THE fast-finishing Swans have just failed to pip their arch-rivals in yet another epic contest on Saturday night.
The West Coast Eagles held on to win by a solitary point in the season opener at Telstra Stadium in Sydney - the same margin that separated the sides in last season's grand final.
The match maintained the teams' recent history of titanic struggles decided by less than a kick.
In fact, it was the teams' third one-point match in a row, and a total of only 13 points has separated the sides in their past six matches.
The dogged Swans outscored the Eagles by seven goals to one in the second half - and by four goals to one in the final quarter - and when Simon Phillips kicked truly from a free-kick deep into the last quarter, the Swans fans sniffed victory.
But when the final siren sounded, John Worsfold's tiring outfit still had their noses in front to win 11.8 (74) to 10.13 (73).
Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes got the ball rolling in a pulsating last term when he kicked the Swans' seventh goal and further efforts from Sean Dempster and Peter 'Spida' Everitt reduced the margin to just seven points before Phillips' goal set up an edge-of-the-seat finish.
Earlier, superior accuracy in front of goal enabled the Eagles to open a 36-point lead at half-time.
The reigning premiers had just one more scoring shot but their excellent conversion rate - and the Swans' wastefulness - proved decisive as they went in at the main break leading 10.2 (62) to 3.8 (26).
The Swans had one more scoring shot in the first term but their inaccuracy meant they trailed West coast by 14 points at the first break.
Adam Hunter bagged two as the Eagles kicked six straight goals, while Nick Davis, Michael O'Loughlin and Barry Hall booted one apiece for the home team.
West Coast did away with their usual man-on-man approach and played the Swans at their own game, flooding the backline and keeping an open forward line.
Looking into a crowded forward line, the Swans delivery was poor and although they had plenty of opportunities, they were kept goalless in the second quarter.
But just as West Coast skipper Chris Judd drove the Eagles in a dominant second quarter, Sydney skipper Brett Kirk inspired the home team's comeback.
He kicked the first goal of the third term and the Swans rediscovered their run and direction.
WEST COAST 6.0 10.2 10.6 11.8 (74)
SYDNEY 3.4 3.8 6.11 10.13 (73)
Goals: West Coast: C Judd 2 A Hunter 2 M Seaby 2 M Braun D Chick S Hurn Q Lynch B Staker. Sydney: N Davis 2 S Dempster P Everitt A Goodes B Hall B Kirk M O'Loughlin S Phillips L Vogels.
Best: West Coast: C Judd M Seaby A Selwood D Kerr M Braun D Wirrpanda. Sydney: B Kirk C Bolton T Kennelly R O'Keefe T Richards.
Injuries: West Coast: D Cox (quadricep) replaced in selected side by M LeCras, A Embley (groin) replaced in selected side by M Brown.Sydney: Nil.
Reports: Nil. Umpires: S Jeffrey S Ryan M Vozzo.
Crowd: 62,586 at Telstra Stadium.
