While we hold every game the Sydney Swans play in high regard, there are a number in any given season that stand out above the rest for different reasons.
Whether it's a game at a new stadium, familiar stadium, against a traditional rival or new foe, or a game with a significant undertone, there's plenty to get excited about and look forward to.
We've plucked several out from the full fixture which are sure to get the juices flowing ahead of the new season which, from time of this article publishes, is "only" 144 days away!
Round 1 v West Coast | Sunday, March 25 | 4.20pm AWST | Perth Stadium
All eyes will be on Western Australia's new pride and joy, Perth Stadium, when the West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans renew hostilities in the twilight hours of the opening round.
The stadium, situated east of the city centre, just over the Swan River in the suburb of Burswood, is the new home of WA football and replaces Subiaco Oval which gave Eagles and Fremantle Dockers fans a place to scream and shout for 30 years.
The Sydney Swans have been chosen to help fill the 60,000-seat arena in what will be the stadium's first AFL match, following on from the first football match in February when Fremantle and Collingwood's AFLW teams square off.
Overall, the ledger is in the Eagles' favour with 16 wins to the Swans' 10 at Perth-based venues (Subiaco Oval and The WACA), including finals. A new chapter in this fiercely-contested rivalry will soon be written on a brand-new playing field.
Determined to not let a second-straight first-round win slip away, John Longmire's men will be out to spoil the Eagles' party and begin season 2018 in the best possible fashion.
Round 3 v GWS | Saturday, April 7 | 4.35pm AEST | SCG
Sydney v GWS … this rivalry keeps growing every season and the double-act penned in for 2018 is poised to be two of the biggest yet.
Fans, on both sides of the fence, won’t be waiting long before the next instalment arrives in the form of Sydney Derby XIV.
Both finalists from last season will be keen to get one over their neighbours early before clashing heads again in Round 20 at Spotless Stadium.
Head-to-head, the record stands at nine wins from 13 matches in favour of the Sydney Swans with the last win coming in hostile territory, in Round 17 last season, an important victory that cut a run of three-straight wins for GWS.
Next year’s fixtures will have a little more spice added given former Giant turned Sydney assistant Steve Johnson will be in red and white plotting his old side’s downfall.
Round 8 v Hawthorn | Friday, May 11 | 7.50pm AEST | MCG
One of the fiercest rivalries on the footy calendar, the Sydney Swans take on Hawthorn twice in 2018, the first coming on a Friday night in May at the home of football.
The last three games between the 2012 and 2014 grand finalists have been decided by a goal or less, with the Hawks narrowly coming out on top in each.
Can the Swans get the job done over the Hawks this time around?
The challenge will be in front of them coming off a six-day break (one of eight for the season) but Longmire’s men, who came and conquered the Hawks in Round 9, 2016, at the MCG, will be more than up to the task.
The Swans and Hawks clash again in Round 23, at the SCG, with the date and time to be finalised in the weeks leading up to the last weekend of August.
Round 11 v Carlton | Friday, June 1 | 7.50pm AEST | SCG
The Sydney Swans open the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round when Carlton visit the Harbour City for Marn Grook at the SCG.
A favourite on the footy calendar for the past 14 seasons, the annual celebration of the league’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players past and present is an inspiring mix of sights, sounds and the game itself with the Goodes-O’Loughlin Medal awarded to the best player on the night.
Record crowds have flocked to the SCG to see the likes of Adam Goodes and Lance Franklin star in the past, with an average of just under 36,000 passionate fans filling the stands, and there’s no reason why a crowd of the same magnitude won’t be there for next year’s Friday night fixture.
The Swans have clashed with five different clubs in the annual Marn Grook at the SCG – Essendon (’02-’13), Geelong (’14), Carlton (’15), North Melbourne (’16) and Hawthorn ('17).
Round 12 v St Kilda | Saturday, June 9 | 7.25pm AEST | Etihad Stadium
A prime-time timeslot has been reserved for the second annual Pride Game between the Sydney Swans and St Kilda.
After hosting the inaugural match last season, the fixture will return to Victoria in 2018 with Etihad Stadium to be brushed with the seven colours of the rainbow to celebrate diversity and inclusiveness.
Sydney outclassed St Kilda this year’s match-up, plus the meeting before, to continue their impressive winning streak against Alan Richardson’s men.
The Swans have won the last eight against the Saints, and 10 of the past 11 games, a run the visitors will be keen to continue two weeks out from the mid-season bye.
Other games of particular note...
Round 6 v Geelong
Kennedy, Parker and Hannebery v Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett. In the words of Brian Taylor, "Boy oh boy, wowee!"
Round 10 v Brisbane
With eight games in Victoria, the Swans will be keen for some warmer road trips, plus missing out on a Queensland-based game last season has left them eager to put on a show for their loyal members up north.
Round 18 v Gold Coast
It'll be Master v Apprentice when Swans coach John Longmire takes on his former assistant now Suns coach Stuart Dew in this Saturday afternoon clash in July.
Round 19 v Essendon
We won't be forgetting these two clubs' last home and away match for a very long time, the Swans coming from nowhere to pinch a thriller after the siren. If this game is half as good as that night, strap yourselves in!
Round 20 v Collingwood
Because it's Collingwood!
