That’s it from me, folks. The thunder has been shaken down from the sky and Sydney are through to their fifth grand final under John Longmire. Tune in tomorrow to see if it’s the Cats or the Lions they face off against at the MCG next Saturday. Thanks for your company tonight and stay tuned for Jonathan Horn’s glorious prose which is incoming!

Milestone men 200-gamer Isaac Heeney and 250-gamer Dane Rampe – both proud NSW products – are being chaired off the ground by their teammates but it’s a blissfully slow march down the tunnel because all the players are savouring every last moment of this rapturous Sydney crowd who have attended the SCG in numbers like never before in 2024.

SYDNEY WINS THROUGH TO GRAND FINAL! Port Adelaide 8.11.59 – Sydney 14.11.95

Sydney run down the clock. They’re not smiling in the coach’s box just yet but assistant coach Dean Cox can’t contain a smirk. ‘Syd-ney, Syd-ney, Syd-ney’ reverberates around this old ground. There’s the siren. The Swans are heading to another grand final!

Final quarter, 2 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 8.11.59 – Sydney 14.11.95

Port are trying to finish with a flourish but the Swans lead 219-166 in kicks tonight and the chant of ‘Syd-ney, Syd-ney’ is growing in volume. The Swans faithful know they’re home now. Can they goal again to hit three figures and ice their passage to the big dance next Saturday?

Final quarter, 6 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 8.11.59 – Sydney 14.11.95

The Swans have out-marked Port decisively tonight. They lead intercept marks (17-12), marks on lead (15-4), contested marks (12-7), forward 50 marks (14-8) and uncontested marks (96-55). Big gaps and they’ve spelled big trouble for the Power all night. Seconds ticking away now and Swan still six goals clear.

Final quarter, 7 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 8.11.59 – Sydney 14.10.94

Sydney are pressing but Amartey’s shot on goal goes out on the full. Port quickly reef it upfield but it finds McCartin instead. Heeney’s lead lures two defenders out of position and gives Amartey a clear grab. But again he misses. And so does Georgiades at the other end. That would’ve brought the margin inside the 20s. But it’s not to be.

Final quarter, 10 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 8.11.59 – Sydney 14.9.93

Wow! Errol Gulden is ther man with the golden boot. That one went straight into Joel Amartey’s pocket. But again Sydney send it wide of the big sticks. It scarcely matters when you’re 40 points clear but they’ve been wayward in this back half. And Rozee makes him pay, kicking back-to-back goals for the Port for the first time tonight.

Final quarter, 12 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 7.11.53 – Sydney 14.8.92

The Sydney crowd is really up and about now. It’s a sea of red and white out there and with 12 minutes to play it looks like it’ll be flowing south to the MCG on Grand FInal day. Connor Rozee is desperately trying to inspire something here and he does, gunning a kick down the guts where Travis Boak marks and scores in game 371.

3rd quarter, 15 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 6.11.47 – Sydney 14.8.92

Port are yet to kick consecutive goals tonight. They’ll need seven straight to win this prelim. Sydney’s accuracy has deserted them in this second half but Port haven’t been able to punish them for it. And they’ve punished themselves again, elbowing Heeney out of the contest and setting him up for what could be the sealer 30m out. He nails it!

3rd quarter, 17 minutes to play: Port Adelaide 6.11.47 – Sydney 13.8.86

Can the Power find something special? Or will the Swans close it out? Here we go. But from the ruck Grundy gets to Heeney and he’s lethal. He spits the pip to Logan McDonald who sets up. But it’s another miss for the Swans an another let off for Port. Can they conjure a comeback from this run of misses by the home side? McDonald is off and there’s ice on that ankle. It’s 31-year-old veteran Robbie Fox running on. Now Aliir does well to keep it infield and he angles a nice kick to Burgoyne who’s within range. But the kick is a shocker – wide, short and woeful. They’ll get another chance from the spillage though. Drew looks to be lining up but he sends it to Ollie Wines instead. A behind.

3rd quarter, 1 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 6.9.45 – Sydney 13.7.85

Dixon gets a shot on goal from the far right but wafts it left and Sydney clear through Grundy. Cunningham dinks it to Heeney and he puts a high ball to Roberts. A low ball looks for Papley but he stumbles and Port scramble a counterattack. But there’s the siren. Sydney are 40-points clear and Swans fans are looking into flights to Melbourne.

3rd quarter, 2 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 6.9.45 – Sydney 13.7.85

Oh no! Boak has put another bung clearance right into the hands of Chad Warner and he rushes past one, dodges another and puts it home off the right foot. Great goal!

3rd quarter, 3 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 6.9.45 – Sydney 12.6.79

Charlie Dixon hits back for the Power to bring the margin back inside six goals. Still a long way to go but they’re still alive inside this final half hour of play. Sydney fumble it out of further trouble but Port know it’s now or never. They need another goal at least before the break. Grundy tackled Horne-Francis and it’s another turnover by Port but again Sydney miss their shot. Will the Swans come to rue this inaccuracy or have they done enough? They are 3.5 this quarter after being 9.1 at halftime.

3rd quarter, 6 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 5.9.39 – Sydney 12.5.78

Tom Papley gets his third! That was Boak’s mistake and yet again another turnover has cost Port Adelaide dearly. Oh dear. Now Sydney’s Ollie Florent has rag-dolled his man and won Will Hayward a shot on goal from 35m out. But he sprays it right. Sydney haven’t been as accurate this quarter but the scoreboard is ticking over too fast for Port’s liking.

3rd quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 5.9.39 – Sydney 11.4.70

Massive let off for the Power. The Swans were away, swarming forward in a red tide. Papley lobbed a lovely ball over the top and it was McInerney, with support either side, that took the kick. But it’s a shocker and the young man puts his head in his hands. And Port do what good sides must when their enemy stuff up. They seize the moment and score through Georgiades. Strewth, the Power needed that. They still have a pulse.

3rd quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 4.6.33 – Sydney 10.1.69

Another costly turnover from Port. This time it’s Roberts who runs onto the loose pill and his raking punt is a beauty and again Amartey does well to beat his man. He’s right in front and his boot is true. Sydney out by 36-points now and Port in real trouble.

3rd quarter, 13 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 4.6.33 – Sydney 10.1.63

Have fended off that raid, Port reset and send it back downfield looking for Charlie Dixon. But he’s bumped away by Warner and the ball goes loose again. Big Charlie still looks to be suffering with that illness that sidelined him last week. Now it’s Hayden McLean stretching to mark. He thumps it inside 50 but Aliir snaps it up and gets it to Boak who finds Burgmann. But Rowbottom scruffs him and Port has coughed it up and Florent rips a kick to Parker. His kick sails wide and the Power are 30-points down but still breathing

3rd quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 4.6.31 – Sydney 10.1.62

Port try to rebound after that early goal. Burgman gets it to Jones and he lobs a long ball looking for Rioli but Willie can’t outmuscle McDonald back there. The Power win it back and Boak goes inside 50 and has a shot but it’s well short an Sydney mark easily. The Bloods lock it in and try to edge it clear with a dervish of handballs. Rowbottom to Parker to Papley, a few half shots in there but all smothered. Good desperate defence from Port. They keep Sydney out.

3rd quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 4.6.30 – Sydney 10.1.61

Bang goes Sydney! Amartey laid a great tackle to force the turnover and Chad Warner was the seagull diving for the chip. The Swans midfielder was 55m out but didn’t hesitate. Too easy!

The Swans led the way in disposals 182-137, kicks 122-88 and handballs 60-49. But Port have edged them in inside 50s 31-26. The difference has been efficiency in the red zone with Sydney far better, 47% to 39%. Here we go for the second half…

2nd quarter, 1 minute remaining: Port Adelaide 4.6.30 – Sydney 9.1.55

Port Adelaide have rallied in these last few minutes and have won the last five clearances (three from Jason Horne-Francis). They now have a 20-9 advantage but have only cashed it in to the tune of one goal. That’s been the story of the night so far. Port have already conceded 48 points tonight from turnovers (more than their season average of 43.2. Now they press again and again it’s Rioli gobbling it out of the air. The kick veers right then comes left… but not enough. No goal.

2nd quarter, 3 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 4.5.29 – Sydney 9.1.55

Sydney close in on their 10th goal here. Papley tried to slap it over Aliir on the boundary but it goes over. Blakey gets it to Ollie Florent on the half-volley but Georgiades pinches it and gets it to Butters but Sydney swarm and snuff the chance. Here’s Travis Boak hoofing it downfield. It’s a mongrel kick but it finds a magician in Rioli and he calmly collects a hand pass over the shoulder and the little maestro snaps off the right foot over his left shoulder and it’s through the goal. Port needed that!

2nd quarter, 5 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 3.5.23 – Sydney 9.1.55

Having monstered Port in attack Sydney now smash them in defence. This time it’s Horne-Francis jolted out of his run and sent to the turf. Ouch! Hard but fair says the umpire. Willie Rioli needs to get involved here. He’s been shutdown by the Sydney veteran Rampe so far and Sydney is dominating all over the park with 9-2 marks on the lead, 49-20 uncontested marks, 23-8 forward half marks (including 7-1 in the forward 50) and 5-2 contested marks.

2nd quarter, 8 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 3.4.22 – Sydney 9.1.55

Sydney are really starting to hum now. That’s 20 marks in a row for the home side. And now they come again, through Florent and then Parker and the veteran likes what he sees in front and his low kick finds young Hayden McLean who skids to meet it on his knees. Great mark and he steps back and slots another. What an awesome flurry of punches Sydney have thrown in this quarter!

2nd quarter, 9 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 3.4.22 – Sydney 8.1.49

Sydney are starting to dominate this preliminary final now with 14 marks for the Swans to Port Adelaide’s three so far this quarter. And now Blakey has slithered onto a loose ball and speared a ball to Tom Papley who snaffles it from the night sky and has a chance for a second goal. He cops a clear high tackle on the way and the little big man makes Port pay with another goal! Sydney starting to run away with this contest.

2nd quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 3.4.22 – Sydney 7.1.43

Here’s Heeney! Nine disposals and three marks so far tonight but until now just the minor score. But again Aliir was left flat-footed and the blond bombshell didn’t even have to jump, he simply muscled his way in front of Burgoyne. That’s another Sydney goal! The margin is now a handsome 21-points and Port fans are starting to sweat a little.

2nd quarter, 14 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 3.4.22 – Sydney 6.1.37

Port Adelaide respond through Rozee! They cleared from the ruck and the Power skipper spun and sent it through on the bounce. But their next advance is scuppered by Fox and Lloyd and Sydney turn it around at speed and Blakey the Lizard slithers through the pack and sends a low ball inside 50 where it’s Amartey with the lead. He marks and scores from 40m out. Sydney restore their lead!

2nd quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 2.4.16 – Sydney 5.1.31

Port saddle up through Drew then Burton. They rider the rails own the right boundary but Amartey gets in front and quickly plays on, jagging a kick across the field. It bounces for Harry Cunningham but he gathers and lobs a lovely ball right into the sticky mitts of Logan McDonald who’s got himself into space. Clean mark and he shows it a clean pair of heels, splitting the big sticks to put Sydney 15 points ahead!

2nd quarter, 18 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 2.4.16 – Sydney 4.1.25

Here we go again. And within seconds Sydney have swooped, surged and had a shot. We have a goal review here. Grundy won the ruck and Sydney moved swiftly to Heeney who snapped with his left. Aliir looked to have grabbed it before it crossed the line… and replays show he did. And a lovely mark from Georgiades salts the wound. He’s 50m out from the left but it’s a whisker off the left upright and one flag waves.

1st quarter, 1 minute remaining: Port Adelaide 2.2.14 – Sydney 4.1.25

Heeney sets up a fresh wave of attack. He finds Rowbottom who spears one to McLean. And here’s Luke Parker scooting clear of Aliir and marking. He’s way out and the angle is wide and it’s too much for the Sydney veteran and it’s their first minor score. The crowd sigh but they’re quickly roaring as Heeney channels his rugby league youth and lays a brilliant tackle. “Ball!” is the bellow from the SCG crowd but no joy from the men in yellow. It’s play on… and Heeney swoops and sends a bullet to Tom Papley as the siren sounds. Can the Sydney sparkplug deliver a major blow on the break? Yes he can!

1st quarter, 4 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 2.2.14 – Sydney 3.0.18

Aliir marks safely when Hayden McLean was seemingly distracted by a tray of beers and pies in the crowd. Can Port make them pay? No. The kick goes out of bounds. Sydney aren’t out of trouble yet though. Rampe bombs it upfield but it’s Burgoyne again who intercepts and he puts it inside 50 where McCartin clouts Ratugole and gives away a free. It’s well within range but the kick sails wide.

1st quarter, 8 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 2.1.13 – Sydney 3.0.18

Horne-Francis was tackled from behind by Rampe – where was the call of ‘Yer hot!’ from his teammates I wonder? Ollie Wines crumbs beautifully and a kick over the top finds Georgiades. He cops a bump from Rampe – a high tackle in any code that one – and draws an easy free. The next kick is an arrow that hits Kennedy square on the chest and he swivels and snaps… and scores!

1st quarter, 10 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 1.1.7 – Sydney 3.0.18

Sydney clear again and there’s a big bump on Amartey but there’s no free paid and play goes on. Joel took his revenge with a heavy tackle and this one draws a free. Horne Francis beats his man and this time it’s a Sydney turnover that gives Port a sniff. There’s a shot.. but it’s sprayed across the face and only a minor score ensues. Sydney clear quickly, VERY quickly and Logan McDonald snaps truly for Sydney’s third goal!

1st quarter, 12 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 1.0.6 – Sydney 2.0.12

Jake Lloyd evens it up with a goal 30-metres out. Good response by Sydney. That was a dreadful stabbed clearance from Boak and the veteran Swans defender took the easiest of marks. The Swans have their tails up now through Florent and this time he finds Amartey who beats former Swan Aliir Aliir to a low kick. This should be the lead…. and it is! That’s two goals from Port turnovers. Ken Hinkley will not be happy!

1st quarter, 14 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 1.0.6 – Sydney 0.0.0

It’s early but Sydney will be having flashbacks to their first quarter blot-out earlier this season. Port had 71 points before the Swans even troubled the scorers. Now it’s Cunningham in the back pocket clearing to Warneer but his chip ‘n’ chase misses Joel Amartey and Port turn the tide and attack from the centre. Ollie Florent diffuses that charge with a clean mark just outside 50 and an error from Travis Boak sets Sydney up for a shot at goal.

1st quarter, 16 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 1.0.6 – Sydney 0.0.0

The Swans are under siege here but it’s Midas Man Isaac Heeney who gives them their first spurt, with a leaping mark on the boundary. Dane Rampe follows the kick downfield and dovetails nicely with Brodie Grundy but it’s Errol Gulden who gets the free. Here’s Nick Blakey snaking his way inside 50 and sending a left-footer to the sticks. But it doesn’t have the wheels or the radar.

1st quarter, 19 minutes remaining: Port Adelaide 1.0.6 – Sydney 0.0.0

Early free to Port and they set up camp inside 50. Umpires call heavy contact against the home side and another free to the visitors. And within a minute, there it is – first blood to the Power as Jake Burgoyne slots the opening goal! Another slow start for the Swans.

Conditions are perfect tonight, both teams are limber and ready to rumble and the atmosphere around the ground is electric and play is imminent. Strap yourselves in, folks, this is going to be a battle for the ages...

Here’s a fun fact: the Swans have played just two preliminary final fixtures at the SCG and they won both games by one point. Sydney coach John Longmore will back his side’s ability to finish strongly but I’m sure his heart wouldn’t mind a fast start for a change.

We are minutes from the bounce now and the preliminaries of the preliminary final are upon us. Uncle Lloyd Walker, former Wallabies star and possessor of two of the most magic hands ever to grace a football field, is welcoming us to Gadigal land.

Before tonight’s action gets under way, a quick moment of pause for one of the great gentleman of the Australian media, legendary Melbourne photographer Terry Phelan, who woke from the dream of life yesterday surrounded by family.

Aside from his magnificent eye for an image and instincts for a story, Terry was an empath, a man deeply attuned to the energies and emotions of the public he served so wonderfully over four decades in journalism. As a mate of his son Matt, I was honoured to challenge his inate humility on a few occasions and, weirdly, the story I most remember of Terry’s was one he told me of a shot he missed: that of a Tasmanian Tiger captured in the glare of his car headlights on a bush road late one night.

There was not a tremor of disappointment in Terry that he had missed what might’ve been one of the shots of the century, an image that might’ve graced front pages around the world. Instead I got the feeling he was happy to have saved the supposedly extinct thylacine the frenzy of media that mwould surely have followed. That was Terry Phelan – aside from the million of photos he captured, even the moments he missed were epic. Vale Tezza.

The first bounce for this first preliminary final is minutes away now. It’s been a beautiful sunny scorcher of a Spring day here in Sydney but the temperature is slowly dropping. At the SCG, the floodlights are on and the trickle of red and white has become a torrent as Swans faithful pour in from the posh pubs of Paddington, the reduxed Bloodhouses in Surry Hills and the swank swillhouses of the CBD and eastern suburbs.

And a good whack of them are here to cheer a blond kid from Newcastle, two hours north, who tonight plays his 200th game…

Geelong have steamrolled their way to another prelim despite the absence of their goal glutton and games record holder, 36-year-old full forward Tom Hawkins. “The Tomahawk” has been rehabbing a foot injury since mid-season and has already announced that 2024 will be his last season. Although the big fella had a run in the VFL 10 days ago, the dream of another flag hangs on tonight’s game.

But as Jack Snape says, the facts the Cats are here again means the future looks rosy post-Tom anyway:

There are AFL clubs that invest thousands of hours into reviewing high school talent, hoping they can recruit the kind of players who can some day kick three goals in a high-pressure final. The Geelong Cats just went to Werribee.

Whoever wins tonight’s preliminary final will face the winner of Brisbane v Geelong in the big dance next Saturday. Jonathan Howcroft reckons the oft-maligned Lions’ talisman might yet prove the difference…

At face value, Joe Daniher is straight off the footballing peg. He’s 201cm, an excellent mark, a thumping kick and moves like a gazelle. If he was a yearling at the sales, they’d have taken one look at his bloodlines and his physical scope, and paid record prices for him.

How did Port amass so awesome a winning record over the minor premiers? Well, in their last eight clashes Port has done it chiefly by dominating contested possession and bossing the clearances. More significantly, they find a way to nullify Sydney’s stars.

The records of both small forward sparkplug Tom Papley, gun wing Errol Gulden, running halfback Nick Blakey and midfield maestro Chad Warner all bottom out when they play the Power where all four register their lowest disposal numbers.

The Giants seemed to have purloined a copy of the Ken Hinkley blueprint a fortnight back and for most of the game it worked a charm. But slowly yet surely Sydney’s fab four broke loose late in the game and made their crosstown rivals pay…

Our own Martin Pegan ran the rule over both teams and, noting Port’s 8-0 record over the Bloods but also the heavy weight of history the visitors will carry into this match…

Port have not lost to the Swans since 2016, winning all eight matches since then by an average 34 points, but will arrive at the SCG with their own history to rewrite. This will be Port’s fourth preliminary final in 12 seasons under Hinkley; they are still hoping to reach a first grand final since 2007, let alone end the club’s now 20-year wait for a second flag.

Here’s how the two sides line up this evening…

SWANS
B: D.Rampe - C, T.McCartin, N.Blakey
HB: M.Roberts, H.Cunningham, L.Melican
C: J.Lloyd, Ch.Warner, O.Florent
HF: L.Parker, L.McDonald, E.Gulden
F: T.Papley, J.Amartey, W.Hayward
FOLL: B.Grundy, I.Heeney, J.Rowbottom
I/C: J.Jordon, B.Campbell, R.Fox, J.McInerney, H.McLean
EMG: A.Francis, C.Cleary, P.Ladhams

The injury-plagued season of Sydney’s captain Callum Mills has continued with his hamstring twinge at training this week. In a bit of a surprise, 31-year-old defender Robbie Fox, who has appeared in 16 games in 2024, will replace Mills NOT Taylor Adams, the former Pie who has played 19 fine games in his first season in red and white. It makes two straight years Adams has watched September football from the dugout, with the former Collingwood star missing their 2023 Grand Final victory with injury.

POWER
B: La.Jones, B.Zerk-Thatcher, M.Bergman
HB: J.Sinn, A.Aliir, L.Evans
C: J.Burgoyne, O.Wines, W.Drew
HF: D.Byrne-Jones, E.Ratugolea, W.Rioli
F: M.Georgiades, C.Dixon, C.Rozee - C
FOLL: J.Sweet, J.Horne-Francis, Z.Butters
I/C: T.Boak, Q.Narkle, J.Mead, F.Evans, R.Burton
EMG: W.Lorenz, D.Visentini, O.Lord

Port Adelaide’s Todd Marshall remains under concussion protocols so Charlie Dixon comes into the side following his late scratching from last week’s game due to illness. That’s a huge addition for the Power. Ryan Burton is back in the side for Will Lorenz.