Sydney Swans coach John Longmire has a chance to solidify his legacy as he approaches his fifth grand final.
In a commanding preliminary final, the Swans defeated Port Adelaide 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59), leading at every quarter while Port struggled to recover from their intense win against Hawthorn the previous week.
AFL legend Matthew Lloyd has suggested that Longmire may need a second premiership to be considered one of the best coaches of his era.
Longmire previously led the Swans to a premiership in 2012 but has faced losses in the 2014, 2016, and 2022 grand finals. His team showcased outstanding performances, with Tom Papley and Joel Amartey each scoring three goals, while Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, and Oliver Floren contributed significantly in disposals.
Port Adelaide opened the scoring with Jase Burgoyne but struggled to gain any momentum after that. By halftime, Sydney was leading 9.1 (55) to 4.6 (30) and extended their advantage to 40 points by the final break.
Although the Swans scored just 10 points in the last quarter, Port could only add 14, sealing the victory. David King noted that Sydney “put the foot on the throat of Port Adelaide early,” while Leigh Montagna described it as one of their most complete performances of the season, stating, “They are primed and peaking at the right time.”
