Match Report: Crows fall to Swans in Sydney

Sydney has locked in its first minor premiership since 2016 and fired a warning shot across the competition on the eve of the finals with a resounding 31-point victory over Adelaide at the SCG.

The Swans were already all but certain to finish the season on top of the ladder and took the opportunity to rest key players from the side that faced the Crows, but still had enough firepower to finetune with an 18.13 (121) to 13.12 (90) triumph on Saturday night.

The ladder leaders will start their finals campaign with three consecutive wins behind them, after bouncing back from a late-season slump that had left the Swans looking shaky in five defeats from six matches.

The Swans will now host either Geelong or arch-rivals Greater Western Sydney in a home qualifying final in two weeks' time.

Former co-captain Luke Parker continued his resurgence with 19 disposals and three early goals to put to bed any doubts about his critical role in the side, with the 31-year-old set to play in the 11th finals series of his career.

Errol Gulden was electric when the match was on the line and the tireless midfielder finished with 24 disposals and two goals even as the Crows tried to clamp down on his impact through the second half.

In ominous signs for their top-eight opponents, Swans skipper Callum Mills took a huge leap towards returning to his top form with 27 composed and classy touches while settling into defence. 

Crows captain Jordan Dawson gathered 25 disposals and booted a goal against his former side, while Ben Keays (21, one), Matt Crouch (28) and Jake Soligo (25) also battled hard.

Key forward Riley Thilthorpe gave the Crows a glimmer of hope for next season with strong marking inside 50 and finished with three goals.

It was a free-flowing contest from the early exchanges with the Swans having one eye on the finals and the Crows playing purely for pride with a 15th-place finish already assured.

With the pressure valve released the two sides combined for 13 majors in the opening term as the Swans hung on to a narrow lead, but only the hosts were able to continue with the flurry of goals.

The Swans piled on another six goals to the Crows' one in the second term to hold a 37-point advantage at half-time as concern turned to getting through the rest of the match unscathed.

Precautions were taken before the opening bounce with a late change to rest Isaac Heeney, but the Swans minimised any further risks with Dane Rampe subbed out at the last change while Chad Warner and Gulden also finished the game on the bench.

SYDNEY            7.4     13.6     17.10    18.13 (121)
ADELAIDE    6.3     7.5    9.9    13.12 (90) 

GOALS
Sydney: Parker 3, McDonald 3, Gulden 2, Amartey 2, Blakey 2, Warner, Rowbottom, Rampe, Melican, McLean, Florent
Adelaide: Taylor 3, Thilthorpe 3, Walker 2, Nankervis, Keays, Dawson, Curtin, Berry

BEST 
Sydney: Gulden, Blakey, Parker, Roberts, Mills, Rowbottom, Warner
Adelaide: Dawson, Keays, Thilthorpe, Crouch, Laird

INJURIES 
Sydney: Nil
Adelaide: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Isaac Heeney (managed) replaced by Robbie Fox
Adelaide: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox (replaced Dane Rampe in the fourth quarter)
Adelaide: Chayce Jones (replaced Josh Worrell in the third quarter)

Crowd: 36,491 at the SCG