ADELAIDE should attempt to match Sydney's method of creating a midfield "scramble" in its bid to upset Brisbane, according to Michael Voss.

The Swans stunned the Lions with a 53-point qualifying final win at the SCG, with their ability to dominate in the middle a key factor.

Brisbane was -10 for centre clearances and outscored by 33 from centre bounce last Saturday afternoon, both its worst differentials in a game this season.

Voss, a three-time Brisbane premiership captain, said the Crows could learn some lessons from the Swans, although Adelaide also went -10 for centre clearances in its win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend.

"As we know, with Brisbane and the Gabba, the centre-square bounce takes on a really added importance," he said on AFL.com.au's Finals Film Room.

"The two teams we're talking about, Adelaide, they lost the centre-bounce clearance by 10 and so did Brisbane against Sydney.

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"But Brisbane does something a little unique to other teams and certainly at the Gabba, you need the territory and they invest a lot around the stoppage."

Voss said Sydney's ability to force the centre ball-up forward, even messily, was crucial in its stunning win at the SCG.

"The method has to be a knock-on, a kick on, a handball, a hit forward," he said.

"It won't be clean first possession, run out the front and lace out your tall forwards. You've got to get that ball into a forward scramble and win some of those battles to get the game you want."

Voss added: "It doesn't have to be perfect play. In fact, it's got to be in a scramble to be able to win these battles."

Jordan Dawson is tackled by Lachie Ash during the match between Adelaide and GWS in R24, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

Lions coach Chris Fagan questioned his team's mentality after the loss to the Swans, who were undermanned with five players serving club-imposed suspensions.

"What he was challenging, for me, was the competitive humility. They expected a result and they had to go out and earn it," Voss said.

"Where that normally shows up is when you don't have the ball. When you talk about pressure and how we defend as a team, that's what fluctuates throughout the year.

"You can look through any number defensively, they just don't stack up well enough. But can they get it right over the next three weeks? That's all they need to do it for."