A young Sydney Swans fan has been caught throwing an object at Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir.

Aliir ran back towards his own goal line to take a goal-saving mark and needed every bit of real estate available to him beyond the posts to stop himself.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aliir Aliir has object thrown at him by Sydney fan.

As he came to a halt at the barrier between the playing field and the crowd, a young fan threw a rolled up Swans sign at Aliir, who immediately showed his displeasure.

The star defender pointed straight at the fan and appeared to exchange words with him.

Initial fears that the fan had said something derogatory and offensive to Aliir were soon relieved, but the realisation that he had instead thrown an object was not much better.

“That’s bloody ordinary,” Jude Bolton said.

The Swans supporter is being investigated by police, according to the club.

Asked about the incident after the game, Power coach Ken Hinkley called for more respect towards players.

“I don’t know exactly what happened there, so I don’t really want to comment on that,” he initially said.

“As far as I know, there was something (that) went on. I think Aliir was OK with everything, so we’ll work through that.

“I think (Swans CEO) Tommy Harley might have even spoke to Aliir after the game.

“Let’s respect our footballers — that’s the most important thing. We’ve had a little bit of stuff go on over the journey, and the last few weeks particularly.

“Let them do what they do. You come to watch them, just admire them for what they are, I would’ve thought, and enjoy the game. If you can’t do that, please don’t come.”

In a statement released shortly after the game, the Swans said they were conducting their own investigation.

“A fan was removed from the stadium in the final quarter of Sunday’s match against Port Adelaide at the SCG, after throwing an object at Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir,” the statement reads.

“The fan was removed from the venue and has been interviewed by police and SCG staff.

“The club is working to ascertain if the fan is a member.

“The club has reached out to Aliir, and we will continue to educate fans that any form of abusive behaviour is not welcome.

“The Sydney Swans would like to reiterate our zero tolerance stance on all forms of abuse.”

It was the only stain on an otherwise successful day for Port, who withstood a late Sydney surge to claim an eight-point win in their preliminary final rematch, despite losing Ollie Wines to a recurrent heart problem.

Wines was substituted out of the match at half-time with an irregular heartbeat before Port posted a 13.7 (85) to 10.17 (77) result at the SCG on Saturday.

The 2021 Brownlow medallist had tried to continue playing after engaging in long discussions with the Power’s doctor in the second quarter.

But Wines withdrew soon after, replaced by club debutant Rory Atkins.

Wines has managed his heart condition since being diagnosed in 2022 and was last subbed out of a match in last year’s round 10 win over Hawthorn.

In his absence, Port skipper Connor Rozee (one goal, 27 disposals) again proved damaging, so much so that Swans tagger James Jordon was moved off his post at quarter-time.

Zak Butters also dominated with 27 disposals and seven clearances.

Willie Rioli, after a difficult week as the latest Indigenous AFL star to be racially abused, kicked three goals to help keep Sydney winless at their home ground this season.

Rioli was at the source of the opening major, releasing to Mitch Georgiades (three goals) inside-50, who then spotted an unmanned Sam Powell-Pepper (two) in the goal square.

Swans defender Nick Blakey was too slow to read the play, with Powell-Pepper easily slotting.

Isaac Heeney (two goals) pulled off a superb six-pointer from the pocket to reply but the visitors remained on top, enjoying a 4.2 (26) to 1.2 (8) lead at quarter time.

Desperate to stop the Port ascendancy, Swans boss Dean Cox moved to the bench in the second term and called Blakey, Justin McInerney, Oliver Florent and Hayden McLean into a mid-quarter huddle.

Blakey took Cox’s words to heart and pulled off three electric runs down the corridor, but he fluffed his shots at goal.

Port midfielder Willem Drew slotted a goal within 10 seconds of the second half siren before the Swans came to life to kick three-straight majors.

Swans substitute Aaron Francis then kicked three consecutive goals himself in the final term to help reduce the deficit to 16 points.

It became 10 when McClean goaled in the 31st minute but while surging, the Swans could add only three more behinds as their comeback fell short.

- With AAP