Swans canter into top four

Sydney 14.13 (97) def. Brisbane Lions   6. 4 (40)

Sydney has accounted for Brisbane by 57 points to move into the top four going into the last round in a particularly defensive and often lacklustre match-up at Telstra Stadium tonight.

Sydney’s ability to score quickly was demonstrated late in the final term as they slammed on four goals in as many minutes to give themselves a respectable percentage boost and guarantee them their spot in the top four… for now.

Adam Goodes continued his fantastic season blitzing the Lions in the first half with 24 possessions. Ryan O’Keefe (27 touches) and Nic Fosdike (24) provided great run through the midfield and combined effectively as the Swans managed twelve individual goal scorers.

Cheynee Stiller and Justin Sherman tried hard all night for Brisbane, picking up 31 and 27 possessions respectively. But it was a night that Brisbane was crying out for a damaging forward line presence. Bradshaw tried his best and youngster Cameron Wood took some good marks, but they struggled to transform any forward movements into goals and that was the difference between the two teams.

It was a night for milestones, with Brisbane triple premiership player Mal Michael and Sydney superstar Barry Hall both celebrating their 200th game.

The reigning premiers took a while to get going in the first quarter. It took until the 20-minute mark before Goodes took Brisbane on and galloped inside the forward fifty to kick Sydney’s first goal. Michael O’Loughlin then goaled from a set shot and Sydney seemed to have turned the corner.

Sydney did most of the attacking early on, but in a bewildering moment Justin Sherman wobbled a shot towards goal that clearly hit the post after Daniel Bradshaw swung his leg at the rolling ball. Despite the noise from the angry Sydney crowd, Sherman was awarded a goal. Brisbane captain Michael Voss goaled from a snap which cut Sydney’s lead to one-point at quarter-time.

The second term didn’t seem to bring any adjustment of style from either team as the stop-start football continued with both teams dropping players behind the ball.

Brisbane closed the game down and tried to restrict Sydney’s forward thrusts, though three quick goals from Nick Malceski, Tadgh Kennelly and Hall gave the Swans a 20-point lead at the main break.

Both sides were happy for this contest to effectively turn into a slow moving arm-wrestle. Only patient and diligent forward movements were able to penetrate either defensive zone. Sydney’s midfield disposal looked sloppy, but Brisbane countered that by missing gettable shots at goal.

Sydney added two goals to Brisbane’s one in a quarter highlighted by each team’s willingness to focus on defensive structures that heeded any flow from opposing forwards. Without a dominant forward on the park from either team, the home side’s 29-point lead going into the final term was beginning to look insurmountable for the Lions.

Brisbane’s defence battled gallantly all night and only came unstuck late in the final term as the Swans pounced on any loose ball to deliver the die-hard fans something to cheer about.

Sydney’s potency was far more prevalent throughout the game and goals from Ben Mathews, Fosdike, O’Loughlin and Sean Dempster blew the game.

Brisbane will look to impact the final eight with a clash against St Kilda at the Gabba on Saturday night to round out an injury ravaged 2006, while Sydney look to consolidate their top four position against Carlton at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

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