In the opening round of the season the Sydney Swans came up against cross-town rivals GWS in the third Sydney Derby.
With local Sydney-product Dane Rampe making his AFL debut, it was the perfect start for the Swans, kicking out to a four-goal-to-nil lead at quarter-time, before the new boys from the west hit back in the second term to go ahead against the Swans for the first time in their brief history.
The usual suspects of Kieren Jack, who was awarded the Brett Kirk Medal as best afield with 25 touches and three goals, Josh Kennedy (28 disposals) and Ryan O'Keefe (27), exerted their influence on the contest in the second half as the Swans finished the match stronger.
An eventual 30-point victory kicked off the 2013 campaign and premiership defence.
Sydney Swans 4.5 9.7 12.9 16.10 (106)
GWS 0.4 5.4 7.8 11.10 (76)
GOALS: Jack 3, Reid, Pike, Bolton, Goodes, McGlynn 2, Mumford, McVeigh, Kennedy
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Josh Kennedy 41, Kieren Jack 40, Ryan O’Keefe 40
CROWD: 23,690 at ANZ Stadium
LADDER POSITION: Fourth
Below: Josh Kennedy in traffic in the Sydney Derby, round one, 2013
Round 2 v Gold Coast
On the day the Swans unveiled the 2012 premiership flag in dreary conditions, a young and exciting Gold Coast Suns team were welcomed to the SCG for the first time.
The Suns headed into the match full of confidence following their stirring round one victory over St Kilda and their skipper Gary Ablett in early Brownlow Medal form.
With Kieren Jack and Nick Smith assigned to the inspirational Suns captain, the duo quelled his influence and the Swans got on top of the contest.
The class of Jarrad McVeigh (27 possessions, four goals) and Ryan O'Keefe (27 possessions, two goals) proved telling as the Swans recorded a 41-point victory and back-to-back wins in Sydney to start the season.
An abdominal injury sustained by Rhyce Shaw – which would ultimately rule him out for 15 weeks – was the only disappointing outcome of the match.
Sydney Swans 2.1 6.4 11.10 17.12 (114)
Gold Coast 2.2 3.4 8.6 11.7 (73)
GOALS: McVeigh 4, Parker, Pyke, Everitt, O'Keefe 2, McGlynn, Kennedy, Jetta, Jack, Bolton
CLUB CHAMPION VOTES: Jarrad McVeigh 45, Kieren Jack 45, Nick Smith 40
CROWD: 20,372 at SCG
LADDER POSITION: Third
Below: The Sydney Swans take to the SCG with the 2012 premiership flag as a backdrop, round two, 2013
