Sydney overcame Carlton in a titanic battle to win their AFL elimination final by five points on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.

The Swans kicked three goals to one in a pulsating final term for a 14.15 (99) to 13.16 (94) win.

They will now meet the Western Bulldogs in Saturday night's semi-final at the MCG.

Trent Dennis-Lane kicked 4.1 for Sydney, including two crucial goals in the final term, the first levelling the scores and the next to put them 12 points clear in time-on.

Lachlan Henderson's goal at 28 minutes brought the Blues within six points and Jeff Garlett then had a shot with 30 seconds left, but only scored a behind.

The Swans then cleared the ball out of defence for the final siren.

Sydney veteran Brett Kirk, who will retire at the end of this season, limped off the field late in the last quarter.

Carlton had their chances, missing two easy shots at goal early in the final term for a lead of nine points.

The Blues had looked in control when they kicked five goals to none in the third quarter.

The Swans could also have put away Carlton three times before captain Chris Judd led the Blues' outstanding third-quarter surge.

Sydney opened with the first four goals, plus another two shots that hit the post, for a 24-point lead in the first quarter.

But Carlton hit back quickly and only trailed by 15 points at quarter-time.

The opening term was also marred by a bizarre situation where an interchange infringement was paid against the Blues, but then cancelled.

Had the ruling stood, Sydney would have goaled.

Brett Kirk started the game superbly, picking up 12 possessions while keeping Kade Simpson to just one.

The Swans then were on the verge of taking a decisive lead at the start of the second term when they kicked two goals and had a game-high 27-point lead.

But Blues ruckman Robert Warnock took two big marks and goaled to bring his side back into the game.

Carlton reduced the margin to 13 points and could have been closer, but for some squandered shots at goal.

Sydney's third and final chance to put Carlton away came when they kicked the first two goals of the first half and had another shot on goal at the start of the third term.

But Jarrad McVeigh's shot went wide and the Swans led by 25 points.

Judd then took the game by the throat with four clearances that all led directly to Carlton goals.

Carlton kicked 5.4 to only three behinds in the third term, hitting the front for the first time 20 minutes into the quarter and leading by seven points at the last change.

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