Sydney Swans Rout Brisbane Lions Despite Mills Injury
Sydney Swans Rout Brisbane Lions Despite Mills Injury
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Key Points
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Sydney entered the match as underdogs without Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Nick Blakey, who were unavailable because of the club-imposed suspensions.
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Mills injured his knee while attempting to pressure Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft; Ashcroft evaded him and Mills’ knee buckled during the first quarter, when Sydney already held a 32-point lead.
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The match began in temperatures of about 30 degrees Celsius before rain and wind arrived at halftime, with 37,261 spectators attending the SCG.
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Brisbane’s Conor McKenna contributed a soccer-style assist for Jarrod Berry and later scored from close range in the fourth quarter, adding attacking influence despite the Lions’ defeat.
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Sydney coach Dean Cox praised the team’s preparation and adaptability, saying, “We’ve worked hard on this game style for 10 months,” and that players coming into the side executed their roles “in spades.”
Sydney's undermanned Swans routed reigning champion Brisbane by 53 points to advance to the AFL finals' last four, winning 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) at the SCG. The victory came despite five suspended players and a devastating knee injury to captain Callum Mills, who The Age reported is feared to have ruptured his ACL—an injury that could sideline him for most or all of 2027.
Sydney controlled clearances and suffocated Brisbane star Lachie Neale to just 18 disposals. Forward trio Logan McDonald (six goals), Tom Papley (five goals), and Charlie Curnow (five goals) led the charge as the Swans earned a home preliminary final. Brisbane Times reported the result leaves the Lions facing an elimination final against Adelaide.
Mills Buckles Under Brisbane Pressure in First Quarter
Callum Mills injured his knee while pressuring Brisbane's Will Ashcroft early in the first quarter, when Sydney already led by 32 points. Ashcroft evaded him and Mills' knee buckled. Head Topics confirmed Mills was helped off the field and scans will determine if his season—and potentially his career timeline—is over.
Swans Dominate Clearances and Suffocate Brisbane's Attack
Sydney's midfield controlled the game from start to finish despite fielding a list weakened by five club-imposed suspensions. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon, and Nick Blakey were all unavailable. Sydney Swans reported that unlikely contributors and young players executed their roles effectively after a dedicated 10-month preparation.
Brisbane's Lachie Neale managed only 18 disposals. Conor McKenna provided a soccer-style assist for Jarrod Berry and scored late, but it made little difference to the Lions' defeat in front of 37,261 spectators at the SCG.
Sydney's Forward Firepower Overwhelms Weakened Defence
The Swans' three-pronged attacking force combined for 16 goals. Logan McDonald kicked six, while Tom Papley and Charlie Curnow each added five. Sydney's coach Dean Cox praised the team's preparation and adaptability despite losing key players to suspension and injury.
Adelaide Ends Nine-Year Finals Drought Against Western Bulldogs
In the other Friday qualifying final, Adelaide defeated Western Bulldogs by 22 points to claim their first finals victory in nine years. Mark Keane led the Crows with 22 disposals and eight marks. The Age reported Adelaide now faces Brisbane in an elimination final, with Sydney earning a home preliminary against either Fremantle or Geelong.
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