Greater Western Sydney will host a preliminary final after running away from the Sydney Swans to win by 36 points in a brutal qualifying final at ANZ Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After taking a two-point lead to half-time, the GIANTS got some breathing space in the third term courtesy of a three-goal burst in five minutes from star forward Jeremy Cameron.
In front of 60,222 they stormed away in the final term to win 12.19 (91) to 7.13 (55).
The GIANTS will now have a week off before hosting a preliminary final against Hawthorn or the Western Bulldogs, while the Swans will lick their wounds and play a sudden-death semi final at the SCG next weekend against either Adelaide or North Melbourne.
In what turned out to be a demolition derby, the GIANTS were brilliant in their first finals foray, showing poise beyond their tender years to thoroughly deserve victory.
It could come at a cost though, with star Steve Johnson to face a nervous wait with the Match Review Panel following a first-quarter collision with Josh Kennedy.
Johnson collected Kennedy high with his left shoulder, forcing the Swan to be taken from the field for a concussion test.
Kennedy returned in the second term and played out the match.
Shane Mumford could also come under scrutiny after his brutal tackle in the second quarter left Kurt Tippett dazed.
The pressure valve was locked at extreme by the GIANTS for all four quarters, battering their big brothers with a 95-63 tackle count.
Coach Leon Cameron was glowing in his praise.
"I thought the best part about our game today was that we tackled really well, and that’s the thing that was probably a question mark over us coming in," he said.
"We knew that the Swans are a really tough tackling side, and we knew that it was going to be on, and it was.
"We thought there’s only one way (to approach it) and that’s to hit it head on, so that was the real pleasing thing.
"Lenny Hayes has done an enormous amount of work with them on the defensive side of the game and they stood up today."
Stephen Coniglio (26 disposals, seven clearances, nine tackles and one goal) and Lachie Whitfield (27 touches) led the midfield barrage.
Cameron's four goals and the relentless running and precise use of Josh Kelly (24 touches), Toby Greene (20 and two goals) and Tom Scully (19 and two goals) were also instrumental in the victory.
The GIANTS showed from the first quarter they wouldn't take a backward step, with premiership winners Johnson, Mumford and Heath Shaw at the centre of most of the push-and-shove.
It was a dirty day for the Swans, with Tippett also undergoing a concussion test following an accidental knee to the back of the head from Callan Ward.
Like Kennedy, he returned in the second term.
Coach John Longmire said there were no excuses for his team – they were simply outplayed.
"We didn't have the weight of numbers to play against a really, really good footy team," Longmire said.
"They out-tackled us, the tackles we did lay weren't effective enough, and they were able to run.
"Then we couldn't convert it the way we should have when we went forward.
"They're not only a talented team, they're a hard team and they play fiercely."
Rising Star winner Callum Mills was a casualty, reduced to tears late in the second term after injuring his hamstring and taking no further part.
Dan Hannebery (31 touches), Kennedy (30) and Lance Franklin (20) – who played up the ground more than usual – tried hard in a losing cause.
The GIANTS were intent on moving the ball quickly, and after overcoming some early nerves, swept the ball from its back 50 twice for first-quarter goals to take the early ascendency.
The tackling was ferocious.
Nick Smith saved a certain goal when collaring Cameron in the goalsquare and also uncorked a fierce tackle of Ward that had the GIANTS skipper clutching his shoulder.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney Swans: Rising Star winner Callum Mills hobbled off late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. Coach John Longmire wouldn't speculate on the severity, but essentially ruled him out of playing next weekend. There were early scares with Kennedy and Tippett undergoing concussion tests, but both thankfully passed for the Swans. Kennedy returned to be one of his team's best, while Tippett battled both in the ruck and forward.
Greater Western Sydney: The major concern for the GIANTS came with captain Callan Ward, who suffered a shoulder injury in the second term. He had the shoulder strapped and sat on the bench for half of the third before returning. Although he had little influence after the main break, Ward now has two weeks to get things right for the preliminary final.
NEXT UP
The GIANTS will sit back and await the winner of next week's final between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs to see who they host in a preliminary final the following week. The Swans have to bounce back in a hurry, hosting either Adelaide or North Melbourne in an elimination final, most likely at the SCG next Saturday.
SYDNEY SWANS 3.3 5.7 6.10 7.13 (55)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 3.4 5.9 9.13 12.19 (91)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Papley 2, Jack 2, Hewett, Kennedy, McGlynn
Greater Western Sydney: Cameron 4, Greene 2, Scully 2, Smith, Whitfield, Coniglio, Ward
BEST
Sydney Swans: Hannebery, Kennedy, Aliir, Grundy, Franklin
Greater Western Sydney: Coniglio, Scully, Greene, Whitfield, Cameron, Tomlinson, Kelly
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Mills (hamstring), Kennedy (head), Tippett (head)
Greater Western Sydney: Ward (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Ryan
Official crowd: 60,222 at ANZ Stadium
