The SCG match against St Kilda on June 14, 2008, might not have had a massive bearing on that season’s premiership prospects, but it was a huge match for Sydney Swans milestones.

Firstly, it was coach Paul Roos’ 500^th game – as player and coach – and premiership midfielder Amon Buchanan’s 100^th game.

Up to then, only 14 other men had achieved Roos’ feat, with Kevin Sheedy leading the way with a total 0f 930 games – 251 playing for Richmond from 1969-79 and then 679 games as coach of Essendon and GWS.

Roos started his playing career with Fitzroy in 1982 after being recruited from northern Melbourne suburban club Beverley Hills.

He was a gangly winger with a distinctive mullet haircut, and although the mullet remained for many years, Roos quickly developed into one of the best centre half-backs in the competition.

Roos captained Fitzroy from 1988-90 and from 1992-94 and won five Lions best and fairest awards.

However, he crossed to the Swans for the start of 1995 and gave the red and white four wonderful seasons until he retired from playing at the end of 1998.

Roos finished his playing career having run out in 87 games with the Swans and was one of the Club’s best in the 1996 Grand Final loss to North Melbourne.

Roos became an assistant coach with the Swans and, when senior coach Rodney Eade parted company with the Club halfway through the 2002 season, Roos was given the senior job on a temporary basis.

He did such a wonderful job that Swan fans clamoured for him to be appointed coach in his own right. The Sydney board listened to its fans and Roos got the nod.

Just a couple of years later, Roos stood in the centre of the MCG with the 2005 premiership cup, red and white ribbons tied to the handles, after the four-point defeat of West Coast in the Grand Final.

Thousands cried and cheered as Roos then held the cup aloft and proclaimed: “Here it is.”

The Sydney Swans, with Roos as the architect, won their first premiership since defeating Richmond in the 1933 Grand Final. The 72-year drought had been ended and fans at last were able to celebrate the ultimate success.

The Swans defeated St Kilda by 35 points in that Round 12 Saturday night fixture in 2008 to help Roos celebrate his 500-game milestone.

The popular Buchanan also was able to celebrate his 100-game milestone. Three years earlier, in the 2005 premiership, Buchanan played a massive role in the Swans’ triumph.

He was one of the driving forces over the tight second half, winning possession after possession and, more importantly, kicking the goal to give the Swans the lead halfway through the final quarter.

The Swans, thanks to the inspirational leadership of Brett Kirk and that incredible Leo Barry mark, triumphed in what has been described as one of the greatest Grand Finals of them all.

Roos retired as Swan coach at the end of the 2010 season and now, of course, he coaches Melbourne.

Buchanan, recruited from the Geelong Falcons and originally from Colac, played 116 games with the Swans from 2002-09 before playing 18 games with the Brisbane Lions from 2010-22.

The Swans owe these two favourite sons mountains of gratitude.