Sydney have won the McClelland Trophy after a stunning three-point win over Geelong in one of the games of the AFLW season, coupled with Carlton’s win over Hawthorn in Saturday’s other semi-final.
Superstar Chloe Molloy kicked three goals, including a pearler from the boundary line, as the Swans held on in a tense finish to secure their spot in the preliminary final.
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The result also means they have secured secure the McClelland Trophy and the $1m prize that comes with it.
The McClelland Trophy is awarded to one club based on the finishing positions of both their men’s and women’s teams.
Following the conclusion of each finals series, clubs are assigned a ranking from 1 to 18 in reverse order – the premiers receiving 18 points, down to the wooden-spooners getting one point.
The Swans secured 16 points for their preliminary final effort in the men’s competition, and are now guaranteed at least 15 points for making the AFLW preliminary final.
With Hawthorn losing to Carlton in the other semi-final, as well preliminary finalists Melbourne and North Melbourne being out of contention, Sydney cannot be topped.
Swans players celebrate their AFLW semi-final win over Geelong. Credit: AAP Sydney will now face the Kangaroos next weekend for a spot in the grand final.
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The Swans upstaged the Cats despite a chaotic 24 hours that saw them arrive in Geelong late on Friday night.
“That was insane,” Molloy told Seven after the match.
“The flight got cancelled. We got put on at 3pm, then we got delayed, then we’re sitting on the tarmac. We didn’t get down to Geelong until about 8pm, so we had no captain’s run, no time for recovery.
“It was kind of get to bed, get up, and then … it was a bit of adversity, but I feel like this team just deals with adversity so well.”
For the Cats, it was a heartbreaking straight-sets exit after losing last week’s qualifying final against Melbourne by four points.
Young ruck Maddie Quinn (22 disposals, 18 hit-outs, one goal) and ball-winner Zippy Fish (25 disposals), along with Molloy (three goals, 15 disposals) were instrumental in the three-point win.
“That game was just amazing,” 19-year-old Quinn said.
“We just stuck to our system – contest, pressure … got the job done and so excited for next week.
“Throughout the week I just had one focus which was to be physical in the ruck and that’s what I did and everything just came from that.”
It marks the Swans’ first preliminary final berth after entering the competition in 2022.
Quinn said Sydney “100 per cent” could take it to North Melbourne as the Kangaroos try to clinch a grand final spot in another step to a potential three-peat.
“I don’t think we played our best game against them in Round 8,” Quinn said.
“And so we’re ready for the fight and (we’ll) just bring what we did today to get the win.”
Cats ruck Piper Dunlop was stretchered off the ground in the third quarter after a head clash in the middle with Swan Tanya Kennedy.
In a scary moment, Dunlop tried to play on but stumbled and appeared to lose consciousness as a Swans player cushioned her fall to the ground.
Sydney went into the final change with a deserved 10-point lead after Quinn nailed a shot from the boundary.
The Cats looked to be down and out when Cynthia Hamilton (two goals) gave the Swans a 16-point buffer with a goal early in the last quarter.
But they hit back with quick goals from Chloe Scheer and Jacqueline Parry to draw back within a kick.
Scheer had a chance to kick her fourth from about 15m out on a slight angle after a diving mark, but her set shot slammed into the post.
The dying minutes were frantic, with Hamilton clinging on for a pressure-releasing mark outside the Cats forward 50 just before the final siren blew.
Saturday’s other semi-final was another thriller with Carlton edging out Hawthorn by five points.
Club great Darcy Vescio was the hero with a goal late in the final term to give the Blues victory.
They will now face Melbourne in next week’s preliminary final.
— with AAP