It is a common misconception that the Swans made their Sydney premiership debut in an SCG match against Melbourne in the opening round of the 1982 season, on March 28.
Not so! The Swans, in fact, had played two matches at the SCG over the previous two seasons as part of an experiment about Sydneysiders accepting VFL games in the Harbour City.
The Swans, as South Melbourne, crashed to Geelong by 63 points at the SCG in Round 12 in 1980 and defeated Collingwood by18 points at the same venue in Round 17, 1981.
However, the opening round match against Melbourne in 1982 was far more meaningful.
South Melbourne, after considerable conflict and bitterness among the club faithful, over the previous summer had made it clear it would play all its home matches in Sydney in 1982.
But it would not play under either the South Melbourne or the Sydney Swans banner; the club that season would be known simply as the Swans.
Both the Swans and the Demons had new coaches for 1982, with former captain Rick Quade in charge of the Swans and the legendary Ron Barassi guiding Melbourne’s fortunes.
For Quade, it was to be his coaching debut but, for Barassi, it was the extension of a magnificent coaching career in which he had guided North Melbourne and Carlton to two premierships each.
Fans expected the unexpected as this was uncharted territory and, for example, the Swans were still based in Melbourne and both teams flew into Sydney on the morning of the match.
Barassi might have been under pressure as coach of a team which had won just one match the previous season, but Quade had a mountain on his shoulders – especially as the AFL had sent him a telegram that defeat was not an option.
The Swans had finished ninth the previous season, but Melbourne had recruited well for 1982 and went into the match as slight favourites.
The much-publicised match attracted a mediocre attendance of 15,764 and, in balmy conditions, the Swans started well enough to hold a 28-point lead by the main break.
However, Barassi’s Demons fought back to creep within touching distance of the Swans over the final quarter and only the brilliance of skipper Barry Round and the doggedness of Mark Browning kept the visitors at bay.
Round dragged down mark after mark on the last line of defence, while Browning racked up numerous possessions mopping up Melbourne thrusts.
The Swans won by 29 points and The Age newspaper reported that the result was a “relief for the VFL”. The Sydney Swans were born.
The Swans went on to finish seventh in 1982 and fully relocated to Sydney the following year.
Make sure you secure your ticket now to our Round 3 clash against GWS Giants at the SCG.