When South Melbourne scored a VFL record 29.15 (189) against St Kilda at the Lake Oval in 1919, most observers believed the club mark would stand forever.

Although the Swans have notched many big scores over the following decades, the record mark proved as elusive as the experts had predicted.

However, the Swans on July 19, 1987, broke the old record by scoring 30.21 (201) in defeating the West Coast Eagles by 130 points at the SCG.

The VFL record at that stage was held by Fitzroy, with 36.22 (238) against Meloburne in 1979.

The 1987 Swans-Eagles clash was expected to be a tight, dour affair, with both clubs holding finals ambitions.

Although the Swans looked good to lead by 10 points at the first break and then by 49 points at the main break, no one could have predicted the goal spree of the second half.

Sydney’s half-time score was 11.13, but they then scored an incredible 12.4 in the third quarter before finishing the match with 7.4 in the final quarter to reach the 200-point mark.

There were many Swan heroes that sunny Sunday afternoon, but none was better than rover Steve Wright, who not only won possessions almost at will, but also kicked eight goals.

It was an amazing effort, especially as he had missed the previous five games with a hamstring strain.

The Swans, of course, were delighted with their incredible scoring efforts, but coach Tom Hafey warned: “There are six games to go and Essendon next week is not going to be easy.”

The Swans’ mighty effort against the Eagles prompted The Age newspaper to run a headline reading: “Dazzling, Determined Sydney”.

Its match reports suggested the Swans had entered the premiership race after it previously was thought to be a two-club contest between Carlton and Hawthorn.

The Swans’ goalkickers were: Wright 8, Capper 5, Murphy 4, Mitchell 3, Byrne 2, T. Morwood 2, Bayes 2, Hawke 2, Healy, Holden.

Best players were listed as (in order): Wright, N. Cordy, Henwood, Bolton, Bayes, Murphy.

Incredibly, that 201-point tally record lasted just one week, with the Swans scoring 36.20 (236) in defeating Essendon by 163 points at the SCG in Round 17.

Then, in what was the greatest scoring spree over consecutive weeks in VFL/AFL football, the Swans notched 31.12 (198) in defeating Richmond by 91 points at the SCG in Round 18.

Sadly, the Swans were unable to continue their run and went down to Carlton by 68 points at Princes Park in Round 19, scoring just 8.7 (55) in the process.

The Swans later bowed out of the premiership race in crashing to Hawthorn and then Melbourne in the finals, with Carlton defeating Hawthorn in the Grand Final.

The current record for the highest score in a game is Geelong’s 37.17 (239) in defeating the Brisbane Bears by 164 points at Carrara in 1992.