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Knee injury brings early end to match for Swans captain
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, the Sydney Swans upset the Brisbane Lions in a 53-point qualifying final boilover at the SCG. The dominant victory secured Sydney a preliminary final berth despite entering as considerable underdogs.
Sydney entered the contest without five suspended starters: Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice. The group was suspended for breaching team rules after the Essendon game.
Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow and Matt Roberts fueled the Swans' scoring charge, establishing a commanding lead early. The Lions, as back-to-back premiers, failed to bridge the gap as Sydney maintained pressure.
Bookmakers slashed premiership odds for Sydney to $5 following the result, while the Lions drifted out to $6. Brisbane now faces an elimination final, securing no week off.
Fremantle will host Geelong in a semifinal at Optus Stadium on Friday, September 11, 2026. The winner will travel to the SCG to challenge the Swans in the preliminary final on September 18.