Having done more than just about anyone to ensure Sydney of a berth in the AFL grand final, captain Barry Hall may well miss out on the biggest match of his life.

A rampant Sydney ran over the top of St Kilda with a seven-goal last quarter to win the preliminary final by 31 points.

The prize is a return trip to the MCG on September 24 to play either West Coast or Adelaide.

The Swans will be gunning to end a 72-year premiership drought but they may well have to do it without Hall after he appeared to punch opponent Matt Maguire in the stomach midway through the opening term.

Hall was not reported but the incident is sure to be scrutinised by the AFL match review panel.

If he were to be found guilty and suspended, the former amateur boxer would miss the grand final.

He has been suspended on four previous occasions for a total of 13 matches during a controversial 10-year career.

Hall finished the match with four goals, six marks and 16 possessions as the Swans won 15.6 (96) to 9.11 (65).

He was probably shaded by teammate Ryan O'Keefe for best on ground honours, but it was the skipper who set the tone.

The Swans also got great returns from tagger Jared Crouch and Jude Bolton, while Michael O'Loughlin - the only survivor from the Swans' last grand final team in 1996 - redeemed a quiet game with two final-quarter goals.

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