We continue our countdown to the biggest event in the Club’s history - the 25 year Anniversary Dinner. Follow the highs and lows of each year the Swans have been in Sydney every day on sydneyswans.com.au leading up to the event. Here is 1996...
Ron Barassi had retired from coaching at the conclusion of the 1995 season, and his successor at the Sydney Swans was another product of the powerful Hawthorn teams of the 1980s.
Rodney Eade was a four-time Premiership player with the Hawks before finishing his playing career with
Additionally, three established senior players were added to the list – Craig O’Brien, who had previously played in the forward pocket alongside Tony Lockett at St Kilda, Stuart Maxfield, a speedy winger from
Two losses – to
There were many on-field highlights during the 1996 season. One came in round 11, when the Swans defeated
A fortnight later, the Swans were at Optus Oval again, this time for an 11-point win against reigning Premiers Carlton, putting an end to the Blues’ 23-game winning streak.
By this time, the Sydney public were starting to take notice of their AFL team, and the following week’s game against Geelong at the SCG, billed as the battle of the great full-forwards, drew a record crowd of 44 047.
The Swans continued to win the majority of games, and coming into round 22, the team was playing for top spot on the ladder.
A cold and wet night at the SCG saw the Swans defeat West Coast 12.13 (85) to 6.14 (50). As the game drew to a close, the words “Sydney Swans – Minor Premiers” were displayed on the scoreboard.
The following weekend, the first AFL final ever to be played in Sydney, brought some last-minute heroics from Daryn Cresswell, and the Sydney Swans – without Tony Lockett, who was battling a groin injury – defeated Hawthorn 13.12 (90) to 12.12 (84).
It was a sweet victory for the Swans, who now had a week off before a home Preliminary Final, but must have been devastating for Hawthorn as a merger with
A fortnight later, 41 731 spectators saw a truly unforgettable Preliminary Final.
Essendon was the opponent, and by quarter-time they had a lead of 19 points. However, the second quarter saw the Swans fight back to lead by two straight kicks at half time. Momentum swung again in the third, and the Swans went into the final quarter with a lead of a solitary point.
Two minutes into the last quarter, James Hird kicked a goal, and the Bombers kicked another twenty minutes later. Things were starting to look bleak for the Sydney Swans.
With only a few minutes left to play, Essendon had a 12-point lead, and the Swans were yet to kick a goal for the last term. However, the Swans did not give in, and Dale Lewis and Daryn Cresswell each kicked goals to level the scores with only moments to play.
The scoreboard read 10.9-69 apiece in the last seconds of the game when a kick from Essendon’s Justin Blumfield went astray and was gathered by Wade Chapman, who kicked towards Tony Lockett.
As Plugger took the mark fifty metres out from goal, there were nineteen seconds left on the clock. His kick after the siren floated through for a behind, but a point was enough. For the first time since 1945, the Swans were to play in a Grand Final.
Sadly, the fairytale season ended there, as the Swans put up a gallant fight, but ultimately North Melbourne 19.17 (131) defeated
Throughout the season, membership had increased enormously, crowds once again packed out the SCG, and the on-field performance of the team had justified the faith that red and white stalwarts had in the Club.
Despite the Grand Final loss, 1996 was truly a significant year in the history of the Sydney Swans.
