Sydney Swans history is streaked with unforgettable games at the SCG – and there’s every chance more will play out at the club's home venue in season 2020.
The Swans will play their first home match of the season against Essendon in Round 2, while they’re also set to host Carlton, GWS, North Melbourne, Geelong, Fremantle, Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Hawthorn.
Swans Media looks back on some of the most memorable moments in club history forged on the hallowed turf of the SCG.
Round 14, 2017 v Essendon: Disbelief as Rohan saves the Swans
The Sydney Swans will take on Essendon at the SCG in Round 2 from 7:50pm on Friday, March 27.
Sydney trailed Essendon by 19 points with less than five minutes left on the clock in Round 14, 2017, but a Gary Rohan goal after the siren would deliver the Swans a remarkable last-gasp victory. A gallant Bombers side piled on seven consecutive goals over the third and fourth quarters to establish their commanding lead, before three unanswered Sydney majors to Nic Newman, Oliver Florent and Rohan saw the Swans pull off a miracle. Rohan outmuscled Bomber Martin Gleeson in the goal square and handed his side a one-point win, a Swans-heavy crowd of 34,575 spilling into overdrive.
Round 4, 2002 v Kangaroos: Swans grinning after startling turn of events
The Sydney Swans will face Carlton at the SCG in Round 4 from 1:10pm on Sunday, April 12.
The Swans’ clash with the Kangaroos in Round 4, 2002 took a dramatic turn when Sydney, who trailed by three points, was awarded a free kick 35 metres from goal with just one second remaining in the match. As the umpire readied himself for a ball-up, he caught the Kangaroos’ Shannon Motlop grabbing Daryn Cresswell around the neck and blew his whistle. And as every set of eyes in the 23,775-strong crowd zeroed in on the All Australian midfielder, he nailed the set shot to snatch a three-point win for the Swans. The match also marked Andrew Dunkley's 200th senior game and Michael O'Loughlin's 150th.
2005 semi-final v Geelong: ‘I see it, but I don’t believe it!’: Davis’ legendary quarter of footy
The Sydney Swans will do battle with Geelong at the SCG in Round 10 from 7:50pm on Friday, May 22.
Nick Davis’ final-quarter heroics in Sydney’s 2005 semi-final against Geelong will forever be etched in the memories of the red-and-white faithful. The Cats’ David Johnson goaled early in the last term to extend the away side’s lead to 23 points, but the Swans struck back with four unanswered majors to clinch a three-point victory – and they were all off Davis’ golden boot. The former Magpie put the Swans ahead with his fourth goal in the dying seconds of the match, swooping on a tap from ruckman Jason Ball and slamming the footy on his left boot from close range at full pace. The SCG was rocking.
Round 20, 2018 v Collingwood: McCartin pulls off miracle on special day for club
When the Swans hosted the Magpies in Round 20, 2018, Alex Johnson returned for his first senior match in 2136 days, Harry Cunningham ran out for his 100th AFL game and the club celebrated the 100th anniversary of South Melbourne’s 1918 premiership victory over Collingwood. Tom McCartin touched the footy just six times in the game, but he had the most important possession of the match when he booted the winning goal in the shadows of the final siren. The young Swan was sprawled out across the turf among a pile of players 20 metres out from goal, but he swung his boot at the ball, it shot out of the pack and it trickled through to put Sydney ahead. A tense 120 seconds followed, but the Swans would hold on for an epic two-point win.
It was tense, it was dramatic.
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) August 4, 2018
?Here's the final two minutes in last night's thrilling win over Collingwood. Enjoy! #ProudlySydney pic.twitter.com/bHiHuGphX1
1996 qualifying final v Hawthorn: Cressa the hero as Swans stamp mark in history books
On September 7, 1996, the Swans marched up the race for their first final at the SCG in history. Adding to the significance of the occasion was the fact they hadn’t won a final in 51 years, when South Melbourne trumped Collingwood to advance to the 1945 ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final. The Swans broke the drought in a thrilling match hit with torrential rain and gale-force winds in Derek Kickett's 150th senior game. Scores were level late in the final stanza when Paul Roos pumped the footy long to the tip of the goal square. And while Hawk Nick Holland appeared primed to defuse the ball, Cresswell launched himself at the footy and hauled down a tremendous overheard mark. Sydney’s 1994 Club Champion slotted the set shot and the Swans won the game by six points.
