Sydney stun reigning premiers Melbourne in AFL finals upset

The Sydney Swans surged through to their first AFL preliminary final since 2016 after shocking reigning premiers Melbourne by 22 points. In the first final at the MCG since the 2019 decider, the Swans ruined Melbourne’s coming home party with some scintillating run-and-gun football to dismantle the Demons’ much-vaunted defence.

Melbourne entered the qualifying final as hot favourites after humiliating the Brisbane Lions in the final round of the home-and-away season but the Swans completely outclassed the Demons after half-time in front of 78,377 fans. Sydney’s 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69) win means they now have a week off and will host a preliminary final at the SCG on 14 or 15 September to be in reach of their first flag since 2012.

The Demons, who are looking to back up last year’s drought-breaking grand final win in Perth with a flag back in Victoria, will now host Brisbane in a sudden-death semi-final at the MCG after the Lions eliminated Richmond.

Melbourne’s premiership defence is suddenly in tatters, with utility James Harmes placed on report for making late contact against Swans defender Jake Lloyd early in the final quarter. In a moment of madness, Harmes crashed into Lloyd, giving away a 50-metre penalty to allow the Swans to kick the first goal of the final term and build an 18-point lead.

Melbourne fluffed several opportunities to get back into the contest, before the Swans took the ball up the other end and Isaac Heeney all but sealed a famous victory for Sydney midway through the last quarter.

Making the win all the more impressive for the Swans was Lance Franklin had virtually no impact as All-Australian defender Steven May held the star veteran scoreless. Franklin and May tussled all night, with the pair