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It was the tale of the veterans at ANZ Stadium tonight as Brett Kirk led Sydney to a 35-point win in their AFL elimination final over North Melbourne.
Kirk, 32 next month, produced a stunning third-quarter effort to spark Sydney to a 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) win.
Trailing by 10 points at halftime, Sydney set up their win by kicking eight goals to North’s four in the third quarter to be 14 points ahead at three-quarter time as Kirk gathered 12 possessions in the term.
It was a sad ending for North’s 301-game veteran Shannon Grant who kicked two goals in his last match before his teammates gave him a guard of honour in front of just 19,127 fans.
Sydney embarrassed North with 13 goals to the visiting side’s five after halftime as the Kangaroos slumped to their sixth loss in their past seven finals, while the Swans progressed to next Friday night’s semi-final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Swans coach Paul Roos said it was a victory for the club over those critics who said the team was “too old, too slow”.
“I thought Kirky really led from the front,” Roos said.
“When Adam Goodes and Barry Hall (with three goals each) really play well in the forward line, the ball goes in and it doesn’t come back out which makes a big difference.
“I think it shows we’re a better team than what we’ve been given credit for.”
Kieren Jack also kicked three goals for the Swans in greasy conditions.
The small crowd figure raised further doubts over the Sydney market’s ability to support a second AFL team in 2012. It’s believed to the smallest VFL/AFL finals crowd since 1924.
North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley lamented his team’s inability to get their hands on the ball in the second half.
“It’s very disappointing for everyone at the football club,” Laidley said.
“We’ll sit down. We’ll have a review.”
Laidley said it was a sad end for Grant, 31, who was North’s 1999 Norm Smith Medallist.
“It really is disappointing to go out on that note. And to play only in front of that many people is really disappointing too,” Laidley said.
“I’m just really disappointed for football in this state tonight. Maybe conditions had a little bit to do with it, I’m not too sure.”
Small forwards Brent Harvey and Grant had kicked two goals each in the first half to give North a 10-point lead at the main break, 6.4 (40) to 4.6 (30).
Hall and Goodes then marked strongly and kicked four of Sydney’s eight goals in their amazing third-quarter recovery.
Ed Lower produced two quick goals for the Kangaroos midway through the third term but Goodes was at his athletic best and North’s defence had no answers.
“As a group we’ve probably gone backwards now,” Grant said.
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