Throughout the 2026 AFL Finals series, Zero Hanger will rank the game of each player based on their impact on the result.
Sydney was hardly given a chance to beat Brisbane given the off-field turmoil which has gripped the club in recent weeks but their ball movement and pressure was top-tier.
Brisbane, meanwhile, could never got going.
Here's how Zero Hanger rated every player's impact.
1 - Tom Papley (Sydney Swans) - What a game from the energetic small forward. Kicked five goals to help Sydney build a match-winning lead and set up a huge goal late in the second quarter. Brought physicality at the contest, won free kicks and played September footy.
2 - Logan McDonald (Sydney Swans) - One of the games of McDonald's career. Playing on generational defender Harris Andrews, he kicked six goals and competed hard all day as the anchor key forward. His last goal from range on the boundary line summed up a perfect afternoon.
3 - Errol Gulden (Sydney Swans) - If his third quarter goal bursting from the middle was kicked in the home and away season, it would have been goal of the year. The form player of the competition continued his hot streak, using his lethal kicking, including a brilliant dart to Billy Cootee when conditions were at their worst and aptly filled the void left by the suspended stars.
4 - Charlie Curnow (Sydney Swans) - Was enormous in the first half with his contested marking presence and strength capitalising on the Swans' midfield dominance and escaping his direct opponent with guile and strength. His third quarter goal at ground level winning a two on three started party time.
5 - Harry Cunningham (Sydney Swans) - What a game from the old-timer. Often forced to play above his size, his positioning and intercepting was first class, particularly in the first half when he took five intercept marks.
6 - Hayden McLean (Sydney Swans) - Was a dangerous forward presence from the get-go even if the other two were more dominant on the stats sheet. His goals came at big times and his goal out of stoppage was spectacular while he was also impactful in the ruck.
7 - James Rowbottom (Sydney Swans) - Teammate Errol Gulden said at halftime on Fox Footy he was competing like a dog and it was an apt description. Shut down Lachie Neale's influence at stoppage and played with his usual hardness, relishing the midfield responsibility.
8 - Billy Cootee (Sydney Swans) - Highlight of his day was probably a beautiful kick to Jesse Dattoli inside 50 early and he was a lively forward presence all day despite not registering a major.
9 - Josh Dunkley (Brisbane Lions) - Was hard in close, particularly early, and provided presence in the midfield. A third quarter snapping goal felt important at the time and gave his side some momentum but nothing became of it.
10 - Tom McCartin (Sydney Swans) - Quietly played a stellar game on All Australian Logan Morris, keeping him to just two behinds and a junk time goal, not affected by his movement and craft which catches so many defenders off-guard.
11 - Jake Lloyd (Sydney Swans) - He provided a calming presence on the last line of defence often getting himself out of trouble and making the right decisions despite having space closed down.
12 - Sam Wicks (Sydney Swans) - Had one job: stop Charlie Cameron. Did it brilliantly, with Cameron a non-factor throughout the day and hardly going near the ball, Wicks able to match his pace and work rate and set up Logan McDonald late.
13 - Brodie Grundy (Sydney Swans) - Stats may not fully reflect it but he was clearly the better of the rucks, helping Sydney have the upper hand in the midfield.
14 - Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions) - Tried to make things happen and was one of few Lions who was quite consistent, using his finals experience, but did not have enough help.
15 - Will Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions) - Came into the game in a big way in the third quarter as Brisbane briefly attempted to mount a comeback and hit up Eric Hipwood from a centre clearance in the first quarter but did not quite reach the high benchmark we have come to expect from the young star in September.
16 - Dane Rampe (Sydney Swans) - Provided important leadership in the backline and was a factor in the first half as the Swans were on top, with his excellent intercepting.
17 - Jai Serong (Sydney Swans) - Set up an early Charlie Curnow goal after missing one of his own and provided energy around stoppages.
18 - Oscar Allen (Brisbane Lions) - Four goals from limited possessions but took some important grabs and seized his moments in just his second final after making the move to play in September. Quietly in reasonable form.
19 - Braeden Campbell (Sydney Swans) - Got himself into the game with a big holding the ball free kick early, while a chiselling kick inside 50 to Logan McDonald in the third quarter was also a highlight of an important contribution.
20 - Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions) - A goal on the quarter time siren felt important at the time and spread the small confines of the SCG well.
21 - Eric Hipwood (Brisbane Lions) - Kicked a couple of excellent set shot goals as he led out hard all day but ultimately did not have enough supply.
22 - Darcy Wilmot (Brisbane Lions) - Was one of the most prominent in the first quarter before slowly fading but provided effort.
23 - Jarrod Berry (Brisbane Lions) - Kicked a reasonably cheap goal in the goal square in the third quarter and had a few moments late in the game but was a non-factor when Brisbane was swarmed early.
24 - Angus Sheldrick (Sydney Swans) - Found a target inside 50 in the first quarter with composure and precision which led to a goal and was up to the task of playing in the midfield in a final.
25 - Jesse Dattoli (Sydney Swans) - Perhaps some nervy moments early as he missed a pair of shots in the first term but a kick inside 50 to set up a Logan McDonald goal i the third quarter showed impressive composure for a finals debutant.
26 - Tom Hanily (Sydney Swans) - A reasonably quiet afternoon. Sprayed a shot on goal in the third quarter but mostly played his role without standing out.
27 - Matt Roberts (Sydney Swans) - A neat game and was particularly lively as Sydney stretched the lead in the second quarter.
28 - Joel Hamling (Sydney Swans) - Took a contested intercept mark on the last line of defence in the second quarter and played his role well throughout the game.
29 - Logan Morris (Brisbane Lions) - Was lively early from limited opportunity before falling out of the game as the Lions struggled to get it down to him consistently.
30 - Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions) - It is true that his stats look reasonable and he had some predictably important moments with his strength and intercepting but was a long way below his best when his team really needed him.
31 - Harry Kyle (Sydney Swans) - The first year player with a rugby convert caught the eye in the third quarter - after being pinged for holding the ball which cost his team a goal, minutes later got Kai Lohmann holding the ball which showed ticker.
32 - Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions) - Well nullified in the midfield by James Rowbottom, hardly touching it as Sydney established what turned out to be an unassailable first quarter margin. His numbers did not end up looking too bad but he hardly impacted.
33 - Connor McKenna (Brisbane Lions) - Not an enormous day but showed his Gaelic background with a soccer goal assist to set up a Jarrod Berry goal in the third quarter and then set up Oscar Allen soon thereafter.
34 - Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions) - One of those games where you go 'he'll be better for the run.' At his best, he is the beneficiary of an excellent system that can bury teams and was not aided by a side which struggled to generate bounce.
35 - Zac Bailey (Brisbane Lions) - The out-of-contract star missed a golden opportunity when conditions were at their toughest late in the second quarter and although solid, lacked his game-breaking ability.
36 - Sam Draper (Brisbane Lions) - Dropped an easy uncontested mark inside 50 in the second quarter and struggled to get himself involved outside of a free kick goal late in the third.
37 - Caiden Cleary (Sydney Swans) - Did not have a heap to do in the first half and got some late touches where he mopped up and had some moments of pressure.
38 - Noah Answerth (Brisbane Lions) - Quiet day statistically but played with typical hardness. Sent a shudder through the Lions camp when he limped off but it turned out to be a rolled ankle and he ran out the game.
39 - Jaspa Fletcher (Brisbane Lions) - Gave away a deliberate rushed behind free kick in the first quarter when Sydney was on fire and was below his best.
40 - Cam Rayner (Brisbane Lions) - Had a couple of early moments of burst and tried a hailmary shot on goal late but was hardly sighted.
41 - Ryan Lester (Brisbane Lions) - Was part of a defence which was under siege and looked shaky, particularly vulnerable to the Swans' quick ball movement.
42 - Darcy Fort (Brisbane Lions) - One of many Lions who was beaten, unable to get himself involved in the ruck or up forward.
43 - Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions) - Had very limited opportunity, with his only shot on goal off target in tough conditions in the second quarter.
44 - Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions) - Struggled to insert himself in any meaningful way despite sneaking up to nine disposals after not touching it in the first half.
45 - Darcy Gardiner (Brisbane Lions) - Was beaten badly by Charlie Curnow and was not assisted by the service he was getting from up the field.
46 - Callum Mills (Sydney Swans) - Heartbreakingly suffered a potential ACL rupture late in the first quarter.
