Pre Game
00:00
Sydney has generated a score from 12.0 percent of its kick-ins, ranked third in the competition.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
04:00
After four minutes of play, the Demons are controlling the time in possession, 55 percent to 26.
04:41
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Chad Warner)
06:22
The ball has been in Melbourne's forward half of the ground for 80 percent of the play, but this dominance is not reflected on the scoreboard.
09:11
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)
09:12
With Sydney's first goal of the 2022 Finals, Will Hayward has now kicked 32 majors from 23 appearances this season.
09:52
Swans Interchange - Isaac Heeney off due to the blood rule.
11:26
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
11:27
Melbourne's Bayley Fritsch is the only player in the competition to kick a goal in every round this season.
15:23
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
17:24
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (James Rowbottom)
17:28
Despite winning the time in possession (57 percent to 29), Melbourne has still out-tackled Sydney so far, ten to five.
21:06
All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn has directed four of his five first-quarter hitouts to the advantage of a Melbourne teammate (80 percent).
23:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
25:18
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
26:33
The Swans have targeted Sam Reid a team-high three times inside forward 50, but the big man is yet to take a mark for the game.
27:12
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Sam Reid)
30:29
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
30:33
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:34
For the 18th time this season, Melbourne leads at quarter-time, the most of any side in the competition.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:27
The Swans are yet to take a mark from an opposition kick. At the other end of the spectrum, Melbourne has recorded six intercept marks, including three to key defender Steven May.
01:46
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
04:46
Melbourne has lost the contested possession count just four times this season, averaging 13.8 more per game than its opponents, leading the AFL. This trend continues tonight, where the Demons currently lead the contested possessions, 58 to 44.
05:39
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Will Hayward)
08:05
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
10:34
Sydney's Paddy McCartin averages 7.7 intercept possessions per game in 2022, ranked sixth in the competition. He has been quiet so far tonight, with zero disposals or possessions to his name.
11:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
13:37
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Callum Mills)
15:01
The Swans have won nine of the last eleven clearances, and recorded five of the last six inside 50 entries.
17:44
After Melbourne won the first-quarter time in possession battle, 53 percent to 30, the Swans are winning this measure for the second term, 46 percent to 40.
17:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
18:31
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
24:48
Approaching halftime, the Swans have only recorded a single contested mark (to Sam Reid). On the other hand, Melbourne has taken 11 contested marks, including three to Steven May and two to Max Gawn.
26:15
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Dylan Stephens)
28:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
29:35
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
29:36
Sydney takes a narrow six-point lead at the main break. The Swans have won seven of their last eight matches against the Demons at the MCG, with their only defeat coming in Round 8 last season by nine points.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:05
Of the 13 free kicks that Sydney has conceded, the most common indiscretion has been for holding the ball on four occasions.
02:40
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
02:41
With his fourth goal of the season, Clayton Oliver breaks a run of four Sydney majors.
05:30
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
06:44
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
06:45
All three third-quarter Melbourne goals have been sourced from stoppages.
10:40
Swans Interchange - Isaac Heeney off due to the blood rule.
10:49
Similar to the first quarter, Melbourne is dominating the time in possession for the third, currently holding a 52 percent to 28 percent edge in this measure.
12:27
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Papley)
12:28
With his second major of the night, Tom Papley has now kicked multiple goals in eleven of 17 appearances for Sydney this season.
14:50
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Jake Lloyd)
17:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
17:53
Six of eight Sydney goals have been kicked from inside 40 metres. In contrast, five of Melbourne's nine majors have been kicked from beyond 40 metres from goal.
20:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Dylan Stephens)
22:03
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Luke Parker)
24:13
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Sam Reid)
27:08
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Sam Reid)
28:41
Melbourne's third-quarter disposal retention is just 31 percent, down from 41 percent in the first half.
29:21
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
32:07
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Tom Hickey)
34:05
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
35:38
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
35:39
Sydney extends its lead to 12 points at the final change. The Swans will like their chances from here, having won the final term 17 times this season, ranked equal-first with the Cats.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:25
The only player on the ground with 100 percent game time is Melbourne wingman Ed Langdon.
02:52
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Jake Lloyd)
02:53
Eleven of Sydney's 13 goals have been the end result of a disposal chain that began with a Melbourne turnover.
04:32
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Rushed)
07:39
SCORE
BEHIND - Swans (Will Hayward)
09:39
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
09:40
Including kicking 2.0 himself, Clayton Oliver has contributed a match-high ten score involvements for the Demons.
14:33
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
15:01
The leading tackler on the ground is Sydney midfielder Callum Mills with 11, well exceeding his 2022 per-game average of 6.3
15:31
SCORE
GOAL - Swans (Isaac Heeney)
17:20
Demons Interchange - Clayton Oliver off due to the blood rule.
18:39
For the fourth term Sydney is recording a pressure factor of 2.52, far superior to the 2.02 of the Demons.
21:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
22:32
Demons Interchange - Clayton Oliver off due to the blood rule.
22:51
Tom McCartin does the little things to help his team. His tally of 16 one percenters is the most of any man on the ground, and includes four spoils gaining possession for the Swans.
24:56
Swans Interchange - Oliver Florent and is possibly out for the game.
27:11
For the final term, Sydney has recorded 14 tackles inside forward 50, compared to just three in the equivalent zone for Melbourne.
27:44
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
29:57
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
29:58
The Swans run out 22-point winners and earn the right to host a Preliminary Final. Starring for Sydney was Callum Mills, contributing 23 disposals at 65 percent efficiency, 11 tackles, nine contested possessions, and four clearances.