A valiant Sydney Swans VFL side have been defeated by a dominant Port Melbourne in today’s Elimination Final at ETU Stadium.
The red and white line up that featured plenty of youth and energy was committed in it’s efforts, however a controlling Port Melbourne were too good to secure a 17.14.116 to 9.7.61 victory to progress through to next week’s semi final while also ending the Swans’ 2026 VFL campaign.
The Swans were the first to strike through senior listed forward Hayden McLean, scoring the first points of the afternoon after just a few minutes of action.
Former Swan Lachie Rankin struck back minutes later, applying pressure deep in the Swans defensive half to score the home side’s first major of the afternoon. The goal started a string of goals for the home side over an eight-minute period with goals to Dominic Bedendo, Connor Downie and Luca Alessio.
The Swans steadied the momentum and found control to round out the first quarter but had two stray opportunities from in front of goal.
Tall Tom Ryan was on the end of a strong passage of play, starting from deep inside their defensive end as the ball transitioned quickly across the ground for Ryan to be on the end of the ball movement for a much needed major.
Ryan then found his second goal in quick succession, crumbing in front of goal to cut the lead to eight-points at the first break.
Following a goal to Port Melbourne’s Owen Mulady to open the scoring in the second quarter, AFL senior listed players Corey Warner and Hayden McLean began lifting their workrate and pressure with immediate impact.
After a crunching tackle by McLean, Warner followed up shortly to swing the momentum the red and white’s way, leading to McLean taking a contested mark in-front of goal to earn his second of the afternoon.
Jake Sutton continued his strong form and five goal performance last week, scoring a goal thanks to some sharp work by lively forward Malcolm Rosas Jnr, who found too much space linking up with Sutton on the run.
A heavy weight of possession to the home side to end the second quarter resulted in reward when Bedendo scored his second of the afternoon with a booming set shot from beyond 50m to give the home side an 11-point lead at the half time break.
Port Melbourne came out in the second half looking to flex their muscle, and despite the variant efforts of the young red and white line up, the home side began to capitalise on their heavy weight of possession to take control of the game.
Alessio scored his second of the afternoon and the first goal of the third quarter.
QBE Sydney Swans Academy product Benjamin Pignatelli showed a clean pair of hands to take a heavily contested pack mark in front of goal to strike back, but the home side retalitated with goals to Kaine Baldwin and Alessio for his third before a error deep in the Swans defensive like gifting a goal to Riley Polkinghorne.
The Swans hit back down the other end of the ground, creating their own luck through a strong defensive effort, forcing a Port Melbourne error. Young Swan Jevan Phillipou kicked a crucial goal to end a run of goals, before goals to Max Rider and Joe Harrison saw an end to the third quarter with the Swans trailing by 21-points.
The Swans found themselves pinned on the backfoot early and deep inside their half for majority of the fourth quarter. Despite the red and white’s best efforts, the home side extended their lead in the fourth with goals to Polkinghorne and Bedendo in the opening 10 minutes.
The home side continued to dominate possession and reap rewards on the scoreboard with fourth quarter goals to Rider, Josh Green and Baldwin as they went on progress through to the semi finals with a 55-point victory.
Swans defender Ned Bowman tried hard with 27 disposals, Jevan Phillipou ended with two goals including one late in the final quarter, while Tom Ryan (two goals), Hayden McLean (two goals) showed positive signs with limited opportunities.
Corey Warner (27 disposals, nine tackles), Jake Sutton (20 disposals, 10 clearances, six tackles and a goal) and Mitch Mellis (18 touches and five tackles) never stopping trying and were brave and worked tirelessly in the defeat.
Under the head coaching of Nick Malceski, the Swans 2026 VFL campaign comes to an end - finishing in seventh with 10 wins in the regular home and away season before last week’s Wildcard Round victory over Frankston.
