In 1932, the South Melbourne Football Club unveiled its new guernsey. White with a red sash was abandoned in favour of white with a red V. A subtle change perhaps, but significant given that a football club’s guernsey is held sacred by players and supporters alike.

For 54 years it remained the same – immediately recognisable, and symbolic of the history and tradition of the Club.

In 1987 it changed again, as the red V became a red yoke, incorporating a silhouette of the Sydney Opera House – a design which reflected the past, present and future of the Sydney Swans.

The immediate future was bright. Round one of the 1987 season saw a 91-point demolition of Collingwood at Victoria Park, followed by victories over Footscray and West Coast before the first loss of the season in round 4.

Consistent good performances followed, but no one could really have predicted what happened in rounds 16, 17 and 18 at the SCG.

Round 16 saw the Swans take on West Coast, a team which had performed more than creditably during its first season in the VFL.

At quarter-time, the Swans led by ten points, and stretched the lead to 49 points by half-time. The third quarter saw a remarkable 12 goals kicked by the home team, followed by seven in the last term. The final score was Sydney 30.21 (201) to West Coast 10.11 (71) – the first time in the Club’s history that 30 goals had been kicked in a match.

Confidence must have been high when Essendon came to town the following week. And the Swans turned on another unforgettable display, thrashing Essendon 36.20 (236) to 11.7 (73). It was a record margin over Essendon, as the Sydney Swans became the first team ever to score more than 200 points in consecutive games of football.

And it nearly happened again in round 18. This time Richmond was the opponent, and once again the Swans were brilliant. The siren sounded too soon, according to the crowd, who were chanting “we want two hundred” during the final quarter. They had to content themselves with a score of Sydney 31.12 (198) to Richmond 15.17 (107).

Late-season losses in away games saw the Swans fall from top of the ladder to finish third, with a total of 15 wins for the year. Another finals series beckoned.

However, the finals brought disappointment as consecutive losses to eventual Grand Finalist Hawthorn and then Melbourne brought the season to an abrupt close.