Sydney are in the box seat for a top-two finish while North Melbourne's season hangs in the balance after the Swans prevailed in a match worthy of a final on Saturday.
The Swans overcame an injury to star forward Lance Franklin and a brilliant game from Brent Harvey to knock Hawthorn off the top of the ladder and continue the Kangaroos' freefall with a fighting nine-point win.
North turned in a much improved performance but it was not enough to stop a Swans team that is shaping as the team to beat on the eve of the finals.
The Swans overcame repeated challenges from the Kangaroos and, after several near misses earlier in the year, held firm when North mounted one final push.
The result moves the Swans to the top of the ladder but has left the Kangaroos vulnerable to being tipped out of the eight, particularly if Melbourne win on Sunday.
The Swans' win came with minimal input from Franklin, who after hurting his hip in the first term was well held by Robbie Tarrant. Franklin finished with nine possessions and was goalless, though he made some key plays when the game was on the line.
"There was some important footy he was able to win up high on the ground, that was really beneficial," Swans coach John Longmire said.
The Swans' midfield quartet of Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Tom Mitchell played flint-hard football in a game where almost every possession mattered.
Callum Mills was brilliant in defence while Kurt Tippett was solid in his comeback game and will be better for the run.
In many ways, the game summed up North's season. Their best is worthy of challenging the cream of the competition but not beating them.
They had several opportunities in the final minutes, during which the ball spent long periods in their forward 50, but they could not land a blow.
"North played pretty well and sometimes you've just got to find a way to win, and we were able to do that," Longmire said.
In every game there is a defining moment and Saturday's came in the last term. Harvey had a set shot but tried to dummy his opponent only for the ball to turn over and be ferried up the other end where Hannebery converted. Instead of having the chance to hit the front, North were now more than a goal behind.
Another opportunity came deep in time-on when Drew Petrie froze within scoring range and was brought down by a desperate tackle.
Harvey, with three goals in the second half and 32 possessions, was North's best while Jamie Macmillan and Daniel Wells were also important.
For the second week in a row, North started slowly and it seemed a matter of by how much for Sydney, who for much of the first quarter looked a class above their opponent.
Propelled by a red-hot Luke Parker, who had 16 possessions by quarter-time, the Swans controlled play, troubling North with their slick ball movement and pressure around the ball.
The margin blew out to four goals by time-on before North lifted. They reduced the influence of Parker, Kennedy and Hannebery around the packs and the Swans' tackling also dropped.
The reduction in pressure meant North, through Jamie Macmillan and Sam Gibson, now had the time to pick apart the Swans' press with short kicks rather than pressure handballs.
The Swans' defence was under siege but they stood firm with Mills enhancing his claims to the Rising Star Award with his sure play. Despite dominating the quarter, North could not eat into the deficit.
Sydney put the foot down after half-time, capitalising on a string of mistakes from the Kangas.
A kicking error from Brad McKenzie resulted in a turnover that allowed Hannebery to goal, then Lachie Hansen, in a foot race with Isaac Heeney, grassed a high ball running back with the flight and was punished by the young Swan.
But with their season on the line, North summoned another effort, and it was Harvey, who was poor last week, providing the inspiration. It would prove not enough.
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