As the Sydney Swans prepare for Friday night’s preliminary final against Geelong, history tells us the penultimate weekend of the season has been rather kind to the red and white.
More so in recent seasons.
Since in the introduction of the Paige-McIntyre Finals System in 1931 (similar to the structure we know today), Sydney Swans/South Melbourne Football Club has squared off in 10 preliminary finals for seven wins and three defeats.
Prior to 1931, finals series comprised of a confusing mix of semis and even a period of mini round robin tournaments while minor premiers also had the right of a rematch if defeated.
Since 2003, the Sydney Swans have played in 13 finals series, six of which have included preliminary finals. They’ve won the ultimate prize twice in that time.
With another grand final spot up for grabs, sydneyswans.com.au looks back at the Club’s record in preliminary finals stretching back to the first in 1934.
2014 - Sydney Swans 19.22 (136) def North Melbourne 9.11 (65) at ANZ Stadium
Only one game stood in the way of Sydney Swans’ second grand final appearance in three years.
After finishing on top of the ladder and going in as equal flag favourites, Sydney took on sixth-place finisher North Melbourne on a perfect Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.
Ladder positions meant nothing to that point in time, as the Kangaroos had beaten the Swans that season and defied the odds to make it as far as they did.
But as the scoreboard showed, the Swans were far too good on the night. A strong start and then a 10-goal-to-five second half sending the red and white through to face Hawthorn in the finale.
Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett kicked nine goals between them while Adam Goodes chimed in with three important goals in his 350th match.
2013 – Sydney Swans 11.8 (74) defeated by Fremantle 14.15 (99) at Subiaco
2012 – Sydney Swans 13.18 (96) defeated Collingwood 10.10 (70) at ANZ Stadium
Recent history against Collingwood going into the 2012 preliminary final at ANZ Stadium didn’t favour the Sydney Swans.
They had been on the end of 11 consecutive losses against the Magpies prior to that night, the last taste of victory coming in 2005.
But fortunes turned in what was Jude Bolton’s 300th game.
When, in the closing stages of the opening quarter, Lewis Jetta swooped on the footy in the middle of the ground, took three bounces and waltzed into an open goal you knew the night belonged to the Swans.
As it turned out, good fortune followed the red and white the following weekend as the Swans defeated Hawthorn to claim the premiership.
2006 – Sydney Swans 19.13 (127) defeated Fremantle 14.8 (92) at ANZ Stadium
2005 – Sydney Swans 15.6 (96) defeated St Kilda 9.11 (65) at MCG
The Sydney Swans – and the AFL word for that matter – were only just returning to earth following an unbelievable last-gasp win against Geelong in the semi final just seven days earlier.
Nick Davis’ final quarter heroics would book a spot in the preliminary final against a refreshed and red-hot St Kilda.
St KIlda had knocked off minor premier Adelaide in the qualifying final and were coming off a week’s break, while Sydney had come off two bruising encounters against West Coast in Perth and Geelong at the SCG.
It didn’t matter.
Behind by seven points at three-quarter-time, the visitors rallied to kick seven unanswered goals in the final quarter to win through to the Clubs’ second grand final in 60 years.
Adam Schneider was the hero, kicking three of those goals in the final term to help seal another memorable victory.
2003 – Sydney Swans 8.8 (56) defeated by Brisbane 14.16 (100) at ANZ Stadium
1996 – Sydney Swans 10.10 (70) defeated Essendon 10.9 (69) at SCG
Is there a more celebrated behind than the one kicked after the siren by Tony Lockett in the 1996 preliminary final?
‘Plugga’s’ match-winner over Essendon at the SCG will go down as one of the most important kicks in the history of the Sydney Swans/South Melbourne Football Club.
The Swans had been through hell and back until that very season. Now, at long last, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
Teammates came from everywhere to celebrate with the champion full-forward as the Swans, who finished top of the ladder, pulled off a remarkable last-gasp victory to win through to their first grand final appearance since 1945.
As was the case during the Sydney Swans’ darker times, Paul Kelly led the way with 26 disposals and two goals.
1942 – South Melbourne 14.12 (96) defeated by Essendon 19.10 (124) at Princes Park
1936 – South Melbourne 13.11 (89) defeated Melbourne 8.15 (63) at MCG
1934 – South Melbourne 15.18 (108) defeated Geelong 7.6 (48) at MCG
In 119 years coexisting in the same competition, the Sydney Swans/South Melbourne and Geelong have met only three times in finals matches.
After a semi-final clash in 1914, the clubs would meet again 20 years later for a crack at the 1934 grand final.
South Melbourne had finished third and had just defeated Collingwood in week one, then a semi in the four-club finals series.
After a close opening quarter, South Melbourne would edge ahead before kicking away in the second half to win by 60 points.
Bobb Pratt, the competitions’ leading goal-kicker with 138 goals for the season, starred with a dominant six-goal haul.
