Live: Understrength Swans face defending champ Lions for right to host prelim

Missing five key players , the Sydney Swans face a huge task against the Brisbane Lions, with the winner earning the right to host a preliminary final.The Swans and Lions meet in a qualifying final at the SCG this afternoon, before the Adelaide hosts Western Bulldogs in an elimination final tonight. Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:35pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:35pmAFL Finals ScoreboardSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:30pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:30pmHigh stakes for Lions as campaign for third flag startsIt's a cliche, but an important one - games of footy aren't played on paper.If they were, then most people would probably draw a line through Sydney and put the Lions straight in the prelim final.But if you want an example of why you have to wait for four quarters, just look at Thursday night's shocker in the west.An undefeated Dockers side, in pole position for a straight home run to the grand final, blew themselves up in two and a bit hours of play at Perth Stadium.It took an absolutely brilliant team performance from Hawthorn, but they did it.You wouldn't think that coach Chris Fagan would allow it, but the danger for Brisbane today is that feeling that most people would be thinking - that the Swans don't have the cattle to get this done without three of their top five players (and their top tagger).If they are a few per cent off, and if the remaining Swans have a point to prove, and IF they get off to a decent start and the crowd gets into it - then maybe we have a contest.Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:21pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:21pmTeams are in for Swans vs Lions(AFL.com.au)The teams are in and there are no late changes for either side - both line-ups can be seen above.The strict week-to-week changes show just one difference for the Swans, with Hayden McLean coming in to provide ruck help for Brodie Grundy, and William Green being omitted.The elephant in the room, however, is the absence of the five players banned for the rest of the season by Sydney for breaching team rules the night and morning after the Essendon game in round 23.Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice are all missing from the side - and it is surely one of the understatements of the season to say their absence will have an impact.On the other side of the ledger, Brisbane make just one change. Ty Gallop comes out to make way for the return of Hugh McCluggage.Sat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:13pmSat 5 Sep 2026 at 2:13pmWelcome!Hello, good afternoon and welcome to ABC's live online coverage of the AFL Finals.Two finals down, two to go for this weekend of footy. We've had one big shock and one more expected result so far.What are we in for today?First up, the qualifying final with the Sydney Swans - missing a series of key players - hosting the Brisbane Lions at the SCG with direct passage to a prelim on the line.Then later, we shift to Adelaide Oval where the Crows and coach Matthew Nicks have a season-defining elimination final against the Bulldogs.I'm Andrew McGarry, and I'll be bringing you the early action today before handing over to my friend and colleague Dean Bilton.Let's get into it!