With a screech heard from the SCG clear to the Swan River the ball is bounced and it’s game on, both on field and in the stands. To save our eardrums the counter calls and ‘Sydney’ chants go up. Can’t quite drown out the squawking from Two Rows Back though. Best to just try to ignore it and concentrate on the game.

First versus third on the ladder and despite the Swans’ patchy performance at the SCG this season I’ve come in feeling confident tonight. The Eagles are deservedly flying but we’re the only team to have knocked them off this year. It’s probably wishful thinking to expect another bag out of Buddy but it’s Heath Grundy’s 250^th and Aliir Aliir’s back, down the back, which is heartening to see.

The game starts with neither side able to dominate the flow. We lock it in for a while but the Eagles break free with a snap at goal, thankfully only for a behind. Jack and Buddy try out some deft footwork but get hemmed in on the boundary line. Florent effects a great smother. The Eagles’ dominant ruck work is allowing them to move the ball quickly but our defence is fluently absorbing their forward entries. Without a score though it’s getting restless up in the stands. The stalemate is broken as the Eagles get a major off a free kick. We then drop a mark to give them another opportunity which luckily doesn’t pay off. The Swans counter-punch, Heeney with a trademark bulldog tackle, Aliir evading, Sinclair and Kennedy frustratingly only with minor scores. The siren goes and we’re down a goal. Feels like we’re in for another of those mid-2000s' low-scoring, in-the-trenches battles.

The Swans come out of the quarter-time break firing. Ronke slips into space to take Cunningham’s chipped shot for an easy goal. My optimistic bubble is then burst by a fumble on which the Eagles swoop for an easy retort. Cunningham’s chase-down tackle earns him six points. What I’m sensing though is despite the odd missed link-up the boys are much more in sync than a few games ago. Closing in on half-time and, with Kennedy’s straight-as-a-die goal, it feels like we’ve got the upper hand and will retain it. Which has subdued Two Rows Back if nothing else.

The Eagles burst out of the blocks in the third, ghosting across the pack to take a great mark which goes unrewarded. Buddy tries to get a look-in but his shot hits the post. But our defence is still holding strong with Rampe smothering what might have been a dangerous forward entry. The ball jags to the edge of the 50 and into Ronke’s hands. With the crowd roaring he takes off and three bounces later rolls it in. But the game hasn’t opened up. Buddy gets on the end of a Jones-to-Parker link-up and registers his first goal. The Eagles get a goal off a free kick and then find themselves in space for another which re-ignites Two Rows Back. The Eagles close the gap just before the siren with a long-bomb goal leaving me on edge.

My blood pressure goes up when they get one straight away in the final term. The Swans fight back but Buddy’s marking attempt off Rohan’s centring kick, which looked a certain goal, is almost own-goal like. Hayward’s shot is offline. The effort is there but we don't take our chances and the Eagles sensing this as they ramp up their attack. It’s heart-in-mouth time but their inaccuracy is our saving grace and they can’t close the gap.

We cheer, cheer the red and the white as Two Rows Back squawks off into the night. The effort of the younger brigade, and whole team all in all, was very impressive. It didn’t wilt under what was, at times, immense pressure.

A great win. Can’t wait for the Tigers.

Tom Bally has been a passionate Swan since he arrived in Australia from the Old dart a decade ago. Head to www.footyalmanac.com for more Sydney Swans' Almanac stories from other fans.