A Joel Amartey goal with less than two minutes on the clock has completed a stunning comeback from Swans as the trumped the GIANTS by six points in an epic qualifying final on Saturday afternoon.
Trailing at every change, the minor premier looked destined for defeat before Isaac Heeney launched from the centre square to level the scores. Amartey then kicked the match-winner to claim the gritty 13.10 (88) to 12.10 (82) victory at the SCG.
John Longmire's men will host a preliminary final in a fortnight, while the GIANTS face a semi-final against the winner of the Brisbane and Carlton elimination final on Saturday night.
It is the first time the Swans have defeated their local rivals in September.
The ever-reliable Heeney was the hero for Sydney, kicking three goals, collecting 30 disposals and clocking up seven clearances. He also took an absolute screamer that could have been a Virgin Australia Mark of the Year contender had not been in a final.
Defender Jake Lloyd (one goal, 32 touches), Chad Warner (27 disposals, seven clearances) and Errol Gulden (23, five) also came to life in the final term.
Tom Papley, playing his first match since sustaining a medial ankle ligament injury in round 19, booted two goals for the Swans.
Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan had the GIANTS on-song early with two goals in the opening term, before a desperate James Rowbottom made it seven points the difference at the first change.
After a quiet build-up to the match, tensions finally boiled over in an all-in melee when GIANTS skipper Toby Greene was too slow to give the ball over to Papley for an after-the-siren free kick on quarter-time.
Papley then hit the scoreboard in the second term, but the GIANTS broke out to a 21-point lead after kicking three unanswered goals.
Spurred on by a determined Heeney, Sydney began to regroup in the third term.
After claiming a spectacular mark on the back of GIANTS defender Jack Buckley, Heeney kicked his second of the match in a bid to lift his team.
But another Hogan goal kept the Swans at bay.
The home side's woes continued when defender Tom McCartin dropped in on Lewis Melican as the latter attempted to mark the ball, with Aaron Cadman easily sweeping up the dropped Sherrin for his third goal as Sydney coach Longmire watched on in frustration.
The Swans opened the final term with three successive goals, before Heeney levelled the scores.
Hogan was sensational for the GIANTS, terrorising the Swans defenders all game to kick three goals and take eight marks.
Tom Green (32 disposals, 10 clearances) and Josh Kelly (27, six) did the heavy lifting through the middle for the GIANTS, while young gun Cadman (three) was also electrifying up forward.
SYDNEY 1.4 4.5 7.6 13.10 (88)
GIANTS 2.5 7.8 10.9 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Sydney: Heeney 3, Hayward 2, Papley 2, Amartey, Campbell, Lloyd, McDonald, Rampe, Rowbottom
GIANTS: Cadman 3, Hogan 3, Ward 2, Jones, Keeffe, McMullin, Peatling
BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Lloyd, Warner, Rowbottom, Papley, Cunningham
GIANTS: Green, Peatling, Hogan, Ward, Whitfield, Cadman
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
GIANTS: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Braeden Campbell (replaced Justin McInerney in the third quarter)
GIANTS: Xavier O'Halloran (replaced Toby McMullin at three-quarter time)
Crowd: 43,189 at the SCG
