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<i>Key facts about the AFL preliminary final between Sydney and Port Adelaide.</i>
A GUIDE TO THE AFL PRELIMINARY FINAL BETWEEN SYDNEY AND PORT ADELAIDE:
* When: Friday, 7.40pm AEST
* Where: Sydney Cricket Ground
* The form:
Sydney: Pulled off a fourth-quarter fightback against GWS to erase a 28-point lead and win their qualifying final by six points.
Port Adelaide: Pipped Hawthorn by three points in a frenetic semi-final after Hawks skipper James Sicily hit the post with a set shot in the dying minutes.
* Head-to-head
Overall: Played: 35. Sydney 20 wins, 15 losses
In finals: Played: 1. Sydney 1, 0 losses
Last time: Round 21, 2024: Port 22.16 (148) bt Sydney 5.6 (36) at Adelaide Oval
Last final: Qualifying final, 2004: Sydney 15.10 (100) bt Port 13.10 (88) at AAMI Stadium
* Key players:
Isaac Heeney (Sydney). After producing a fourth-quarter masterclass to help launch the Swans to a comeback six-point win over GWS, midfield superstar Heeney will be out to replicate his heroics.
Willem Drew (Port). Refused to give Chad Warner an inch when the sides last met in round 21. The Port defensive midfielder is likely to tag the Swans ball magnet again or be sent Isaac Heeney's way.
Tom Papley (Sydney). The livewire forward, returning from injury after spending five weeks on the sidelines, was crucial in their qualifying-final win. He slotted two goals, collected 16 disposals and assisted four goals, which included setting up Heeney's stunning equaliser in the final term.
Willie Rioli (Port). Can provide a spark for the Power and is set to cause trouble for the Swans defence after making light work of hard-nosed Hawks defender Blake Hardwick in their semi-final win to finish with two goals and a game-high eight score involvements.
* The stat: Sydney must overcome an eight-game losing streak against Port that goes back to 2016. They have lost all three matches at the SCG in that time period.
