The Lions visit the Swans at the SCG, aiming to move one step closer to a third flag in a row
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Brisbane step up their bid to win a third flag in a row as they face Sydney in an enticing AFL 2026 Qualifying Final at the SCG. The Lions will be looking to prey on a Swans team missing several players as they hunt a place in the preliminary finals.
The reigning champions know exactly what it takes to reach and indeed win an AFL Grand Final, doing so in each of the past two years — including beating Sydney in the 2024 showpiece at the MCG. Brisbane look menacing again this time around, winning 10 of their last 11 matches by an average of 48 points to finish third in the ladder.
The Lions' strong run of form included an impressive victory over the Swans at the Gabba in Round 16, as they gained revenge for a defeat by their Qualifying Final opponents way back in Round 1. They are set to be boosted by the return from injury of co-captain Hugh McCluggage, who missed the final three matches of the regular season with a calf issue.
Sydney finished second in the ladder, four points behind minor premiers Fremantle, but all is not well in the Swans camp. They are already without club-suspended quintet Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice for the rest of the season, while Joel Amartey doesn't make the 23 following an Achilles injury.
Swans' poor record against the rest of the eventual top six is also a concern — their Round 1 victory over Brisbane at the SCG was their only win in six attempts — as they look to keep alive their hopes of a first flag since 2012.
The loser, of course, gets another crack in the upcoming semi-finals.
Read on as we explain how to watch Sydney vs Brisbane for free in the AFL 2026 Qualifying Final.
Yes. Sydney vs Brisbane is being shown on free-to-air Channel 7 in Australia, with live streaming available via 7Plus.
Outside of Australia? You can use a VPN to watch Sydney vs Brisbane for free on 7Plus.
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US viewers can watch live Sydney vs Brisbane coverage on FS2.
If you don't have the channels on cable, FS2 is carried by Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which offers a free trial to new users.
