(Reuters) – Sydney Swans trampled over Port Adelaide Power by 36 points in a sudden-death preliminary final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday to secure their place in next week’s Australian Football League (AFL) season decider.
Although Sydney copped a 112-point thrashing when the two sides last met in August, they methodically exacted their revenge 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) when it mattered most to ensure their fifth grand final berth since head coach John Longmire took over in 2011.
The ladder-topping Swans last won a premiership in 2012, falling agonisingly short in 2014, 2016 and 2022.
“We’ve got a special team to bounce back like we did,” Swans on-baller Isaac Heeney said after amassing 24 disposals and two goals.
“We’re a different team to 2022, we’re a bit more mature.”
Sydney conceded the opening goal courtesy of a free kick to Jase Burgoyne, bumped behind play, but never looked back as they sliced Port Adelaide apart with forward-half domination and accuracy.
The home side kicked eight straight goals from set shots to take a 25-point lead into halftime, with key forwards Logan McDonald (two goals) and Joel Amartey (three goals) among the multiple-goal scorers.
McDonald was substituted early in the final quarter with a foot concern, and although the visitors managed to score consecutive goals when midfielder Connor Rozee (two goals) drilled home a 50 metre kick, the sting had left the contest.
Hunting their third premiership since the AFL became a national competition in 1990, the Swans await the result of the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions playoff on Saturday night to learn their opponent.
Port Adelaide’s elimination keeps coach Ken Hinkley, fined by the AFL after last week’s semi-final where he taunted opposition Hawthorn players as they left the field, without any grand final appearances after 12 seasons at the helm.
(Reporting by Joel Dubber in Perth, Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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