There are many stories that come to mind when you think of Swans and Eagles, but for Michael O’Loughlin the image of him close to the Perth crowd after kicking that winning goal in last year's qualifying final is a memorable one.
“The guy in the picture with me is a superstar now isn’t he?” O’Loughlin joked.
“Looking back at it, it was great and a lot of fun, especially after the game and especially because we were in Perth.
"But I guess the emotion I showed reflects what the team means to me and how proud I feel to play for the Sydney Swans.
"You are pumped up and you've got all these emotions and adrenalin going through your body and West Coast's crowd is pretty loud and at that moment in time it just played itself out very well.
"I'm red and white 'til I die."
When O’Loughlin spoke to the media, you sensed his excitement at not only the season kicking off against West Coast in two days, but the fitness he has under his belt going into the Telstra Stadium game.
“I am feeling great and I am ready to go, whereas last year it took me about five rounds in to get myself going,” he added.
“The amount of training I have been able to put in at this stage is certainly far more than in previous years.
“I have got a bit of a buzz because it gives me a bit more confidence to run around some more and help the other guys up the field, such as Ryan O’Keefe, who we know does a lot of running.
"To give him a bit of a breather every now and then, (Nick) Davis, (Amon) Buchanan, they do a lot of running too and obviously Barry Hall, we know his work rate.
“So I want to help these guys and I have more confidence in my body to do that.”
O’Loughlin is joining the masses who anticipate another tight contest despite the Eagle’s disrupted pre-season.
“The Eagles over here, it is going to be a big game and hopefully there is a big crowd to get out there,” the silky skilled forward said.
“I am guessing they will be happy to get out of Perth and they have got so many quality players, they will come over and (Eagles coach) John Worsfold will have them pretty primed and ready to go.
“We have had distractions in the past as well, (then) you get together and the boys get closer in terms of trying to accomplish something out on the field.
“I expect nothing but the best from West Coast on the weekend, they are a great side and it is going to be another close one.”
O'Loughlin is also anticipating many close individual battles, just as it has been in the past couple of years when these two amazing teams have met.
“Adam (Hunter) and I look forward to the challenges, playing on good players and trying to beat them,” he said when asked about the rivalry between the two.
“But that is just one battle, the (Adam) Goodes and (Chris) Judd one hopefully eventuates, all the fans want to see that one, and Barry (Hall) and (Darren)Glass is going to be another good one.
“Dean Cox is a great player, All-Australian and certainly controls the middle. With Peter (Everitt) coming in and Darren (Jolly), it will be a good battle too.
“It is fairly even sides all over the ground and great contests everywhere.”
Despite the clash being a grand final rematch, O’Loughlin says it is all about 2007 and not looking back.
“We haven’t talked about the Grand Final, it is a matter of getting back into training and getting ready.
“One point is hard to take but we don’t dwell on the past, it is a new season. Both grand finals were great to play in, obviously one was disappointing one for us.
“It would be great to get back there this season and we are just ready to rock and roll this weekend.”
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