SYDNEY has survived a late charge to pip Adelaide by one point and strengthen its grip on a finals spot.
But the Crows' playoff hopes ended with the heartbreaking 11.8 (74) to 10.13 (73) result on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Swans were 44 points up late in the second quarter but Adelaide stormed in the final term, booting 4.8 to 0.1 only to fall just short.
Crow Ben Keays thought he'd given his side the lead with 60 seconds to go but his shot was judged to have grazed the goalpost.
Sydney takes seventh spot by two premiership points into their last home-and-away game - an SCG clash against top-four fancy Melbourne.
But 13th-placed Adelaide's chances of sneaking into the finals disappear.
Swans winger Errol Gulden continued his fine season with 30 disposals, Chad Warner (25 touches) was a standout and Oliver Florent (21) and Tom Papley (one goal) had patches of influence.
Heeney's scoring polish in attack was supported by Hayden McLean (two goals), while Nick Blakey (21 disposals, seven marks) was prominent in Sydney's stingy defence.
Adelaide entered the round as the competition's highest-scoring team but failed to flourish in attack until the last-term press.
Taylor Walker and Josh Rachele kicked two goals each and Crows on-ballers Rory Laird (31 possessions), Matt Crouch (26) and Jake Soligo (28) revelled in the wet.
The Swans found four goalkickers in their strong 4.3 to 1.3 opening term, and when Heeney slotted two goals in 90 seconds - a roved snap followed by a set shot - Sydney's lead blew out to a dangerous 30 points.
Adelaide's Harry Schoenberg replied before the Swans stamped their authority with three consecutive goals creating a 44-point advantage.
Crows forwards Walker and Shane McAdam scored late to reduce Sydney's lead to 32 points at half-time, 9.5 to 4.3.
Adelaide couldn't make inroads in a slog of a third quarter although Izak Rankine produced a highlight as both teams scored two goals.
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03:29
A recap of our 2025 ARA First Nations tour of the Red Centre
View some of the highlights from last year's ARA First Nations tour of the Red Centre, where a contingent of youth boys and girls from the club's academy visited Alice Springs and Uluru, as part of a cultural development program.
AFL
First Nations Academy -
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00:32
Moments that Matter, presented by Clover
Brodie running out with his little cousins from Adelaide for Moments that Matter, presented by Clover
AFL
Moments that Matter -
00:33
Goal of the Week, presented by Origin Energy
Lloydy with an unbelievable goal for Goal of the Week, presented by Origin Energy.
AFL
Goal of the Week -
00:34
Mark of the Week, presented by Virgin
Charlie playing his role and putting it all on the line against a tough side.
AFL
Mark of the Week -
09:42Inside SydneyInside Sydney
A nail biting finish v Port Adelaide | Inside Sydney
Go behind the scenes as we headed to Adelaide Oval to take on Port Adelaide, with Dean Cox exclusives, prep work and what happens off the field on match day.
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Inside Sydney -
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Rankine collected possession on the boundary and, from the tightest of angles, threaded an instinctive checkside goal.
The Crows turned 32 points down and were given a pulse with three consecutive goals inside four minutes to start the final term.
After a series of behinds, Keays celebrated what he believed was the go-ahead goal with a minute remaining only to be denied.
ADELAIDE 1.3 4.3 6.5 10.13 (73)
SYDNEY 4.3 9.5 11.7 11.8 (74)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 2, Rachele 2, Schoenberg, Rankine, McAdam, Crouch, Milera, Murphy
Sydney: Isaac Heeney 3, McLean 2, Wicks, Papley, McDonald, Hayward, Francis, Campbell
BEST
Adelaide: Crouch, Laird, Soligo, Rankine, O'Brien
Sydney: Heeney, Warner, Gulden, Blakey, McLean, Hickey
INJURIES
Adelaide: Sloane (eye)
Sydney: TBC
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Luke Pedlar (replaced Rory Sloane in the third quarter)
Sydney: Ryan Clarke (replaced Tom Papley in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: TBC at Adelaide Oval
