For further information or advice please Email the Webmaster

This is a non profit
site. Any infringement
of copyright or
intellectual property,
is unintentional.

Most covers can be
displayed as a
larger image,
in a new window,
by clicking on
the image.

Hosting at

Updated: 28/09/2009

Sydney Swans

The South Melbourne Football Club was formed in 1874. After amalgamating with Albert Park Football Club, an initial member of the VFA in 1877, they won their first flag in 1881and again in 1885 prior to a hat-trick of flags in 1888, 1889 and 1890. They entered the breakaway VFL in 1897.

South won their first flag in 1909 and again in 1918. From 1933 to 1936 they played in four grand finals but were only able to win in 1933 with their legendary full forward Bob Pratt.

 He shares the league season goal kicking record with Peter Hudson of 150 goals. In 1945 they played in the infamous "blood bath" final loosing to Carlton. Their next grand final was in the Centenary year, 1996, when they lost to North Melbourne.

In 1982 a cover was issued showing the Club's logo.

1982 was also the year that South Melbourne relocated to Sydney and changed their name to the Sydney Swans. They were bought by a flamboyant doctor, Geoffrey Edelsten, who spent money freely on recruiting and they reached the finals in 1986 and 1987. Unfortunately the money ran out and the Swans struggled, and only with the help of the AFL and a new group of business men were they able to keep afloat. The club, like Brisbane, eventually returned to a membership based club. The AFL's toying with private ownership was over.

The Swan's home ground was Albert Park. Following the move to Sydney it now plays its home games at the SCG.

1996 Swans AFL Centenary Cover

The AFL Centenary Cover below shows the Sydney Peel and Stick Stamps with the Sydney Commemorative Pictorial Postmark (PM 1994) which was introduced on the 23rd April 1996.

The Swans chose Bob Skilton on the cover of their stamp Booklet and Tony Lockett on their Postcard and maximum card.

On the 7th March 2000 the inaugural meeting of the "Premiership Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. One Swans player was included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps of the millennium issue. He was Bob Pratt. The stamps were also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by Havilah Enterprises.

The 25th May 2000 marked  the release of club and individual 2000 Personalised Stamps.

2001 represented their twentieth season in Sydney. On the 30th March the 2001 Personalised Stamps was released. They scraped into the eight and finished eighth.

The news story of the draft was the on-off-on again return of Tony Lockett to Sydney's list. After the initial high the season started to fall apart with Pluggers initial injury and then early retirement. The 2002 Personalised Stamps were issued on the 15th May 2002.

The 2003 Personalised Stamps were issued in April 2003.

On the 8th August 2003 the Swans Team of the Century was announced at a Gala function at Darling Harbour.

The Brownlow Medal ended in a three way tie for the first time since 1930 with Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley, Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto and Sydney ruckman Adam Goodes all taking home the league’s highest individual award at a gala Ceremony on 22nd September 2003.

Sydney had two players named in the All Australian Team. They were Adam Goodes and Paul Williams.

The 2003 season was better than expected with the Swans making it to the Preliminary Final, only to loose to eventual Premiers The Brisbane Lions.

2004 started with mediocre form. The 2004 Personalised Stamps were issued in mid April.This year they were a booklet of 20 stamps showing 10 players, rather than the A4 sheet. Leo Barry, Barry Hall and Brett Kirk made the All Australian Team.

On the 1st April 2005 the Sydney Swans booklet of the 2005 Personalised Stamps was released.  The Indigenous Team Of the Century was named at a lavish function at the Palladium on the 1st August 2005. First Class Collectables produced a set of covers. Signed player covers included  Michael O'Loughlin. First Class Collectables issued covers  to commemorate the Best and Fairest winnersincluding Brett Kirk for Sydney.

Finally after 72 years, and 23 years after the move to Sydney, the Swans tasted September success winning the 2005 Premiership.

On the 20th March 2006 the Swans booklet of the 2006 Personalised Stamps was released. Onlycovers released the Captains series with covers including Barry Hall. On the 22nd June 2006 Tony Lockett was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Round 16 was the Heritage Round with clubs wearing jumpers from a previous era. Onlycovers released a cover for each club including the Sydney FC. On the 25th September 2006 Adam Goodes won his second Brownlow Medal. Onlycovers released three covers. Cover1, Cover2 and Cover3. The Swans lost a heartbreak final against the Eagles by 1 point.

The Swans continued in the eight in 2007 and 2008, finally dropping out in 2009. The 2007 Personalised Stamps were issued in prestige booklet form while the 2008 Personalised Stamps and 2009 Personalised Stamps were issued as folders.