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The Sydney Swans overcame off-field turmoil and an early injury to captain Callum Mills to defeat Conor McKenna's Brisbane Lions by 53 points in the AFL finals opener. Mark Keane's Adelaide also celebrated their first finals win in nine years by beating the Western Bulldogs.
After weeks of controversy, the Sydney Swans opened their AFL finals series by defeating Conor McKenna's Brisbane Lions by 53 points to reach the last four.
With five players suspended by the club for the remainder of the season following an incident at a Melbourne hotel and captain Callum Mills limping off early with a knee injury, the Swans still completed a 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) victory over the back-to-back champions. The win came in front of 37,261 fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground, demonstrating the Swans' resilience amid significant internal and external challenges.
After a career-high four goals in his most recent outing, Tyrone native McKenna backed up his goal-of-the-season contender with a soccer-style assist for teammate Jarrod Berry, showcasing his trademark flair and athletic instincts. McKenna would later claim a fourth-quarter goal from close range, adding another highlight to his increasingly impressive finals performance and continuing to be a key contributor for the reigning premiers.
Brisbane will now face an elimination clash at home to Mark Keane's Adelaide Crows next week as they bid to extend their title defence and keep their season alive. The Swans, meanwhile, will host either Fremantle or Geelong in a fortnight, with the winner advancing to the grand final scheduled for 26 September.
Corkman Keane recorded 22 disposals, 19 kicks, and eight marks as Adelaide ran out 22-point winners over the Western Bulldogs in front of 51,370 fans at the Adelaide Oval. The hosts finished strong for a 14.6 (90) to 9.14 (68) triumph, marking Adelaide's first finals victory in nine years and signalling a remarkable resurgence for the club. Keane's consistent performance across the backline provided the defensive stability that allowed Adelaide to control the contest in the latter stages.
The results set up a dramatic round of fixtures, with Brisbane facing a must-win home encounter against Adelaide, while Sydney waits to learn whether their preliminary final opponent will be Fremantle or Geelong. The Irish influence on the finals series remained prominent, with McKenna delivering moments of brilliance for Brisbane and Keane producing a standout all-round performance for Adelaide, underlining the continued impact of Gaelic footballers on the Australian game at the highest level
AFL Sydney Swans Brisbane Lions Adelaide Crows Western Bulldogs
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