THE SYDNEY Swans have sewn up a home final against Carlton, to be held next Sunday September 5 at ANZ Stadium at 2.40pm.
The Swans earned the home final after a convincing 38-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The 16.10 (106) to 10.8 (68) win means the Swans will finish in fifth spot and play the eighth-placed Blues at ANZ Stadium next Sunday afternoon.
After the Lions led by one point at half-time, the visitors put the clamps on in the third quarter, kicking five unanswered goals to set up a match-winning 32-point lead.
Despite some fourth quarter resistance by the home team, the Swans were never in danger.
They had many heroes as their suffocating midfield pressure and defence squeezed the life out of the Lions’ hopes.
It completed a horrendous season for Michael Voss’ men who won just seven games and will finish in the bottom four after making the top eight last year.
Trent Dennis-Lane and Kieren Jack kicked three goals apiece for the Swans as they dominated one-on-one contests all over the ground.
Captain Brett Kirk blanketed Simon Black to keep the Brownlow Medallist to 21 touches, most of which came with the game over in the final quarter, in the last head-to-head duel between the two fierce rivals.
Half-backs Nick Malceski (26 possessions) and Martin Mattner (22) had a field day and provided plenty of drive, while Jarrad McVeigh and Jack were the midfield catalysts.
Jack was an inspiration and arguably best on ground, gathering 26 possessions and kicking three goals, including a beauty from close to the left hand boundary line in the final quarter.
For the Lions Brent Staker was their best, making life difficult for Adam Goodes and getting plenty of the ball himself when going forward.
Jared Brennan kicked two goals and Tom Rockliff tried hard.
The Swans led by five points at the first change thanks largely to two goals by Dennis-Lane.
The tight tussle continued in the second when teams traded goals before Power kicked a behind on the siren to give the Lions the narrowest of half-time leads.
Brisbane Lions: 3.2 6.5 6.7 10.8 (68)
Sydney Swans: 4.1 6.4 11.9 16.10 (106)
GOALS
Brisbane Lions: Brennan 2, Banfield, Proud, Power, Adcock, Collier, Pokinghorne, Staker, Hanley
Sydney Swans: Dennis-Lane 3, Jack 3, Bolton, Jetta, Kennedy, Malceski, McVeigh, Meredith, O’Keefe, Shaw, Reid, Goodes
BEST
Brisbane Lions: Staker, Brennan, Rockliff, Leuenberger, McGrath
Sydney Swans: Jack, Malceski, Mattner, Kirk, McVeigh, O’Keefe
INJURIES
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Sydney Swans: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Stevic, Jeffery
Official crowd: 24,789 at the Gabba
