SYDNEY has emphatically bounced back from the lowest point of its late-season slump to surge into a second Grand Final in three seasons with a 36-point triumph over Port Adelaide at the SCG.
Just 48 days after the Swans had been humiliated by their bogey side, the minor premier snapped an eight-match losing streak against the Power when it counted most with a 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) victory on Friday night.
Sydney will now return for a fifth Grand Final under coach John Longmire in his 14th season in charge, while hoping to clinch its first premiership since 2012 when it faces either Geelong or Brisbane.
Isaac Heeney celebrated his milestone match in style with another sublime performance as the midfielder gathered 24 disposals with six clearances and booted two goals.
The gun onballer shook off the close attention of Power minder Willem Drew to find plenty of the ball around the field while also drifting forward to present as a danger near goal.
With Drew watching Heeney closely, Errol Gulden (27 disposals) was able to get off the chain and Chad Warner (21, two goals) warmed into the game as the Swans' midfield stars all shined.
Sydney also had plenty of options in attack as key forwards Joel Amartey (three goals), Logan McDonald (two) and Hayden McLean (one) each hit the scoreboard, while Tom Papley (three) brought his usual energy and added an early spark.
But the Swans will be sweating on the fitness of McDonald after he was subbed out in the final term suffering an issue with an ankle.
The Power opened the scoring with a goal to Jase Burgoyne from the first of several contentious free kicks, but were soon overrun as Sydney swarmed around the contests and got its slingshot firing out of defence.
Travis Boak turned back the clock to gather 22 disposals and kick one goal, while Ryan Burton (23, one) and Burgoyne (19, one) offered dash out of defence.
Captain Connor Rozee (17, two) led the way even as the Power were outplayed, while Zak Butters (20) had his influence limited by Swans minder James Jordon and at times looked to be playing under duress.
Aliir Aliir showed early signs of returning to haunt his former side as he cut off several Sydney attacks with his aerial prowess, however, the Port Adelaide defender’s impact was soon limited as the Swans sent versatile veteran Luke Parker to mind his ex-teammate while also presenting as a scoring threat.
On a night when Ken Hinkley coached the Power for the 274th time to overtake Mark Williams for the most matches in charge of the club, his side fell one game short of reaching the decider for the fourth time in his 12-year tenure.
The Swans have been sluggish starters for much of the season, with the habit most starkly exposed when the Power opened up an improbable 71-0 lead in their clash just 48 days ago.
But for just the second time in the past eight matches, Sydney led at the first change as goalsneak Papley snapped truly from a set shot after the siren to stretch the margin to nine points.
The Swans pulled further away in the second term with their ball movement up and running as well as having more potency in the forward half, going into the main break with a 25-point advantage even as the Power dominated the clearances 26-9.
The Power fought out the second half bravely without being able to crawl back to within reach, until the Swans were able to cruise through the dying stages with a grander stage in sight.
SYDNEY 4.0 9.1 13.7 14.11 (95)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.3 4.6 6.9 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Sydney: Amartey 3, Papley 3, McDonald 2, Warner 2, Heeney 2, Lloyd, McLean
Port Adelaide: Rozee 2, Burgoyne, Burton, Rioli, Georgiades, Dixon, Boak
BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Gulden, Blakey, Rowbottom, Warner, Florent
Port Adelaide: Boak, Burgoyne, Rozee, Sweet, Butters
INJURIES
Sydney: McDonald (ankle)
Port Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox (replaced Logan McDonald in the fourth quarter)
Port Adelaide: Francis Evans (replaced Jackson Mead in the third quarter)
Crowd: 44,053 at the SCG
