the middle as Briggs got in front and it’s a scrap for possession on the ground. Sydney win the early clinches and head inside 50 and the Swans perhaps missed a chance there as GWS pressure forces a behind. The Giants counter, Kelly kicks long but it’s McCartin underneath it. Nervous start for both sides.
Players are arm-in-arm, we have been welcomed to Gadigal land and the anthems are ringing out. Minutes from the bounce now.
A few changes for both sides today…
In: T.McCartin, T.Papley, I.Heeney, J.McInerneyOut: A.Francis (injured), C.Cleary (omitted), R.Fox (omitted), T.Adams (omitted)
R24 sub: Robbie Fox
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
In: B.Daniels, L.Ash, I.CummingOut: H.Thomas (omitted), C.Brown (omitted), N.Haynes (omitted)
R24 sub: Callum Brown
For Sydney, Papley and McInerney have overcome their respective ankle and knee injuries that have kept them out of action for the past month while last year’s grand final heartbreak story Taylor Adams has been dropped.
Last night the Western Bulldogs became the first of our eight 2024 finalists to head for the exits, hammered by Hawthorn to the tune of 37 points in front of a record elimination final crowd of 97,828 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was the Dogs’ fifth elimination final loss in the last 10 years and it was a defeat coach Luke Beveridge found “difficult to process” but which brought out his stoic side. “Now is the time to make sure we get through the disappointment together,” he told fans.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley described the Hawks’ win as “a significant destruction of a very good opposition”. Here’s how our own Jonathan Horn saw it…
Hello footy fans! Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the 2024 qualifying final, an all-Sydney derby between the Swans and the Giants at ye olde Sydney Cricket Ground. Angus Fontaine here to steer you through today’s AFL action.
On paper, it’s Sydney (1st, 17-6, 126.7%) plays GWS (4th, 15-8, 109.1%). But “The Battle of the Bridge” isn’t fought on paper. These clubs don’t have an ancient enmity like, say, Collingwood and Carlton. The Sin City rivalry is the youngest in the AFL, but it’s fierce and fiery and tonight it’s a fresh wound that gets ripped open for the third time this season.
In 2024, minor-premiers Sydney have beaten GWS in both their meetings. In round eight, the Bloods claimed an emphatic 29-point win at the SCG when Will Hayward kicked four and Errol Gulden had 29 touches. The rematch in round 15 went to the Swans again, a 27-point triumph built on the back of Gulden’s 41 disposals.
In fact, the Swans have won five of the past six Sydney derbies, with their only loss the painful last gasp defeat at the SCG last year. But here’s the rub: GWS hold a 3-0 record over their big brother in finals, an anomaly highlighted (or lowlighted if you’re a Bloods fan) by the one-point elimination final victory three years ago.
Who will get the chocolates today? Join us for the bounce at 3.20pm.
