AFL Finals Scoreboard: Sydney Swans vs Brisbane Lions

Hayden McLean puts the lead beyond 50 points for Sydney

By Andrew McGarry

The final quarter is underway, and the Swans have made the quick start.

It wasn't pretty, they had a three on two in the goalsquare, and Hayden McLean finally dribbled it home to make the lead 52 points.

3QT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 53-41 Sydney

Clearances: 33-27 Sydney

Centre clearances: 15-7 Sydney

Contested possessions: 111-90 Sydney

Uncontested possessions: 143-132 Brisbane

Marks inside 50: 12-4 Sydney

Tackles: 45-33 Sydney

Tackles inside 50: 6-5 Brisbane

These stats are overwhelming, particularly centre clearances and contested possessions, but the fact that the Swans have 12 more tackles than the Lions despite leading by 46 points is a stunner.

3QT: Sydney 16.13 (109) leads Brisbane 9.9 (63)

By Andrew McGarry

Sam Draper gave Brisbane a bit of hope with a late goal at the SCG, but then the Swans just shook the Lions off with two goals in the dying minutes of the quarter.

They roared downfield and Errol Gulden kicked one on the run to bring the crowd to their feet.

And then Charlie Curnow dribbled another one home. Braeden Campbell missed a chance to kick a third, but it doesn't really matter.

A six-goal-to-four quarter from Sydney means the lead is out to 46 points.

The record final quarter comeback in VFL/AFL history is 28 points. As someone famous once broadcast, I see it - but I don't believe it.

Tom Papley has five!!!!

By Andrew McGarry

The Sydney Swans are sensing this is their time, and they are lifting!

A huge tackle from Tom Papley on Noah Answerth gets a holding the ball call. The crowd roars ...

Papley goes back - and his kick sneaks through!

That's five goals for Papley, and a 38-point lead for Sydney.

Big problems for the Lions. Huge problems.

Big goal to Sydney as Papley has four!

By Andrew McGarry

Sydney had a chance there for another goal, but Logan McDonald missed.

But the Swans pounced again, a turnover in the middle leading to a kick inside 50 to Tom Papley.

His kick lasered through - that's his fourth!

Papley does a mini-Hulk celebration, flexing and roaring to the Swans fans in the stands.

The lead is back out to 32 points, approaching time on in the third.

Logan McDonald kicks his fourth, and Sydney steadies

By Andrew McGarry

An important 60 seconds there for the Swans, as they broke downfield and kicked long to a contest, and benefited from the umpires finding a free to Logan McDonald for an arm grab/chop.

The Lions protest, McDonald converts for his fourth goal, and the lead is back to 25.

Halfway through the third quarter, and this game is still right in the balance. A good five minutes from the Lions, and we could be nearly level pegging, you sense.

Oscar Allen has three, and Swans are wobbling a little

By Andrew McGarry

Here we go!

The Swans defence has been under pressure here, and they are starting to make mistakes like the Lions did in the first half.

A collision in the centre square between two Swans led to a Lions attack, and a kick to Oscar Allen inside 50.

The former Eagle marked it and slotted the goal, for his third!

The lead is back to 19 points, and there would be warning lights going off in the Sydney box right now.

Conor McKenna brilliance sets up Jarrod Berry for Brisbane

By Andrew McGarry

The Lions needed SOMETHING here in the third quarter, and they've just got it!

Kai Lohmann managed to keep the ball alive and going forward for Brisbane inside 50, it bounced ahead and Conor McKenna raced in and clipped the ball Gaelic or soccer-style perfectly to the square, where Jarrod Berry was alone to kick the goal.

The Irishman McKenna has been in some brilliant form, and that was no exception.

The storm has abated in Sydney

By Andrew McGarry

Conditions are calmer at the SCG, thank goodness.

It's better for everyone concerned.

Will this mean more ability to hit targets?

Swans get quick reply from Tom Papley

By Andrew McGarry

Sydney weren't hanging around!

They got an immediate centre clearance, James Rowbottom hoofed it forward to a contest, it fell to Tom Papley, and the dynamic Swan kicked his third!

Back out to 30 points.

Josh Dunkley gives Brisbane the early boost

By Andrew McGarry

That was better from Brisbane!

A bit of composure from Josh Dunkley, and his snap went home for a vital early score for the Lions. Back to 24 points.

Logan Morris hits the behind post early

By Andrew McGarry

It's kind of pinging from end to end early here in the third.

The Swans were attacking, but Brisbane cleared and moved it fast - almost Sydney-like - it bounced clear for Logan Morris in the right forward pocket, but his kick hit the behind post.

Frustration for Brisbane.

Crucial half of footy coming up

By Andrew McGarry

The weather conditions are playing havoc with this game, and the goalposts are being moved (literally) in the wind.

That's not going to make things easy for anyone trying to kick goals, and that's more of a problem for the Lions right now.

This is a huge 60 minutes of football coming up for both sides.

We'd always say that, but especially now, when all preconceptions have gone (blown) out the window.

This was a huge opportunity for the Lions - and it still is, but if they can't turn this around it will be a huge opportunity lost.

HT stats

By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 36-27 Sydney

Clearances: 20-15 Sydney

Centre clearances: 9-4 Sydney

Contested possessions: 72-53 Sydney

Uncontested possessions: 99-89 Brisbane

Marks inside 50: 9-3 Sydney

Tackles: 23-21 Brisbane

Tackles inside 50: 3-2 Sydney

A quick scan of these stats shows the Swans are dominating clearances (and the important centre breaks), contested possessions and marks inside 50.

Some of this has to change markedly if the Lions are going to mount a comeback.

Callum Mills on crutches in the Sydney rooms

By Andrew McGarry

A reminder of the big blow for the Swans in that half.

There was a big round of applause when Callum Mills returned to the bench after his knee injury.

But his day is done - and at half-time the Swans players are getting around him as he is on crutches.

You'd have to say unless there is a miracle involved, that's his season. Best wishes to the Sydney skipper.

HT: Sydney 10.8 (68) leads Brisbane 5.8 (38)

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds, the crowd roars, and the rest of us scratch our head after a surprising half of football.

Hayden McLean kicked a late goal from the square after he was held in a contest after Tom Papley kicked to the hotspot.

It's windy, the rain is bucketing down at the SCG (although that mightn't last too long), and the crowd has largely run for cover.

But the Swans haven't, so far at least.

This is a substantial lead for Sydney, and the Lions have a big task ahead of them to get back in this.

Missed chances from Brisbane

By Andrew McGarry

A couple of chances here for Brisbane in time on, but in this wind, it's just tough.

Jarrod Berry and Zac Bailey have missed, and the lead is back to four even goals.

And the rain has ARRIVED.

Weather bomb hitting Sydney?

By Andrew McGarry

The weather has turned at the SCG...

The temperature has dropped a bit, and here comes the wind!

There is rubbish being blown on the ground, and it's sending fans scurrying for cover.

I reckon the rain is coming behind this, so the Swans need to hang on to this margin to half-time.

The cameras are showing some trees out the back of the SCG, and it's fair to say that the amount they are moving - if this was in America, we'd have weather journalists on the mike trying to avoid being blown away.