The footy gods have followed the fairytale script and Sydney has celebrated three club greats in style with an emotional 45-point win over St Kilda at the SCG on Saturday.
In Lance Franklin's 300th match, and the final game of Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack's storied careers, the Swans had to work hard to get over the Saints but were never going to let the visitors spoil the club's big day.
Franklin kicked four goals for the afternoon, while McVeigh and Jack had some important moments in the 17.7 (109) to 8.16 (64) victory and both hit the scoreboard in the last quarter.
Sydney co-captains Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker were inspired to send their 2012 premiership teammates out in style, with Jordan Dawson, Callum Mills and Jake Lloyd all outstanding.
For the Saints, former Swan Dan Hannebery played his best game of the year, while Seb Ross, Jack Steele, Luke Dunstan and Rowan Marshall were among their best.
Josh Bruce gave the Saints the first goal just over a minute into the match, but the Swans weren't about to let the visitors spoil their big day.
With McVeigh on a wing and Jack in defence as perhaps a nod to where they began their careers, Sydney responded with six unanswered goals, the last of them to Franklin who was mobbed by all 17 teammates after he put his side 26 points up.
St Kilda's onballers managed to work their way on top just before the first break with Ross, Hannebery and Dunstan influential.
They wasted the footy going forward at times, but Bruce's second was one of four in a row as the Saints levelled the scores by half-time.
Brett Ratten's side began the third term like it finished the second and when Jack Steven nailed a set shot after Robbie Fox had turned the footy over in the centre of the ground, St Kilda led by a goal.
However, with the advantage of a slight breeze it was the Swans who turned the momentum back their way again.
Kennedy and Parker went to work around stoppages and both kicked important goals, along with Franklin and McCartin (twice), as Sydney bagged five in a row to jump to a 21-point lead.
The home side looked well in control again until another poor skill error inside the Swans' back 50 handed Ross his second, St Kilda 16 points down at the final change.
The teams traded goals to start the last term before the Swans' men of the hour stepped in.
McVeigh slotted one to put them 22 points clear and the veteran celebrated in style to the delight of his adoring crowd.
When Franklin booted his third minutes later, it was party time at the SCG, and when Jack joined in, the celebrations were in full swing.
Franklin's fourth gave him a reason to smile after what has been a tough year on the injury front, with the young Swans set to be a different looking side in 2020.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: Young key forward Tom McCartin limped off early with a sore quad but after spending almost a quarter and a half on the bench, he came back on to play out the game.
St Kilda: The Saints looked to end the season with no new injury concerns.
SYDNEY 6.2 6.3 11.4 17.7 (109)
ST KILDA 2.5 5.9 7.12 8.16 (64)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 4, McCartin 3, Kennedy 2, Papley 2, Parker 2, Blakey, Rowbottom, McVeigh, Jack
St Kilda: Bruce 2, Ross 2, Membrey, Long, Steven, Steele
BEST
Sydney: Kennedy, Parker, Dawson, Mills, Lloyd, Franklin
St Kilda: Hannebery, Dunstan, Ross, Marshall, Steele, Clarke
INJURIES
Sydney: McCartin (quad)
St Kilda: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Findlay, Gianfagna
Official crowd: 33,722 at the SCG
