# Swans and Hawks Secure AFLW Elimination Final Victories Sydney and Hawthorn advance to semi-finals after decisive wins in elimination matches. - **Source:** [ABC Australia – Sport](https://www.abc.net.au/news/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/020892bc-11b9-4653-bc7b-03a29038be32 ## Sydney Dominates Wet Conditions The Sydney Swans secured a 46-17 victory over the Western Bulldogs at a rain-soaked Henson Park. Chloe Molloy proved instrumental, moving to a defensive role to record 12 intercepts. Sydney established an early 24-point lead in the first quarter, effectively neutralizing the Bulldogs' offensive efforts throughout the challenging, windy match conditions. ## Molloy and Kennedy Lead Defense Chloe Molloy's tactical shift to the backline was the defining factor for Sydney's defensive stability. Meanwhile, Tanya Kennedy successfully stifled Bulldogs co-captain Isabelle Pritchard, limiting her to only 14 disposals. Kennedy’s aggressive play, highlighted by 17 tackles, prevented the Bulldogs from establishing any consistent momentum during the intense, low-scoring elimination final. ## Bulldogs Season Ends Abruptly The Western Bulldogs' campaign concluded following their loss to the Swans in Sunday's elimination final. Despite Ellie Blackburn returning to lead the team with 29 touches and a goal, the visitors struggled to overcome Sydney's early lead. The Bulldogs managed only one point during the second quarter, failing to capitalize on the breeze. ## Hawthorn Claims Maiden Finals Win Hawthorn achieved their first-ever AFLW finals victory by defeating the Gold Coast Suns 57-39 at People First Stadium. After exiting in straight sets in previous years, the Hawks dominated the third quarter to secure the win. Eliza West led the performance with 29 disposals and a goal, propelling the team forward. ## Suns Struggle Against Hawks Pressure Gold Coast faced significant pressure as the Hawks' backline repelled 11 consecutive entries during the third quarter. Despite efforts from Charlie Rowbottom and the Davies sisters, the Suns could not match Hawthorn's intensity. The match concluded with a concerning injury to young Suns player Ava Usher, who suffered a serious knee collision. ## Strategic Midfield Battle Dynamics Hawthorn's midfield outperformed Gold Coast, recording 33 more disposals in the third quarter alone. Jenna Richardson anchored the Hawks' defense with 11 marks, effectively blanketing forward Dekota Brown. This tactical superiority allowed Hawthorn to maintain a 15-point lead by three-quarter time, ultimately securing their path to the upcoming semi-final against Carlton. ## Upcoming Semi-Final Matchups Set Following these elimination results, the semi-final schedule is now confirmed for the next stage of the AFLW finals. Sydney is set to travel for an away game against Geelong, while Hawthorn will face Carlton at Princes Park next Saturday night. Both winning teams look to maintain their current momentum in these fixtures. ## Context of AFLW Finals The weekend's results reflect the high-stakes nature of the AFLW elimination finals, where four teams saw their seasons end. Matches held at venues like Henson Park and People First Stadium drew thousands of fans, highlighting the growing engagement in the league. These victories mark significant milestones for both the Swans and Hawks. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-08/aflw-elimination-finals-swans-bulldogs-suns-hawks/107361122 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._