A dominant performance by Jordan Foote helped the NEAFL Swans cap off the regular season in the same manner of which is began - with a win.
Foote collected a game-high 37 disposals in the 10.8 (68) to 5.13 (43) against a wasteful Sydney Uni, the Swans' 15th win of the year to officially deliver the minor premiership.
Finishing three wins clear at the top of the ladder, the minor premiership was merely a sideshow on Saturday as coach Rhyce Shaw aimed to rebound after the Round 20 loss to NT Thunder and finding form ahead a big finals series.
Foote has certainly hit some fine form, taking 11 marks as well as laying eight tackles in one of his best efforts this season.
The midfielder will undoubtedly come into senior calculations for Saturday's final round clash with Richmond at the SCG.
The NEAFL Swans will meanwhile take a well-earned break as their fellow contenders battle it out in the elimination finals.
It provides a great opportunity for the players to refresh and the coaches to reset.
What it doesn't provide is another game for Ted Richards and Jeremy Laidler (pending next week's selection) to press their cases for a recall.
Both were strong contributors in the 25-point win over Sydney Uni, with Richards kicking two goals while Laidler was extremely lively in defence gathering 20 disposals, six marks and seven rebound 50s.
Richards' goals came in the final quarter where, ultimately, the ascendancy was gained and the contest was won.
Leading by only two points at the final change, the NEAFL Swans stormed home with a five-goal-to-one quarter to go into the week's break in great touch.
In other standout games, Nic Newman continued to shine with 25 disposals and a goal while Brandon Jack (20), Jordan Dawson (19) and Jake Brown (19) were also major ball winners in the Swans' gutsy win.
QBE Sydney Swans Academy members in Brown and Ned Reinhard also finished with two goals apiece.
Shaw and his charges will, following the week off, set their sights on the semi-finals. They will play the winner of the first elimination final between Aspley and NT Thunder at Graham Road Oval in Aspley on August 27.
The other final will see Sydney Uni square off against Gold Coast at Blacktown International Sportspark, also on that Saturday, after the Suns secured a spot in the finals with a last gasp three-point win over the Hornets.
GWS Giants, after leaping to second, also has the week off.
SYDNEY 1.2 2.5 5.6 10.8 (68)
SYDNEY UNI 2.2 2.5 4.10 5.13 (43)
GOALS – Sydney: J Brown, T Richards, N Reinhard 2, N Newman, J Hiscox, M Wilson, T Derickx. Sydney University: K Murphy, L Stevenson, T Young, M Rawlinson, A Lucy.
BEST – Sydney: R Hebron, J Dawson, J Foote, J Laidler, T Derickx. Sydney University: T Barton, A Day, T Young, L Stevenson, K Murphy, W Sierakowski.
