With the Sydney Swans playing the West Coast Eagles in Perth this week, it is appropriate that Classic Matches looks at probably the greatest match in the club’s long and proud history.

Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles
Grand Final, September 24, 2005
MCG

Long-time Swan fans found it difficult to dream of a premiership, even when their team ran onto the MCG for only the club’s second Grand Final appearance in 60 years.

Since going down to Carlton in the 1945 Grand Final, the Swans had made the premiership decider just once prior to the 2005 clash with the West Coast Eagles.

That was in 1996, when the Swans led early but eventually were crushed by North Melbourne. That dream turned to dust, but would the 2005 Grand Final also end in tears?

Although the Eagles had defeated the Swans by four points in a qualifying final at Subiaco, the Swans had bounced back superbly to defeat Geelong by three points in a semi-final and then St Kilda by 31 points in a preliminary final.

Swan coach Paul Roos tried to keep a lid on expectations early in Grand Final week, but Swan hopes rocketed when star key forward Barry Hall was cleared of striking St Kilda’s Matt Maguire.

The Eagles’ Mark Nicoski kicked the first goal of the Grand Final, with Swan ruckman Darren Jolly then converting from a free kick.

Although the Swans led by two points at the first break it looked almost certain that the game – and therefore the premiership – would go right down to the wire.

Livewire Swan forward Michael O’Loughlin kicked the first goal of the second quarter and when the Swans added two more in quick succession that elusive dream of the club’s first premiership since 1933 looked capable of becoming reality.

The Swans led by 20 points at half-time and although most observers believed the red and white ribbons already had been tied onto the premiership cup, the Eagles hit back hard.

Although the Swans led by two points at the final change, the Eagles took the lead when Ben Cousins intercepted a Luke Ablett pass and converted for a goal.

When Adam Hunter kicked another goal, the Swans appeared to be in desperate trouble.

Trailing by eight points, the Swans needed a team-lifting goal and their wish was granted when Barry Hall marked and goaled from outside the 50-metre arc.

The Eagles still led by five points halfway through the final quarter and the Swans desperately needed to change the game’s momentum.

Their chance came when ruckman Jason Ball superbly tapped the ball to Amon Buchanan for a snapped goal. The Swans were back in front.

Both teams played desperate and relentless football over the final 10 minutes, with enormous acts of courage from both the Swans and the Eagles.

The Swans’ Brett Kirk risked life and limb with one headlong lunge to knock the ball clear of Eagle forwards and, with less than a minute to play, the Swans were hanging on by their fingertips with a four-point lead.

West Coast launched attack after attack and, with just 10 seconds to play, Eagle ruckman Dean Cox pumped the ball towards the Eagle goalmouth.

A huge pack formed and, just as the Eagles’ Mark Seaby seemed certain to mark, there was a blur of red and white from the left of the pack.

It was Swan defender Leo Barry disguised as Superman to take THE mark every Swan fan will remember for the rest of their lives.

As Barry was getting to his feet, the siren blared to declare a four-point Swan victory – the club’s first premiership since the red and white defeated Richmond in the 1933 Grand Final.

SYDNEY SWANS     3.0     6.3     6.5     8.10 (58)
WEST COAST           2.4     2.7     5.9     7.12 (54)

GOALS: Hall 2, Goodes, Schneider, Buchanan, Kennelly, O’Loughlin, Jolly.