Melbourne vs Sydney

Follow Sportsmail's live blog for tonight's AFL qualifying final clash between Melbourne Demons and Sydney Swans, with the reigning premiers looking to make ...

There are no late changes for either team with Joel Smith the medical sub for the Demons and Braeden Campbell in the same role for the Swans. The Swans, meanwhile, finished the home and away season in third, just 2.6 percentage points behind the reigning premiers. Sydney made a real statement of intent when they played Melbourne at the MCG in Round 12. The Demons' last win over Sydney came in Round 8 last year, when they beat tonight's opponents 10.7 (67) to 8.10 (58) at the MCG. The forward makes no mistake with his set shot and Melbourne have their first of the night. Sydney have the first goal of the contest. A certain Buddy Franklin, meanwhile, averages almost three goals a game in finals played at the MCG. As far as Melbourne are concerned, it's hard to look past the key trio of Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca. The Demons keep knocking on the door with repeat entries in the 50s, before Charlie Spargo sets up Bayley Fritsch with a sublime kick with the outside of his boot. May has largely had the better of Franklin in a footballing sense, but now he allows the veteran to get under his skin as Franklin ends on the floor twice in quick succession, earning the Swans a penalty. A fluid move finds the full forward in space, allowing him time to claim a mark, which he does. Kysaiah Pickett gets Melbourne to the perfect start in the second quarter.