Reigning premiers East Coast will next week get the chance to seal their spot in the big dance following a 11.17 (83) to 9.20 (74) victory over St Pats.
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A six goal to one first quarter gave the Swans an early lead with Brad Lynch and Nick Child looking dangerous up forward, kicking two each as St Pats fans had to wait until the 26th minute to cheer for a Jacob Knight major.
The town end proved to be the scoring area as St Pats charged straight back in the opening minutes of the second through coach Alex Russell before a Joey Taylor snap from a congested pack went straight to the highlight reel with the crowd's atmosphere shifting.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Neither side were able to add another goal to their tally in the second quarter, with East Coast's defence - led by Mitchell McCarroll, standing up and limiting the damage made by St Pats' threatening inside 50s to hold a 21-point lead at the main break.
St Pats' domination of regular play continued into the third quarter but the second-placed side couldn't convert their pressure to the scoreboard as Michael Murfet, Will Stoltenberg and Ethan Goldfinch all found the middle while an injury concern to goal-sneak Child sent shivers down the Swans' spine.
Kicking nine behinds in the 'premiership quarter', St Pats came out with a bang in the last, slotting three majors in five minutes through Knight and Jacob Murphy, who'd been kept quiet up to that point by Mitch Graham.
Swan Murfet kicked his third and fourth either side of goals to Murphy and Knight as the Saints looked a real chance at charging home before play was brought to a stop following a high-speed collision between Michael Musicka and Jono Lawrence.
Lawrence came off second best, assisted off the ground by trainers.
Child returned to the ground and threatened to put the game beyond doubt but Jake Laskey struck to put the Saints to within single digits as tempers flared in the dying minutes with a near all-in brawl starting in front of the interchange resulting in Stoltenberg seeing the game out on the pine.
Stoltenberg, Corey Bosworth and Graham were East Coast's best as the Swans prepare for Lilydale with Laskey, Jacob Perkins and Tom Hilder all strong.
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Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
