Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne Kangaroos

Sydney started cautiously in the first quarter, holding a narrow seven-point lead at the first change — 4.3 (27) to 3.2 (20) — before detonating in the second term.

Five goals in the second quarter, including two to Logan McDonald and one apiece to Billy Cootee and Charlie Curnow, stretched the margin to 26 points by half-time: 9.7 (61) to 5.5 (35).

North Melbourne won the third quarter 3.1 (19) to 1.8 (14) — Cameron Zurhaar and Charlie Spargo both kicked goals — to trim the deficit to 21 points at three-quarter time (10.15 (75) to 8.6 (54)). But Sydney poured through seven goals in the final term to put the result beyond doubt, finishing 17.21 (123) to 10.10 (70).

Curnow (3.4), Cootee (3.0) and McDonald (3.1) each kicked three goals, while Braeden Campbell (2.1) and Tom Hanily (1.2) also contributed.

North Melbourne gave up 34 points in the second quarter while managing just 15 of their own, and the match was effectively decided in that 30-minute window. Sydney's midfield dominance — winning centre clearances 6-2 in the term — allowed them to generate a stream of inside-50 entries that North Melbourne's defence could not repel.

Brodie Grundy's 27 hit-outs and seven clearances gave Sydney first use at stoppages, and the Roos never recovered from the cumulative weight of territory. The Swans finished with 70 inside-50s to 39, a +31 differential that tells the story of the game more cleanly than any other stat.

Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans) — Player of the Match. A game-high 41 disposals (27 kicks, 14 handballs), 10 inside-50s, six clearances and three goal assists. Gulden accumulated 29 uncontested possessions and worked the SCG wings at will, using his precise left foot to repeatedly find Sydney's forwards inside-50.

Brodie Grundy (Sydney Swans) — 26 disposals, 27 hit-outs, seven clearances and 15 contested possessions. The ruckman's ability to push forward and accumulate around the ground gave Sydney a decisive edge at stoppages (48-31 clearances overall).

James Rowbottom (Sydney Swans) — A game-high 12 tackles to go with 19 disposals. Rowbottom set the defensive tone in the midfield, particularly in the second quarter when Sydney broke the game open.

Charlie Curnow (Sydney Swans) — 3.4 from 15 disposals and 11 score involvements. Five inside-50 marks made him Sydney's most dangerous target forward of centre.

Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne) — 26 disposals, eight tackles, one goal and eight marks. Simpkin was North's most consistent contributor across four quarters.

The final inside-50 count (70-39) was the game's defining statistic, reflecting Sydney's complete territorial control. Despite North Melbourne taking more marks (106-77) — a figure inflated by uncontested intercept marks in defence — the Roos could not generate enough forward entries to trouble the Sydney defence.

Sydney's 48-31 clearance advantage, including 18-10 in centre clearances, tells a story of Grundy's ruck dominance and the Swans' midfield depth even without the suspended quintet. The 17-12 free-kick count was relatively even, suggesting umpiring did not materially influence the flow.

North Melbourne won the third quarter (19-14) by narrowing the inside-50 gap and applying defensive pressure, but Sydney's fourth-quarter response (48-16 scoring shots equivalent) showed a finals-ready side capable of shifting gears.

Sydney finishes the home-and-away season 18-5, second on the ladder, and will host Brisbane Lions in a qualifying final next week. The Swans' response to the off-field turmoil — five players stood down for conduct post-Round 23 — was professional and emphatic, though tougher tests await.

North Melbourne ends 2026 at 9-14, exceeding pre-season expectations in patches but fading late. The Roos beat Sydney twice earlier this decade but have now lost 13 of their last 14 against the Swans since 2019.

Sydney did what a top-two side should do to a bottom-six opponent, with the margin reflecting the gap on the ladder. The real question — whether the Swans can beat elite finals opposition without Heeney, Warner and Blakey — remains unanswered. But this was a tick in the box for composure, system and midfield depth.