SEPTEMBER memories of the MCG are what footballers crave. Swans players have them - a handful have some special ones from the premiership win in 2005.
But for most Sydney players their lingering recollections are from a September night last year and the one that got away.
Beating the Western Bulldogs tomorrow at Manuka Oval in Canberra will earn them a valuable four points and keep them in touch with the top eight, but it won't erase the hurt and disappointment the Swans felt the last time the clubs met, in last year's semi-final at the MCG.
On that evening, early on, the Swans were flying. They were dominating a Bulldogs team, which had been battered by injuries, on the park and the scoreboard.
Nearing half-time, Sydney led by 30 points, and a spot in another preliminary final, against St Kilda, seemed a formality. But the game turned and, led by former Swan Barry Hall, the Dogs clawed their way back into the contest, and thanks to their courage and some missed opportunities from the Swans, they held on to win by five points.
It would be the final game for co-captain Brett Kirk and coach Paul Roos, and the latter gave his team one final coach's speech behind closed doors. Apparently it was one of his better sprays, making sure they knew the size of the opportunity they had surrendered.
''[Roos said] just how disappointed we should be,'' co-captain Adam Goodes said after that loss. ''To lose by a kick, from being in a preliminary final … that's the harshness of it. I think the main point [Roos made] was that it was a missed opportunity.
''We're all going to reflect back on that game and think, 'How the hell did we lose that?'. That is the harsh reality. We have to deal with that. We're all going to look back at the contests we lost and the impact that had on us losing by a goal.
''It was shattering because personally I had a shot with about five minutes to go, and we were down by four points, and I missed, and it was an easy shot, and while you don't know what would have happened, that could have changed things. I like to think I'm someone who can get those pressure goals. I'm co-captain, the boys know that if I've got it in my hands, they are going: 'Cool, 'Goodesy' is going to kick this.' So for me that was disappointing.''
While Goodes made it clear before the season began that the players didn't want to dwell on the past, it was clear he and many can't forget what happened that night and the golden opportunity they missed.
''I was shattered after the game,'' said Kieren Jack, who won't get the chance for revenge, as he injured his ankle last weekend and faces a month on the sideline.
''It was just a real missed opportunity. We certainly felt something special heading into finals and we had a lot of momentum and confidence.
''You win that game and you play in a preliminary final and anything can happen from there. It was a really disappointing way to end the year, but, speaking to a few other boys, it's just spurred us on.''
The Swans can be thankful that tomorrow's game is in Canberra, in May, as their MCG exploits against the Dogs, albeit few, have not been successful.
Since the Bulldogs - Footscray back then - entered the competition in 1925, they have played the Swans - South Melbourne and Sydney - just three times at the home of the game, all in September and all finals matches.
The first time was in 1997 in a qualifying final, in which the Bulldogs kicked nine goals to none in the first quarter and cruised to a 35-point victory, knocking the Rodney Eade-coached Swans out of the finals.
The next time came in 2008 when the Eade-coached Bulldogs beat the Swans by 37 points in a semi-final clash. So the past two times Sydney have been in the finals, Eade and the Dogs have ended their season.
At least in Canberra, while they have lost their past three to the Dogs, the Swans beat them there in 2007.
As it's only round seven, a win for Sydney tomorrow won't end the season for the Bulldogs. It would put a little heat on the top-four contender, who would be well outside the top eight. For the Swans, while it can't erase last year's disappointment, it will at least be a little satisfying.
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