Sydney have produced a tackling masterclass to storm the AFLW finals with a stunning upset of Gold Coast.
The side that couldn't win a game in their debut season only a few months ago made an outstanding finals debut on Saturday night, raiding the Suns for a pulsating 9.4 (58) to 6.5 (41) away win.
It sets up an intriguing semi-final next weekend against minor premiers Adelaide.
The Crows will start even warmer favourites than the Suns, but Sydney have come to the finals with a barnstorming "why not us?" attitude.
With Laura Gardiner and co-captain Chloe Molloy supreme, the Swans took control of the elimination final early and out-tackled Gold Coast by a whopping 105 to 66.
But the win came at a cost - forward Bec Privitelli limped off in the first term with an ankle injury after kicking Sydney's first goal.
"It's not looking great ... she's probably pushing it to be right," coach Scott Gowans said.
Gowans spoke pre-game of his players being together "on the bus" and they drove over the top of the Suns.
"We wanted to out-pressure and out-tackle ... their ferocity at the contest was amazing," Gowans said after the game.
Not only did Molloy lead the way with three goals, she also won some by-play with a loud Suns fan in the second term.
As she was lining up for her second goal, the fan heckled with "two, four, six, eight - you can't kick straight".
Molloy duly proved the fan badly wrong and then celebrated by counting out "two, four, six, eight" in celebration.
"Why not be a bit cheeky when you can?" Molloy told Channel Seven.
Gardiner shook off Lucy Single's midfield tag to rack up a game-high 30 disposals, including seven clearances, while Sofia Hurley led the tackle count with 16.
Trailing by four goals at three-quarter time, the Suns threw everything at the Swans and Sydney went goalless in the final term.
Gold Coast enjoyed 17 inside 50s to four in the final quarter, but could only manage 1.2.
"Obviously tonight is an opportunity gone begging," said Suns coach Cameron Joyce.
"But ... they controlled the game for the majority of it."
Gold Coast captain Tara Bohanna kicked the opening goal of the game and went on to boot the first goal in the next two quarters as well.
But after dominating the start of the game, the Suns were overwhelmed as Sydney kicked the next four majors and raced to a 20-point lead at quarter time.
Bohanna kicked the first two goals of the second term, reducing the margin to only eight points, but again Sydney took control and had a 26-point lead at the main break.
That would prove critical, with the Suns lifting in the second half and matching Sydney's pressure.
Gold Coast ruck Lauren Bella gave her midfielders plenty of delivery, racking up a whopping 42 hitouts - no other player had more than nine.
Alison Drennan battled hard and had a team-high 22 possessions for Gold Coast, while Single racked up 17 and Bohanna kicked a game-high four goals.
