A History Of The Sydney Swans
Tracing the troubled history of the club over nearly 130 years, this book explores the Swans' humble beginnings in the 1860s through to their exile in the '80s and beyond.
As the South Melbourne Football Club the team had a chequered career: the glory of premiership flags in 1909, '18 and '33 was followed by the infamous "Bloodbath Grand Final" of 1945 and decades of failure. Then with the tumultuous events of 1981-2 the club was torn from its home of 100 years, on the shores of Albert Park Lake and cast into the wilderness of ruby-following Sydney to become the Sydney Swans.
Finally, after years of struggle, controversy and near-ruin, the fairytale season of 1996 saw the Swans shed the ugly duckling image and wing their way to the MCG, contenders in the biggest event ever on the AFL calendar - the Centenary Grand Final.
With detailed "year-in-the-life" documentation plus eye-witness accounts from key players, coaches and club officials, this is a rollicking insider's guide that will enthrall Swans fans and AFL devotees everywhere.
