Sydney Swans co-captain Kieren Jack is in serious doubt for next week's qualifying final clash with Fremantle after injuring his knee in the Swans' 63-point win over Gold Coast on Saturday night
SUNS' defender Danny Stanley fell across Jack's left knee late in first quarter at the SCG and the midfielder immediately clutched his leg, before being helped off the ground by Swans medical staff.
A clearly frustrated Jack had ice immediately applied to the injury before being subbed out of the game, and headed to the rooms at half-time on crutches with the knee heavily strapped.
If the co-captain doesn't make the trip to Perth, the Swans will take on the Dockers without two of their best midfielders, with reigning club champion Luke Parker (broken leg) already missing.
It was the only real negative for the home side, which looked set for a cricket score against the SUNS after booting six goals to none in the opening term.
Gold Coast rallied in the second quarter and kicked six goals of their own with big forward Tom Lynch finally getting his hands on the footy, but the SUNS still trailed by 22 points at the half time break.
In an extraordinary third quarter of mediocre football Charlie Dixon and Franklin put forward their nominations for miss of the season, with the SUN not scoring from a snap from the goal square and Franklin spraying one wide running into an open goal from 30 metres out straight in front.
The SUNS' brave effort to stay in touch fell away in the final term with the Swans dominating with eight goals to two in front of 25,424 fans.
Swans coach John Longmire paid tribute to his side's ability to withstand the SUNS' challenge, and said it's great to now be able to turn his attention to another finals campaign.
"You really enjoy this time of the season, to be able to have another top four finish is a credit to the football club and the players," Longmire said.
"It's not an easy thing to do but we've been able to do it once again and it allows us now to reset for the new season that starts this week.
"The new season is about to commence and we look forward to that challenge."
Josh Kennedy, Tom Mitchell and Dan Hannebery – despite close attention from Gold Coast youngster Touk Miller – again found plenty of ball through the midfield, with tall targets Sam Reid and Kurt Tippett the beneficiaries.
Reid took 11 marks and had 24 possessions and should have kicked a bag, but couldn't finish off his good work in front of goal, booting 3.3 for the night.
In better injury news for the Swans, star forward Lance Franklin got through the game unscathed in his second match back from a back problem.
The three-time Coleman medallist didn't cause the SUNS too many headaches, finishing with 13 possessions, six marks and a goal, but coach John Longmire would have been rapt to see Franklin get some significant game time under his belt.
Aaron Hall was busy for the visitors in another encouraging performance, while classy youngsters Jack Martin, Jarrod Garlett and Kade Kolodjashnij showed glimpses in a positive sign looking towards the 2016 season.
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade said he was pleased with the way his team fought back in the second and third terms after taking too many risks in the opening quarter.
“Unfortunately we didn't adhere to instructions and we got beaten on turnover,” Eade said after the match.
"We reinforced the again message at quarter time, they adhered to it and I thought our second and third quarters were terrific.
"We just ran out of legs, we just fatigued in the last quarter."
SYDNEY SWANS 6.3 9.7 11.11 19.13 (127)
GOLD COAST 0.2 6.3 7.7 9.10 (64)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Cunningham 3, Reid 3, Heeney 2, Kennedy 2, Towers 2, Tippett 2, Goodes, Hannebery, Rampe, Mitchell, Franklin
Gold Coast: Lynch 2, Dixon 2, McKenzie 2, Stanley, Garlett, Kolodjashnij
BEST
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Tippett, Reid, Hannebery, Mitchell, Heeney
Gold Coast: Hall, Kolodjashnij, Miller, Lynch, Rischitelli, Stanley
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Jack (knee)
Gold Coast: Broughton (leg)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Lewis Jetta replaced Kieren Jack at quarter-time
Gold Coast: Luke Russell replaced Greg Broughton in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brown, Ryan, Jeffery
Official crowd: 25,424 at SCG
