Best game you've ever been to?

[BayesysLeftBoot]

What's the best game you guys have been to?
Being from Ballarat I usually only go to the games in melbourne, but I think the best I have been to is still the Essendon Prelim in '96.

For sheer come from behind, last minute, all or nothing stuff it rates as the best.

Also pluggers 16 goals at whitten oval and Roos' 300th at Optus rate up there.

[robbieando]

Last years final against Port. I happened to be one of the few lucky Swans in the ground to witness events unfold.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

I could imagine it would have felt great to see the agony of the Port supporters up close?

[robbieando]

Originally posted by BayseysLeftBoot
I could imagine it would have felt great to see the agony of the Port supporters up close?

Not really, they really handled it well and in fact the powerfromport boys made the day as good as it was. They were hurting yet they still held their heads up high.

For me just to see us win a final was enough

[Doctor J.]

Given a bit of thought to this, and out of all the games I have seen em play, the best is from a long way back. Probably cause I was so young and this game sticks in my mind as clear as if it were played yesterday.

Round 11 1970 South Melbourne V Collingwood. Lake Oval

Close game all day, with less than 5 minutes to go Swannies are down by just on 3 goals, kicking to the lake end of the ground, then in a blur its Skilton to a young Hoffman, to Bedford to Sudholz, and a goal. Back in the middle, Fred Way taps to Skilton, who delivers to Bedford, Hoffie is in there somewhere, play is in The Swans forward line, and out of nowhere its another goal.

Last minutes of the game now, we need a goal, and again Skilton gets the ball out of the middle. Hoffie sprints away with the ball (man that guy was fast, he used to burn the grass behind him when he ran).

Once again out of nowhere we snag another one. We are in front. Please please please please South hang on for a win!!!!

In those days to kick three goals inside 5 minutes was just unheard of yet we had done it and were now in front.

At the centre bounce its Collingwood out of the middle, a Barry Price pass lands on Peter Mckenna's chest, less than 50 metres from goal (no 50 line in those days, just estimating, and it was measured in yards). Thankfully the umpire has heard the siren and disallows the mark, saying the siren went before McKenna marked it. Oh what Joy!!!!! WE WIN BY A POINT

We had, for the first time in my life beaten Collingwood, who, even at such a young age I hated with a passion.

Other games I consider to be a highlight.

Round 22 1977 South V North Arden St.
Needed to beat North to make the finals. Kicked 6 goals in last quarter to run over the top of North, and fall into 5th place.

1977.
Teasers game of his life against Collingwood at Vic Park.

A game against Essendon in the early 80's where we got up and won. Not really memorable for the game, more the feeling of this is the first time I could remember playing Essendon at their own ****hole and winning. This game was famous for both Paul Vanderhaar and Merv Neagle being out on the grog the night before the game, and there excuse was "they were only playing Sydney".

Mid to late 80's
Once again against Collingwood at Vic Park.
Down by a couple of points and Shane Kerrison dives into Barry Mitchells back. One of those contentious decisions, its either holding the ball or in the back. The umpire finds in Mitch's favor, who then slots it through. We win, and the Pie ferals go berserk.

I know we have played in some other momentus games, but I have kept it to games where I was actually there. Games I've watched on Teev which were huge are obviously the four winning finals, Hawth, Ess 96 Stk, 98 and Port 2003. The three games of 30 plus goals, the added bonus being floggin the SNDon scum in the process, where all memorable.

[swansrock4eva]

As stupid as it sounds, the Grand final. Even though we ended up getting a bit of a butt kicking, it was still the most awesome time for the build-up, the emotion of the day itself and then as the group I was with were all making their way home after the game, we were standing on Spencer st Stn i think it was, and at the far end, one lone voice started singing Cheer Cheer, and by the end of the song, the whole station was ringing out with it. Even the North supporters there were somewhat humbled by it - there were no jeers, no abuse, just a sort of recognition. Even though we'd lost, it united a long-standing rift for many people and the rammifications have been enormous and extremely positive so it can only be a good thing

Other than that, the 96 Prelim or the Swans 11 point win against Carlton at Princes Park in 1996 too.

[lescygnes]

after going through 1993, any win is memorable for me! never take anything for granted.....

but specifically, for games that I have personally seen, my fave is against North at the MCG in 1995.

we werent given a hope in hell by anyone (a la last season), it was the day after my mothers funeral (you can imagine I wasnt dealing with things all that well), and we went beserk and kicked ass.

at the final siren i looked to the skies and said "THANKYOU."

cheers
John

[TheHood]

The win against North in I think Round 5 1999. The Champ kicked a heart starter from 55 (torrie) on half time after trailing by near 40 points.

He then went onto simply muscle out of those 3 tackles near goal and slam through a magnificent sealer.

It was a night game, it broke a 3 game losing streak and Rocket was so fired up afterwards, he rated it our most important win since his arrival (big words, sounds more like a career saver than season saver).

Beer does amazing things for the memory. Makes the good seem very special!

[Dooloo]

Gotta be 96 Prelim. Almost cost me a marriage. But hey it was worth it.

[robbieando]

Other games include

2001 vs Collingwood at Telstra Dome - 15 fit men on the field, got in front and kept Collingwood at bay for the entire last quarter. I have never seen the Collingwood fans go as quiet as they did that day.

2000 vs Richmond at Telstra Dome - We won by a point and were never in behind once during the day. Richmond did most of the attacking but the boys held firm, to give us a slight hope of making the finals going into the final round.

1996 vs Richmond at Waverley Park - Again won by a point but this time we didn't hit the front until late in the match after being out of the match at 3 quarter time. That win I believe more than any other set up the 1996 season. Richo brain explosion late in the match cost Richmond a goal and ultimatly the match.

[desredandwhite]

A few that I've been to stick in my mind as being special for me - for various reasons

1) The game against North in '99 has already been spoken of. Trailing by a huge margin, and coming back to win.

2) Beating Brisbane in Brisbane last year. Great fun.

3) Tadhg Kennelly's first game, an upset win against a then red-hot carlton.

[A swans fan]

The 1999 match against norff is one of my all time favourite swans winning matches, not only because of the margin by which we were trailing, but also because it occured on the weekend just after the big hailstorm in Sydney which trashed the roof of my house (!) amongst thousands of others in Sydney -- including those of several swans (Dunks and Stewie included) who were at training at the scg when the storm hit little knowing what was going on at their homes. Many of the seats at the scg were ruined as were the cars of the swans players (my car was trashed, too).

I remember being at home that weekend (couldn't make it to the scg) and watching my family leaving the room as the swans fell further and further behind norff! I can remember staying with my nephew and thinking that after all the bad things that had happened during the week they just HAD to win! And for some stupid reason maintaining some sort of blind optimistic belief that they would!

And against all odds -- they did! I can still remember Stewie Maxfield streaming down the left hand wing and kicking a goal on the run off that trusty left foot of his to seal the match!

So apart from the obvious prelim finals etc -- THIS is my all time favourite swans win....




_______
OK -- So strictly speaking, I wasn't actually AT the match... but I would have been had there not been massive holes in my roof!

[BAM_BAM]

Mine is the North win in 99 too.

We were there with a friend from Melbourne up for work, who kept punching my leg as we got closer and closer. The atmosphere at 3/4 time, It felt like a standing ovation for the entire break.

It was awesome. I also think the SYDNEEEY chant was eerie that night, almost as electric as the storm that passed through Sydney earlier in the week. I don't think I've gotten goose bumps as big as I did that night.

We were just jumping on each other at the end of the game and singing as loudly as we could on the walk back to the Goulburn street parking station via the wreckage from the storm.

It was just a truly amazing night. Well worth the disappointment of missing a family 21st.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Mine is yet to be mentioned and I don't think it will be mentioned except for this time.

Well this was the r22 2002 game against Richmond.

It was my birthday present from my Dad to go see the game in Sydney, it was my first time in the city and was fantastic.

We drove all the way from home ( melbourne) to be at the game by saturday night.

After finding the motel and getting on the convienietly located train.

We got to the ground and manged to score free tickets from a group who work at one of the banks(forget which) but they had came as a group, except that two people couldn't make it and they had decided to give us the tickets.

Through the match my Dad realised that we knew the people who couldnt make it to the game (don't know how) but when we got home he emailed them and told them what a small world it is.

Anyway this was Kel and Dunks last game as you know, and throughout the match I had this belief that we could win, I just new it.

And we did.

[Damien]

Nothing can ever top the 1996 prelim in my opinion, everyone was waiting for us to fail ALL year, and we just kept going. Magical night. It was like the pain of being the only swans fan all through High School was worth it!

Another one for me was thrashing Geelong in 1996 at the SCG, it was the first sellout since the late 80's and was a very important match in terms of introducing the club to a new load of supporters. Not an exciting match, but a highlight for me, proved we were more than flash in the pan.

This year was great don't get me wrong, but it didn't turn me on like in 1996, there was something so terrifying about it, it felt like someone was playing a joke on me the whole year!

Other games like breaking the losing run against Melbourne ('93?) and of course coming from nowhere against the Roos in 1999 are great highlights to.