Sydney Swans pulled off a major AFL finals upset, thrashing back-to-back reigning premiers Brisbane by 53 points in their qualifying final at the SCG, despite being without several key players due to a club sexual assault suspension and a first-quarter injury to captain Callum Mills. The result is significant because Sydney entered the match severely weakened, yet dominated all four quarters against a Lions side chasing a third consecutive premiership, propelling the Swans into a preliminary final at home.

Sydney won 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) in front of 37,261 fans, with Logan McDonald kicking a career-best six goals and Charlie Curnow and Tom Papley each adding five. Sydney will now host either Fremantle or Geelong in a preliminary final, while Brisbane return to the Gabba for a semi-final against the Western Bulldogs or Adelaide. The Swans were already missing vice-captain Isaac Heeney and teammates Chad Warner and Nick Blakey, among five players serving club-imposed suspensions linked to an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel on 17 August, and lost captain Mills to a likely ACL injury during the game.