Brisbane has secured a home final with a thrilling eight-point triumph over Sydney to deny three Swans stalwarts a fairytale finish on an emotional night at the SCG.

The Lions, who end the regular season in sixth place on the back of their 15.10 (100) to 14.8 (92) victory, survived a stirring second-half charge from the hosts having led by 38 points early in the third term.

Sydney kicked five goals in 11 minutes to storm back into the contest at the final break, and added the first two majors of the final term to close within a point.

Ash McGrath's 50-metre effort gave the Lions some much-needed breathing space before Adam Goodes again made it a one-point game with less than four minutes on the clock.

But it wasn't to be for the Swans as Justin Sherman kicked his third of the night to book an elimination final against Carlton at the Gabba next weekend.

It wasn't the ending club stalwarts Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry and Jared Crouch wanted, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the 27,933 supporters in attendance, who stayed long after the siren to witness the trio complete one final lap of honour.

O'Loughlin had the biggest impact of the retirees booting four goals, while Barry (21 possessions) and Crouch toiled manfully throughout.

It was a total team effort from a Brisbane line-up missing Daniel Bradshaw and Daniel Merrett, with 10 players kicking majors - Jonathan Brown (three), Sherman and McGrath the only multiple goal scorers for the visitors.

The celebrations began well before kick-off with the unveiling of a Paul Roos sculpture as part of the Basil Sellers Sports Sculptures Project.

But it was all about the departing trio who each fought back tears as they were presented with their jerseys in the rooms before being greeted with a guard of honour consisting of former club greats.

O'Loughlin made an immediate impression kicking the first major of the contest in the opening minute, but it was the visitors who stole the first-term honours taking a one-point lead at the break.

While the Swans won the possession count 91-79 the Lions looked more likely and would have held a handy lead if Brown - who kicked four behinds for the term - had brought his kicking boots.

O'Loughlin's second saw the Swans reclaim the lead early in the second term but it was short-lived as the Lions began to assert their dominance.

The Swans closed to within