Sydney maestro Adam Goodes helped orchestrate a 29-point thumping of Adelaide in Saturday’s AFL qualifying final.
Goodes kicked three and created two other goals at AAMI Stadium as the Swans stunned the Crows 11.5 (71) to 5.12 (42) to book a home preliminary final.
Adelaide are pitched into a home knockout final next weekend and will likely be without their Rising Star award winner Daniel Talia, who suffered an arm injury.
Sydney stalwart Ryan O’Keefe (37 disposals) was superb in shading key Crow Scott Thompson while Josh Kennedy (35 touches) and Daniel Hannebery were also influential.
But it was Goodes who pulled the strings in a sweet first half for the Swans which crafted a match-defining 7.2 to 2.7 lead by halftime.
The two-time Brownlow medallist collected all his majors and delivered deft kicks to set up Mitch Morton and Lewis Jetta for goals in a masterly opening half as the Crows fluffed a series of shots.
Sydney expertly made Adelaide pay for their inaccuracy, with their 25-point halftime break coming from 16 entries into their attacking 50-metre zone compared to wayward Adelaide’s 30.
The Swans were powered by their midfield engine of O’Keefe, Hannebery and Kennedy who amassed 53 disposals between them for the half.
Adelaide tried to rally in the third term but spearhead Taylor Walker was among a host of Crows to miss two set shots before a belated Rory Sloane snap in the 23rd minute drew them within 18 points.
But no sooner had the parochial 44,849 Adelaide crowd sniffed a comeback, Sydney’s late inclusion Morton (two goals) swung the match back to his adopted club.
The ex-Richmond forward answered Sloane’s goal within two minutes and Sydney restored their precious four-goal buffer.
Adelaide again snuck within 18 points when Ian Callinan goaled six minutes into the last quarter, but the Swans prevailed to secure a preliminary final in Sydney.
Adelaide next weekend host the winner of Saturday night’s Geelong-Fremantle elimination final.