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The Swans started playing afl in 1862 in South Melbourne and in 1874 the South Melbourne Football Club was born.
Games were played at South Melbourne Cricket Ground from 1878 and team won its first Premiership in 1881. A glorious history followed with much success late in the 1890’s and it was one of six leading VFA clubs which met to form a breakaway competition called the Victorian Football League.

South Melbourne’s early period in the VFL was highlighted by a Grand Final appearance in 1899. . It won its first VFL Premiership in 1909 and a second Premiership in 1918.

South Melbourne – now known as the Swans due to an unprecedented influx of West Australian players – again made the finals between 1932 and 1936, playing in four successive Grand Finals from 1933 to 1936, but capturing only one flag – the Premiership of 1933—defeating Richmond in the season decider.

A lean period followed in terms of Grand Finals success but during same period the Swans produced nine Brownlow Medals. The record of 13 medals (by 11 players) is the greatest number achieved by any club in the history of VFL/AFL football.

Many administrations through the 1960s and 1970s worked feverishly to keep the Swans afloat but diminishing attendances and membership nearly led to financial extinction. Change became necessary and in 1981 the Swans received the permission of the VFL to play 11 home matches in Sydney the following season. The Swans continued to play in sydney and in 1985 they were bought by Dr Geoffrey Edelsten . On field success followed but financial security did not . The AFL intervened and restructured the whole football side /membership and admin and re-incarnated it to the slick sleek playing machine it is today enjoying a Premiership in 2005 and being narrowly beaten to back to back success in 2006.

Sydney has its own afl football team in a hirtherto NRL city and another second afl team for Sydney is being established in Sydney’s West.