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Sydney must complete a staggering 112-point turnaround to live up to the hype as minor premier and make the 2024 Grand Final, as Port Adelaide eyes a long-awaited breakthrough under Ken Hinkley.

The Swans (finished 1st, won Qualifying Final vs GWS) are looking to get back to the last Saturday in September after a stellar year. But they must make amends for the strangest loss of the year, their 112-point capitulation at Adelaide Oval in early August. It was their eight consecutive loss to Port Adelaide.

The Power (finished 2nd, lost Qualifying Final vs Geelong, won Semi Final vs Hawthorn) made amends for their own faceplant by holding off Hawthorn last Friday night, qualifying for their fourth preliminary final under coach Ken Hinkley. They are 0-3 in them so far.

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Sydney would make history with a win tonight, as in V/AFL history, no team has ever lost a game by more than 100 points and then made the Grand Final. The record is held by 1945’s Carlton side who lost a game by 100 points but went on to win the flag.

Tonight’s winner will face either Geelong or Brisbane in the 2024 AFL Grand Final on Saturday September 28.

The First Preliminary Final gets underway at 7:40pm AEST at the SCG.

Watch it live on Fox Footy, streaming via Kayo or using Hubbl, from 6:50pm AEST.

SYDNEY v PORT ADELAIDE – LIVE UPDATES

There are no late changes at the SCG, with Robbie Fox (Swans) and Francis Evans (Power) the starting substitutes.

A relatively innocuous hip and shoulder behind play from Nick Blakey to Jase Burgoyne awarded the Power youngster a set shot in front of goal within the first minute to get the visitors off to the ideal start.

“Not a lot there, the umpire is right there though and he’s paid it in a big prelim final. Players do sort of bump into each other on the ground,” Channel 7’s Matthew Richardson said.

Sydney was able to get the game on its terms a few minutes into the opening period including Jake Lloyd kicking its first goal from distance.

Both teams were utilising run-with roles — Willem Drew was following Isaac Heeney, while James Jordon was tagging Zak Butters.

Logan McDonald kicked the Swans’ third goal after they forced a turnover in their attack as the SCG erupted.

Port got a timely response through Ryan Burton in a goal out of nothing, which came after Zak Butters was collected by Dane Rampe for a downfield free kick, to get the visitors back within five points.

A costly Port turnover at halfback inside the last minute led to a Tom Papley set shot after the siren, with the Swans forward snapping truly.

Papley got stuck into Port Adelaide players after, leading to a tense quarter-time scuffle between both sides as tempers flared.

Sydney led 4.0 (24) to 2.3 (15) at the first break.

“We knew (Papley) was going to start something,” Hawks champion Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy at quarter-time.

“He loves to celebrate, he loves to go off, he loves to bring his teammates into the game, he loves to get into the opposition heads – that basically blew it up at quarter time.

“It’s not a game unless Tom Papley is doing something like that.”

Connor Rozee kicked a timely long-range goal early in the second term to keep Port within striking distance.

But Sydney swiftly responded including Heeney taking a big contested mark in the pocket and and nailing the goal around his body to open up a 21-point lead.

The Swans started to really turn things up a notch, with Papley drilling his second goal after getting a free kick for high before Hayden McLean booting his first major after taking an easy marker on the lead inside forward 50.

It opened up a 32-point Swans lead.

“Is it starting to fall over and starting to come to pieces?,” Taylor posed.

Richardson added: “There’s holes opening up everwhere.”

Willie Rioli kicked a crucial goal from nothing late in the period, then nearly launched one from outside 50m on the quarter-time siren that just fell short.

The Swans led 9.1 (55) to 4.6 (30) at half-time.

Sydney got off to the ideal start to the second half, with Joel Amartey catching Brandon Zerk-Thatcher holding the ball then handing off to Chad Warner for a long-range goal.

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