Sydney and Brisbane meet in qualifying final to reach preliminary round
3 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 8:26 AM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
Sydney hosts Brisbane in a qualifying final on September 5, 2026, with the winner advancing to a preliminary final. The match takes place as Sydney attempts to manage a significant change to its roster due to the suspension of five players. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice are unavailable for the remainder of the season. Brisbane enters the contest with strong form, having won 10 of its last 11 games by an average margin of 48 points. Sydney carries a 1-5 record against current top-six opponents this year, with their only win coming against Brisbane in the season opener. The match is currently in progress, and the live results will determine which team proceeds further in the finals series.
- •Sydney hosts Brisbane in a qualifying final on September 5, 2026.
- •Sydney is missing five players due to club suspensions.
- •Brisbane has won 10 of its past 11 games by an average of 48 points.
- •The match determines which team advances to a preliminary final.
- •The winner of the qualifying final earns a home preliminary final berth.
- 8:26 AMThe Guardian Sport — Sydney blow away shellshocked Brisbane to revive ‘torpedoed’ AFL season
- 8:03 AMAFL — Sydney stunner! Undermanned Swans upset Lions to book home prelim
- 3:58 AMAFL — LIVE: Swans tackle Lions for place in a preliminary final
"Swans defeat Lions 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) in qualifying final at SCG Reigning premiers to host Crows or Bulldogs in semi-final Sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Sydney’s season had been “torpedoed” even before they were locked in to meet two-time reigning premier Brisbane in a qualifying final, at least according to the club’s chair Andrew Pridham a couple of weeks ago. But a season that few thought was heading toward anything but the most inglorious of endings – with five players suspended by the club for a breach of club standards – has suddenly taken flight again, after the Swans blew away the Lions for a stunning 53-point triumph in wet and wild conditions at the SCG. Even without the suspended Isaac Heeney running the show in the midfield, Chad Warner lighting up the front half and Nick Blakey breaking the lines from defence, the Swans who lined up against the Lions on Saturday afternoon looked as eye-catching and familiar as any to run out in red and white this year. The rapid and relentless ball movement that has been critical to the Swans’ resurgence this year was there for all to see. So was the newfound strength at stoppage with Errol Gulden rising to the occasion, James Rowbottom putting his head over the ball, and unheralded recruit Jai Serong playing the most influential game of his career as he clamped down on the Lions’ dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale. Continue reading...
"Follow all the action from the qualifying final between Sydney and Brisbane
"The Swans have stunned the Lions in their qualifying final
Sources
External links- The Guardian SportSep 5, 2026, 8:26 AMSydney blow away shellshocked Brisbane to revive ‘torpedoed’ AFL season
Swans defeat Lions 21.15 (141) to 13.10 (88) in qualifying final at SCG Reigning premiers to host Crows or Bulldogs in semi-final Sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Sydney’s season had been “torpedoed” even before they were locked in to meet two-time reigning premier Brisbane in a qualifying final, at least according to the club’s chair Andrew Pridham a couple of weeks ago. But a season that few thought was heading toward anything but the most inglorious of endings – with five players suspended by the club for a breach of club standards – has suddenly taken flight again, after the Swans blew away the Lions for a stunning 53-point triumph in wet and wild conditions at the SCG. Even without the suspended Isaac Heeney running the show in the midfield, Chad Warner lighting up the front half and Nick Blakey breaking the lines from defence, the Swans who lined up against the Lions on Saturday afternoon looked as eye-catching and familiar as any to run out in red and white this year. The rapid and relentless ball movement that has been critical to the Swans’ resurgence this year was there for all to see. So was the newfound strength at stoppage with Errol Gulden rising to the occasion, James Rowbottom putting his head over the ball, and unheralded recruit Jai Serong playing the most influential game of his career as he clamped down on the Lions’ dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale. Continue reading...
- AFLSep 5, 2026, 8:03 AMSydney stunner! Undermanned Swans upset Lions to book home prelim
The Swans have stunned the Lions in their qualifying final
- AFLSep 5, 2026, 3:58 AMLIVE: Swans tackle Lions for place in a preliminary final
Follow all the action from the qualifying final between Sydney and Brisbane
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