Sydney set for home preliminary

The Sydney Swans have booked themselves a home preliminary final in a brutal 29-point win over Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, which claimed the seasons of Swan Ben McGlynn and Crow Daniel Talia.

McGlynn was in tears on the interchange bench after badly injuring his right hamstring in the third term, while the loss for Adelaide was compounded by a suspected broken wrist to NAB AFL Rising Star Daniel Talia suffered in the final term.

McGlynn was in fine touch before the injury with 13 touches and a goal, but hobbled down into the rooms for some time before emerging to solemnly watch the final term from the interchange bench.

The game was in the balance when Talia landed awkwardly in the fourth quarter and was helped from the ground with his right wrist wrapped in a makeshift sling.

The Crows appeared overawed in the first half with nine players making their AFL finals debut, in stark contrast to the Swans, whose only player in the same boat was 25-year-old Mitch Morton.

Despite winning their share of the football early, Adelaide uncharacteristically fumbled and missed targets.

Ryan O’Keefe (18 finals appearances) led from the front and superstar Adam Goodes looked in ominous touch with the club’s first two goals.

The Swans smothered and countered attack after attack from Adelaide and, unlike the Crows, made the most of their opportunities, booting five second-term goals to take a 25-point lead into the main break.
 
Just three contested possessions separated the sides as the best in the business heading into the final and it was even tighter in the first half at 69 contested possessions apiece, but the Swans were tackling with far more intensity and, despite trailing inside 50s 16-30, looked more dangerous when in attack.

Adelaide continued to burn the ball in the third and, when they did pump it into attack, Swans Ted Richards and Lewis Roberts-Thomson were waiting to send it back out.

The effort was there for the Crows, but their ability to execute skills under pressure just wasn’t matching their opposition’s.