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AAP
Sophia McCaughan

First AFLW finals berth on the line for Swans at Freo

Sydney have won three out of their last four AFLW games to be on the verge of playing finals. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

More than a year since finishing their maiden season winless, Sydney are now on the verge of an AFLW finals berth.

Bolstered by an upset win against Collingwood in the penultimate round, the Swans sit in eighth spot on percentage and could clinch a home final if results go their way this weekend.

Coach Scott Gowans confesses he never anticipated the group would progress so rapidly from the side that finished bottom of the ladder last season.

Now with an opportunity to extend their season, he believes Sydney can match it against any side.

"I'm not going to lie. We're by no means a finished product," he said on Wednesday.

"But from what I've seen with the group, we're in it, we're right in the mix against any side.

"You got to take your opportunity so I'd be disappointed if we don't progress.

"We haven't mentioned it from what follows but we've mentioned that there's a prize at the end of it, and the prize is you get an opportunity to continue.

"Destiny is in our hands."

Sydney Swans players enter the firled.
The Swans will travel to Perth knowing a win over the Dockers should seal an AFLW finals berth.

The Swans face a must-win clash against 13th-placed Fremantle in Perth on Sunday, with the Dockers potentially returning to full strength with the imminent return of Irish ace and prolific goalkicker Aine Tighe.

Sydney defender and co-captain Lucy McEvoy has no doubt her backline, with the likes of Ella Heads and Brenna Tarrant, can rise to the challenge.

Between McEvoy, Heads and Tarrant, the trio has collected 141 intercept possessions across the nine rounds of the season.

"They've been huge down back. 'BT' and Ella, they're so crucial for us, they've save our butt so many times," McEvoy said.

"Everyone wants to play finals. It's what you dream of growing up so to be so close, you'd obviously have that disappointment, but I also think there'd be a great sense of pride.

"We've shown what our best footy can do and I feel like we can take it to anyone if we can bring our best.

"In saying that in the football world, anything can happen."

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