Veteran Swans defender Marty Mattner was on the verge of “one of those moments that as a kid you dream about”.

Sydney led Hawthorn by just four points with less than two minutes left on the clock in the 2012 Grand Final. 

Star Hawk Grant Birchall led a two-horse race for the footy, with Mattner hot on his heels as the ball squirted toward the MCG boundary just outside the Swans’ defensive-50 arc.

Birchall gathered possession, looked upfield to a sea of Hawthorn guernseys and Mattner wrapped him up, pinning his arms as the ball spilled to ground.

Mattner won the ball, a throw-in followed, the Swans worked the Sherrin back inside 50, and Nick Malceski snapped a goal to deliver Sydney the flag.

As the Swans prepare to Live the Moment in an elimination final at the SCG next Saturday afternoon, Mattner says winning the 2012 Premiership was incredible.

“I had played 11 seasons at AFL level before I actually got to play in a grand final and I think just playing in a grand final is a great achievement,” Mattner said. 

“Then to win one fulfils a childhood dream. All AFL players work so hard for it and it’s one of those really special moments in your career. 

“It was a lot more enjoyable being 10 points up as opposed to four after Malceski kicked that goal. It meant we were able to enjoy the last minute of the game. It was one of those moments in a game where you feel all that hard work has paid off. Everyone has done what they need to do to win the game and there’s a really enjoyable moment at the end of the match.” 

Mattner, first an Adelaide Crow before jumping ship to Sydney in a 222-game career, said he was single-minded in his pursuit of Birchall on the wing.

“I was pretty buggered,” Mattner said. 

“It was late in the game. It was one of those moments where I did what I needed to do – and that was make that tackle.

“I’ve said before that I would expect anyone else on the team to do the same thing. It was just that I was in that position and that situation at the time.

“I guess that tackle was one of the biggest moments of my career because of the situation and the timing of it, it’s a grand final and it’s the last minute or so of the game and the game’s in the balance.

“I always really enjoyed tackling and it was one of those moments that I was able to implement a tackle, which was able to impact the game in a positive way. It then put us in a position to be able to kick that goal and win the Grand Final.”

Mattner played 14 finals matches, piling up five in Crows colours and nine in red and white after making the switch to the Swans ahead of season 2008. 

The South Australian played 98 games for Adelaide and 124 for Sydney, before retiring in 2013.

He carved out a career of exceptional consistency, playing 117 of a possible 119 games between 2008 and 2012. 

As Mattner casts his attention to the current crop of Swans set to lead the Club in a ninth-straight finals campaign, he says Sydney’s finals record should hold the team in good stead.

“The Swans have played in a lot of finals in recent times,” Mattner said. 

“It’s quite an impressive record and they’ve proven that if they make the finals they can be quite a good team and a good performer in September. I think now that they’ve made the finals again there’s an opportunity to go a long way.”

A host of Swans will take a wealth of finals experience into September, with 318-game veteran Jarrad McVeigh paving the way.

The evergreen defender will run out for his 28^th finals appearance in the clash with the Giants, while captain Josh Kennedy, midfielders Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery, forward Lance Franklin and a number of other Swans are experienced finals campaigners themselves.

Mattner said the older players would lead the way in the finals.

“Their experience within the group, during the week and in those big games and big moments is invaluable,” Mattner said.

“They’ve got guys who’ve played big in big games, like Buddy and Josh Kennedy. They’ve got the guys and the experience to do some big things in the finals and in the tough moments.”