Their horrid run of AFL finals outs over, Sydney are preparing to face Geelong at the MCG for the first time in 82 years since their South Melbourne days.P

Faced with the prospect of straight sets elimination in successive years and a fifth consecutive finals defeat stretching back to 2014,, Sydney did what Sydney does best – scrap.P

Theintensity missing against GWS Giants in the previous week was back in all it’s brutal glory in the 36-point semi-final win over Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday.P

Before the game, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan jokingly referred to the game as “Sydney Harbour Bridge against Rundle Mall,”, as he referenced the home city for each club.P

McLachlan expected an intense and close contest like the round four classic between the two clubs, but it didn”t pan out that way..

He recalled the four-goal feats that evening of both Lance Franklin and Eddie Betts.P

This time the score finished Buddy 4 Eddie 3.

The prize for Sydney after a six-day turnaround is a Friday night clash with Geelong at the MCG..

McLachlan noted the two clubs haven’t met at footy’s most cherished site since 1934.P

Back then the ideas of a Sydney based side and a national competition would have been considered only marginally less feasible than landing a human on the moon.

Goodness knows what Melburnians of that era would make of 2016, with the competition containing eight non- Victorian and two teams from Sydney in the top four.

It might not make McLachlan popular among Hawthorn supporters, but he was able to see the funny side of the end of the Hawks quest for a fourth successive flag.P

“As i drove out through the city of Melbourne they were celebrating on the streets like a city that had been liberated.” McLachlan quipped.P