Qualifying Final, 2022
Melbourne vs Sydney
Friday 2 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 78,377
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Melbourne | 4.1 | 5.4 | 10.5 | 10.9.69 |
| Sydney | 2.3 | 6.4 | 12.5 | 14.7.91 |
Sydney win by 22 points
Goalkickers: Bayley Fritsch 3, Clayton Oliver 2, Ben Brown 1, Max Gawn 1, Kysaiah Pickett 1, Charlie Spargo 1, Tom Sparrow 1
Milestones:
50 games
Tom Sparrow
150 games
Christian Petracca
Statistical categories led:
Biggest Qualifying Final loss
In their first final at home since 2018, Melbourne spurned multiple chances to qualify for a Preliminary Final, before the Swans rallied to run over the top of them in the last quarter.
With Steven May holding Sydney spearhead Lance Franklin scoreless, the home side had the advantage early, holding a 10 point lead at the first change. Sydney rallied to lead by a goal at half time, before a three goal burst after the break had the Demons in front again. Three in five minutes at the other end took the lead back and the Swans weren’t headed again. They restricted Melbourne to four behinds in the final term and won comfortably.
Best were May, OIiver and Fritsch. Joel Smith was an unused substitute. Christian Petracca suffered a fractured leg but played the game out.