THE SYDNEY SWANS have stormed home but finished just short at Telstra Dome, going down by 16 points against the Kangaroos.
Closing the gap to just four points with goals from Spida Everitt and Michael O'Loughlin, the Swans were a chance of stealing an unlikely win before the Roos kicked the game’s final two goals to clinch victory, 16.15 (111) to 14.11 (95).
Barry Hall was inspirational in the final term, kicking three of his four goals to spark the Swans’ revival.
Fittingly, it was Roos stalwart Shannon Grant who sealed victory with his fourth goal.
In the first quarter, the Swans were outmuscled, outmanoeuvred and outgunned by a ferocious Roos outfit, which kicked seven goals to one in a sizzling first quarter.
The Swans managed to control the tempo in the second quarter, with goals to O'Loughlin and Luke Ablett, but were unable to erode much more of the Roos’ lead.
The Swans came strongly in the third quarter, but were again undone by a dogged Kangaroos outfit.
Shannon Grant finished with four goals and Corey Jones three for the Roos. For the Swans, Barry Hall slotted four goals and Ben Mathews two.
Kangaroos 1.5 5.12 9.16 12.23 (95)
Sydney Swans 6.6 8.10 11.12 (78)GOALSKangaroos: Grant 4, Jones 3, Campbell 3, Petrie 2, Harris, Brown, Grima, EdwardsSydney Swans: Hall 4, Mathews 2, O'Loughlin 2, Malceski, Everitt, Schneider, Jolly, Ablett, CrouchBESTKangaroos: Grant, McIntosh, Wells, Harvey, Rawlings, Campbell, Firrito, Edwards
Sydney Swans: Fosdike, Barry, Kirk, Jack, Hall, GoodesINJURIESKangaroos: Nil
Sydney: A Buchanan (knee) replaced in selected side by J MooreReports: NilUmpires: D Sully M Ellis S McInerneyOfficial Crowd: 27,045 at Telstra Dome
