Six months - gone in a flash! The footy's back. Cheer Cheer.

I am delighted to be included in the group of Swans Footy Almanac writers who will have their pieces published on the Swans site this year under the banner From the Outer - a fan's perspective.

Who would have thought, after all these decades of following my beloved footy team, that my involvement with the Swans these past couple of years would include them launching my book My Lifelong Love Affair with the Swans, and accepting me  - as they do all fans - as one of their family. What an honour!

One of the untold advantages of being in my eighth decade is that I've had more time than most to have loved my footy team, and more time than most to have shared the incredible journey of this resilient, wonderful club we all love.

They've been there all the way - all 70-plus years of utter enjoyment, since my first game in 1948. And here I am today, still as passionate (even more so) than I was as that small five-year old sitting in the old South Members stand at Lake Oval all those years ago, cheering on my beloved Bloods.

'Utter enjoyment' is, I must admit, a bold statement. Every follower of any sporting team knows of the extreme highs and lows that we experience along the way, and today, with our boys running out in Perth for the first game of the season, I am, once again, hoping to celebrate another of those exhilarating highs.

We Swans people know all about these waves of emotion, and particularly when facing up to those Eagles. Delirium in 2005 turned to despair the following year, and in the years that have followed we've ridden many a wave in celebrating our team's overall prolonged success.

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Waking Sunday morning to what could well have been interpreted as "the end of the world", with the headlines screaming ‘AUSSIE CHEATS’, I looked out the window to see the sky still blue, the trees green, the birds chirping, and footy games still on schedule for the remainder of the day. Phew! What a relief!

With their Nic Nat back and our Reidy out, I’m as nervous as hell in the opening minutes. Nothing to do with my age, believe me; I've always been like this before every game! And during it, too!

After a couple of tight minutes, Lloydy christens the new stadium with our first goal. It doesn't take long for our champion No 23 to impose himself, and I find myself screaming "Yes, Buddy!" when he weaves his way around a couple of Eagles and kicks truly. The Yes Buddy sentiment happens time and time again, but when the Eagles captain and full back Hurn finds himself in the forward line, his goal puts them in front for the first time. Deano relieves the pressure with another for us, and then Bud adds to this tally for his third. With a lead of just five points at the first break, it's far too close for comfort.

The second term starts with an Eagles goal, but the magic of Heens shines through when he marks and kicks truly 15 metres out, from the boundary line. Mark of the night is taken by Georgie, and his pass to Macca, then to Heens - who's in everything - and onto Man of the Moment, Buddy, for another, is footy at its best. Kizza adds a six-pointer, followed by Buddy's fifth. The crowd is quiet. A further four behinds blots our copybook ever so slightly, but a 26 point lead at half time shows this was our quarter.

With Buddy kicking his sixth - skidding the ball 35 metres along a wet ground - and then his seventh from 55 metres, ten minutes into the third quarter, the word "genius" comes to mind. I'm usually uneasy classifying people under that honoured banner, but in footballing terms, he surely is! By the end of the term though, I'm not a happy Jan! The Eagles have added several goals, and when the siren sounds, the parochial crowd is roaring its team back into contention, with a deficit of just five points.

Two quick goals to Jonesy and Georgie relieves my nerves slightly, and I find myself again screaming, this time "C'mon Swannies, we just have to win this!" C'mon! We goal but I'm still feeling sick. 11 points the difference. Then our genius does it again - his eighth, from the goal square this time. Jack Darling goals for them and for the next however long, I don't really know what is happening. Joey snaps truly out of a congested pack and I let out an almighty roar. 16 points, then reduced down to 10. I can barely watch. The Swans supporters behind the goal jump as one as Parkes kicks a miraculous goal over his head while falling backwards onto his back! 16 points. Is it enough with five minutes left? Yes, we hold on, add a further two goals from young Will, and the siren sounds.

The crowd boos, the Swannies smile, they all shake hands, the crowd boos some more, the song rings around the stadium (just once mind you) and the boys walk off as winners.

We spoilt the Eagles party - but hey! I'm not complaining.

And, my 70+ year heart is still intact, and will hopefully remain so for many more years to come - just so I can cheer on my beloved team!

So, let us all, whatever age you are, join in and sing it just one more time: "Cheer Cheer the Red and the White.........."

Jan Courtin, a passionate lifelong Swans fan, moved to Sydney to be closer to her team in 1999. In the same year that her book was launched by the Swans, she was chosen "Female Fan of the Year" by the AFL Fans Association. Her website: http://www.myswansloveaffair.com/ You can read more great Sydney Swans fan reviews at footyalmanac.com.au.