Ahead of our Elimination Final against the GWS Giants in Launceston, passionate Sydney Swans fan Joe Moore, who is living in Tasmania, previews this weekend’s clash.

The origins of the word barracking can be traced back to South Melbourne in the 1870s. According to Dr Matthew Klugman of Victoria University, the occasion was a cricket game between local teams South Melbourne Imperial and Hillside marred by ill-feeling between players and vocal spectators.

'To barrack was to jeer or shout out abuse. Not only was such behaviour deemed offensive, but barrackers behaved unfairly, cheering on one side while haranguing the other. It soon became known that those at fault were viewed as uncouth working-class men', Klugman concludes.

From 'One-Eyed Hill' at the Lake Oval, they'd barrack for our Bloods. Generational Swans supporters like Julie Langford can vividly recall their initiation into the lakeside football fraternity.

"We would go to the Lake Oval with my Dad, three uncles and ten kids. This was in the days of Bobby Skilton, and we'd always stand on the terraces. My Dad was a fruiterer, and we'd park the car and march down Clarendon Street with three banana boxes and two planks. They'd set them up for us, and all the kids would stand up on them so we could see, with Dad and the uncles all standing around us in a corral."

The togetherness and sense of belonging have made footy rituals like Julie's integral to so many lives. However, events of the past two years have meant that many of us have missed out on that familiar feeling of cheering on our team; It's almost forty years now since those brave pioneers made the SCG our home.

The on-field success of our modern-day Swans has contributed to the significant growth in membership and increased supporter base right across the country. The reliability of effort, cultivation of culture and elemental integrity have played an even more substantial part. Our club has been ranked as the most widely supported AFL team in Australia for sixteen consecutive years.

We're all in this together and this week, it's Tassie's turn to take the baton.

For Swans supporters, challenged in so many facets of life, the football played in season 2021 has been a remedy. From Rounds 8 – 18 in 2020, our club was on the road. Since Round 12 this year, we've embraced the role of football's nomads and as our locations have shifted, so has the game style.

ABC Sport's football analysts, Sean Lawson and Cody Atkinson, have pinpointed three critical areas of improvement for us. Much has been made of the team's ability to transition the football quickly with precise, short passing by foot. This has enabled the likes of Franklin, Heeney, McLean, Hayward and Papley to engage in and win one-on-one contests in attack at an unprecedented rate, leading to set-shot goalkicking from dangerous positions.

Just as our forward potency has improved, the midfield have clawed their way back to 2016 stoppage clearance levels. The recruitment of Tom Hickey has largely enabled a breakeven status here, along with a significant rise in clearance numbers for Luke Parker. The consistency of Kennedy, the addition of Callum Mills and the contributions of Warner, Gulden, Hewett, Florent and Rowbottom have all assisted in the strides made here.

Lawson & Atkinson also point out that despite losing Aliir, our defence still allow fewer marks inside defensive fifty and marks on the lead than almost any other team in the competition. The intercept marking of Tom McCartin and Lewis Melican has also been influential in allowing the swift rebounding ball movement to launch from our defensive half. In addition, McCartin has produced an incredible amount of spoils, allowing Dane Rampe to inject himself into other areas.

Basically, the footy has been fun again, even with most of us consigned to the couch. And with the announcement of the elimination final venue last weekend, that's precisely where most Swans supporters will be this week. We're headed to Launceston, and our only appearance at the venue, back in 2012, against the heavily-favoured Hawthorn, worked out very nicely indeed.

Premiership star Ted Richards recalls that day fondly and is hoping for a repeat performance on Saturday. "I do look back at that game and think that was a key moment in our year. We were challenged hard by the best team in the competition, and the way we pushed back and won was so impressive."

After overcoming a significant half time deficit, our Swans stormed home to win by six goals, stamping their credentials as a bona fide premiership contender. "Interstate wins are some the best memories I've had throughout my whole career, and it's one of the proudest games I've ever played that day," recalls Richards.

The game was also one of the most significant in Swans history as Adam Goodes broke the club's games record held previously by good mate Michael O'Loughlin. Goodes excelled, and Richards played as important a role as any in the win, holding our now very-own Lance Franklin goalless for the Hawks for one of the few times in his illustrious career.

"I was so proud that we pushed back against this great team, but even more proud that we gave Goodesy the milestone game that the occasion deserved. It was a celebration, and we drew confidence from that day," Richards says.

At the time, I was just another 'mainlander' who'd relocated to Hobart looking for that elusive sea change. I was there that day and will be fortunate enough to be in the stands again on Saturday, with my tenth anniversary of Tasmanian living fast approaching.

This state is fiercely proud of its footy heritage and will happily play host this weekend. Amid the chagrin of modern life, the familiarity of red and white filled stands – and they will be – in an unfamiliar place will hopefully provide some solace for you all. And in fine Bloods tradition, we'll be barracking hard.

Our last premiership team successfully adopted the mantra of 'anywhere, anytime'. Our current crop has taken that to the next level. Whatever the outcome on Saturday, we can all stand proud, wherever we are, alongside our road warriors and salute them. I have a feeling it won't be for the last time this year.

Joe Moore is a devoted Swan who lives in Hobart with his wife Kate and their cygnets, Ollie and George. You can read more of his work at footyalmanac.com.au.