Glory is on the line in the AFL finals when the Sydney Swans host the North Melbourne Kangaroos at ANZ Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEST).
North Melbourne won the only encounter between these two teams this year in Round 4, however much has changed since then.
The loss to North was the low point in the season for Sydney, who then clicked into gear and went on a rampage which saw them win 12 straight and claiming the minor premiership.
North continued to tease with their talent by frequently knocking off teams above them on the ladder while losing to teams below.
Playing to the level of their opposition is what makes North Melbourne so dangerous on Friday night. They have the ability to beat anyone and if they can conjure their best performance they have every chance to win.
North have a wonderfully balanced team with midfield grunt and class. They also have stingy backline, led by Scott Thompson, Michael Firrito and Nathan Grima, and a potent one-two punch in attack with Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas.
Brent Harvey is as dangerous as he has ever been, zipping around the field setting up attacking opportunities while Todd Goldstein has been dominant throughout the finals series.
However the size of the task to beat the flag favourites in their home state, after a week off, is enormous.
Sydney’s towering forward line is impossible for any team to completely cover. Coleman Medal winner Lance Franklin oozes x-factor and Kurt Tippett’s height and strength make him so dangerous in the air.
The little man in their forward line, Ben McGlynn may be as important as any Swan on the ground with his attack on the ball and ability to hit the scoreboard.
The Swans midfield would have to be the best in the competition with an unrivalled ability to suppress around the ball and rebound into scoring positions.
Sydney’s defence was again its main strength this season as they ranked first in tackles per game and in opposition points per game. Ted Richards, Grundy and Nick Smith strangle their opponents in the back half, while Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw slice up the opposition on the rebound.
Prediction
Sydney are the minor premiers for a reason. They have class all over the field and a player capable of winning games off his own boot with regularity in Franklin.
North head into this match on the back of a six-game winning streak and are a confidence team. When they have the wind in their sails they can be unstoppable.
That said the week off and home state advantage tilts me to the Swans to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Swans by 22 points.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
congrats Sydney. Very powerful display indeed.
steveng
Roar Rookie
Too GOOD too POWERFUL too CLASSY that is the SWANS. Bring on whoever in the GF at the MCG. Go the SWANS and BUNNIES for 2014!
joe
Guest
good luck to whoever plays Sydney in the final you're going to need it
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
We first have to beat Port today But so happy Sydney got through, for my burning desire since Buddy flipped us was to meet them in the big one, and upset their applecart They will go in as favourites, but, we are more than capable of beating them for back/back :)
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
The Sydney Swans have booked their place in next week’s Grand Final with a 71 point victory over the North Melbourne Kangaroos. The Swans led the match from start to finish and were never really troubled by a North side that was overwhelmed by the intense pressure they faced. The Swans kicked their biggest score in a final (136) and won by their largest margin in a final (71). North started the game well forcing turnovers and kicking the first goal of the game through tall forward Ben Brown. However they could not maintain their intensity allowing the Swans to run rampant for the remainder of the match. The tackling pressure and direct play of the Swans allowed them to dominate the inside 50 count 69 to 44, setting up their star-studded forward line to take a whopping 27 marks inside 50 to only 9 by the kangaroos which resulted in 41 scoring shots to 20. The Swans were particularly brutal in pressuring the kick-ins by the Kangaroos repeatedly winning the ball back and setting up multiple scoring shots. Buddy Franklin was the man of the match kicking 5 goals from his 23 possessions and 11 marks, capitalizing on the constant flow of ball provided by his midfield. Luke Parker showed that he is one of the elite players of the competition by starring in the midfield and leaving the All-Australian selectors with red faces. Adam Goodes added another milestone to his spectacular career by notching up game number 350 and was a key contributor for the Swans with 17 possessions and 3 goals. Ben Cunnington can hold his head up high by playing a strong game against the pressure and wining 28 possessions and 7 clearances. While Drew Petrie fought back after a quite start and was able to contribute 3 goals and 8 marks for the Kangaroos. Sam Reid was subbed off at the start of the third quarter with a knee injury which has been classed as ‘jarred’ at this point but his fitness will be watched throughout the week. The Swans will now face the winner of the Hawks v Power clash in next Saturday’s Grand Final. My Best 3 votes – Lance Franklin , 23 possessions, 11 marks, 5 goals 2 votes – Luke Parker, 26 possessions, 8 marks, 8 tackles, 3 goals 1 vote – Gary Rohan, 23 possessions, 6 inside 50’s, 10 1%’s
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
That was pretty clinical. Great win
Johnk
Guest
Grat win by the swans, a very dominating performance. Can't wait for Port v Hawks!
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Bugger. Oh well we've had worse.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Pokhara is one of my top 5 places on the planet, an absolute paradise, enjoy Martyn
Ac
Guest
Dream cine true for AFL !
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORES: SWANS 19.22 136 ROOS 9.11 65 GOALS: SWANS: Franklin 5, Tippett 4, Goodes 3, Parker 3, Jack, Jetta, McGlynn, Bird. ROOS: Petrie 3, Brown 2, Greenwood, Goldstein, Harvey, Atley. DISPOSALS: SWANS: Kennedy 27, Parker 26, Jack 23. ROOS: Cunnington 27, Dal Santo 24, Wright 22.
Lewis
Guest
Great game by the Swans, they are going to be very hard to beat next week!
Milz
Guest
Geez boomer didn't do much tonight. For all the fanfare about the tribunal it was irrelevant.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed that win in Nepal :)
Milz
Guest
As a north fan. I can see a similar margin for the swans to beat hawks or port.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
Well done to the Sydney Swans and all their supporters, they're into the big dance next week. North, while disappointing tonight, can look back on the year knowing they are building and should come again in the years ahead.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
FULL TIME SWANS win by 71 points.
Existentialist
Guest
Now that was a dominating performance. A lot of missed opps though... If we had kicked straighter it would have been embarrassing. Well ... Actually ... Great job from a champion team contrary to some who think Swans are a team of champions Now for the big one!
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
GOAL SWANS Another shot at goal after the siren for the Swans as the sub Craig Bird kicks the goal from the set shot. SWANS 19.22.136 ROOS 9.11.65 Q4. 0.00
E-Meter
Guest
Sydneeeeeeeeeeeeee