AFL Grand Finalists: Sydney - Route to the final and key players

Sydney have been the stand-out team in the AFL this season and will be desperate to finish the job in the grand final, where they will take on Brisbane Lions.

The Swans finished top of the ladder to claim the minor Premiership and have also dominated in finals to book their place in the big dance.

Now just the Lions stand between them and another Premiership, but they will have to be at their best to get the job done.

Sydney last won the Premiership in 2012 and have been the runners-up on three occasions since then.

Their last grand final appearance saw them thrashed by Geelong in 2022, but they now have the chance to put that right.

Let’s take a look at Sydney’s route to the grand final and key players.

. What: Sydney v Brisbane
. Where: MCG, Melbourne
. When: 14:30 (AEST) Saturday September 28th, 2024
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel, Channel 7
. Odds: Sydney 1.75, Brisbane 2.10

Route to the grand final

Sydney dominated the AFL regular season when winning the minor Premiership in impressive style.

They won 17 of their 23 matches to finish top of the ladder, four points ahead of Port Adelaide in second.

Their minor Premiership win looked like being even more emphatic before they suffered a poor run of form, losing five games out of six.

However, they recovered to win the last three games of the regular season, before carrying that form into finals.

It is all about peaking at just the right time and the Swans look to have done just that.

They were made to work hard in the qualifying final, however, as they came up against big rivals Greater Western Sydney.

The Swans edged a thriller 88-82 to book their place in the preliminary final against Port Adelaide.

The clash against the Power at the SCG was a more comfortable affair and a 95-59 victory sent them through to the grand final.

Next stop is Brisbane Lions at the MCG.

Key players

Isaac Heeney

Midfielder Isaac Heeney has been a revelation for the Swans this season and is one of the main reasons they have made it to the grand final.

Heeney was at his best once again in the preliminary final win over Port Adelaide, collecting 24 disposals and kicking a couple of goals.

He also registered 12 contested possessions, eight score involvements, six clearances, six tackles and six marks.

Heeney can be backed at 5.00 to win the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the grand final.

Errol Gulden

Errol Gulden is another player that has excelled in the Swans engine room this season and he can be backed at 9.00 to win the Norm Smith Medal.

The 22-year-old has averaged 27.2 disposals a game this season and finished with a game-high 27 in the win over Port Adelaide.

He also had seven inside 50s and six score involvements and will be a key player against the Lions in the big dance.

Tom Papley

Small forward Tom Papley has averaged just under two goals a game this season and booted three in the win over Port Adelaide.

Papley is priced at 12.00 to kick the first goal of the grand final, or 1.14 to score at anytime.