On the eve of the finals, Sydney secured its first minor premiership since 2016 and sent a strong message to the rest of the competition with a convincing 31-point victory against Adelaide at the SCG.
The Swans rested key players from the team that played the Crows, knowing that they would almost certainly finish the season at the top of the table. Despite this, they still had enough firepower to defeat the Crows 18.13 (121) to 13.12 (90) on Saturday night.
The ladder leaders have recovered from a late-season slump that had left the Swans looking unsteady in five losses from six games, and they will begin their finals campaign with three straight victories under their belt.
In two weeks, the Swans will host a home qualifying final against either Geelong or their bitter rivals Greater Western Sydney.
Luke Parker, the 31-year-old who will play in his 11th finals series of his career, began his comeback with 19 disposals and three early goals to allay any concerns about his crucial role in the team.
Errol Gulden was unstoppable while the game was close, and even though the Crows made an effort to limit his influence in the second half, the industrious midfielder finished with 24 disposals and two goals.
Swans captain Callum Mills took a significant step towards getting back to his best form with 27 calm and sophisticated touches while settling into defence, which should worry their top-eight opponents.
In addition to collecting 25 disposals and scoring a goal against his old team, Ben Keays (21, one), Matt Crouch (28), and Jake Soligo (25), all put in a strong effort.
Riley Thilthorpe, a key forward, finished with three goals and strong marking inside the 50, giving the Crows hope for the next campaign.
From the outset, the match was free-flowing, with the Swans eyeing the finals and the Crows playing only for pride, already certain to finish in 15th place.
The Swans held onto a slim lead after the pressure valve was released, but only the hosts were able to sustain the barrage of goals. Together, the two teams scored 13 majors in the first term.
With worries about surviving the remainder of the game unscathed, the Swans scored six goals to the Crows’ one in the second term, giving them a 37-point lead at the interval.
Prior to the first bounce, precautions were taken with a late substitution to rest Isaac Heeney. However, the Swans reduced any additional dangers by substituting Dane Rampe at the final moment, and Gulden and Chad Warner both finished the game on the bench.
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