Swans stay alive in 08

The Sydney Swans have overcome a sluggish start to out-gun North Melbourne by 35 points in their Elimination Final clash at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Having trailed at the main break, the Swans broke the shackles with a stunning eight-goal blitz in the third term to set up a 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) victory and book a date with the Western Bulldogs in next week's semi-finals.

The Swans had a host of contributors but it was the experienced men who led by example for Paul Roos' ageing squad.

Barry Hall continued his fine form in recent weeks with three goals while Brett Kirk (23 touches), Ted Richards (18) and Ryan O'Keefe were all near their best.

For the Kangaroos, who dominated the bulk of the first half, retiring veteran Shannon Grant (14 possession and two goals) was superb but played a lone hand for the visitors who were out-hustled after half-time.

The Kangaroos had the better of the opening exchanges with goals to David Hale and Brent Harvey setting the tone.

Sydney were made to pay for its sluggish start when Harvey kicked his second of the night at the 20-minute mark before Drew Petrie made it a four-goal gap close to quarter-time.

While the Kangaroos were clearly the better side throughout the opening term, the Swans were their own worst enemy with Patrick Veszpremi, Adam Goodes and Hall all missing kickable set-shots to gift Dean Laidley's men a 14-point lead at the first change.

Whatever Paul Roos said to his charges paid immediate dividends as the hosts kicked the opening two majors after the resumption to somehow close to within a goal.

North Melbourne re-grouped and appeared to kick its fifth goal of the evening through Matt Campbell, only to be denied by the goal umpire who inexplicably issued a behind - video replays clearly showed the ball split the big sticks.

The Kangaroos finally added to their tally when veteran Grant goaled twice late in the term before Jarred Moore answered for the Swans to cut the deficit to 10 points at the long break.

With their season on the line the Swans emerged from the sheds a team possessed booting the first four goals of the term to take their first lead of the contest.

It was the old heads leading the way for the hosts with Hall (two), Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh all getting in on the action.

The Kangaroos managed a much-needed major but the momentum stayed with hosts as young-guns Veszpremi and Kieren Jack chipped in as the Swans kicked three goals clear.

Not to be outdone, the Kangaroos steadied with three goals in the last 10 minutes of the penultimate quarter to cut the deficit to a more manageable 14 points and set up a grandstand finish.

However, when Ed Lower missed a sitter early in the term and Hall goaled almost immediately, the 'Roos were in deep trouble.

And when Jack, Moore and Ted Richards chimed in majors, the Swans moved into an unassailable 36-point lead to book a semi-final showdown with the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday night.

SYDNEY: 1.5, 4.6, 12.7, 17.8 (110)
NORTH MELBOURNE: 4.1, 6.4, 10.5, 11.9 (75)

GOALS: Sydney: Hall 3, Jack 3, Goodes 3, O'Keefe 2, Moore 2, McVeigh, Veszpremi, Malceski, Richards,
North Melbourne: Harvey 2, Grant 2, Lower 2, Hale 2, Petrie, Thompson, Sinclair,
BEST: Sydney: McVeigh, O'Keefe, Kirk,