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Michael O'Loughlin of the Swans congratulates team mate Barry Hall after scoring a goal during the round 22 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Carlton Blues at the Sydney Cricket Ground on September 3, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. Slattery Images
This weekend, Michael O’Loughlin finally becomes the first Swan to play 300 games of VFL/AFL. It’s a fantastic accomplishment for the man they call Magic, and for a while it looked as though he wouldn’t make it.
But he soldiered on and it will be an emotional moment on Sunday when he is carried off the ground.
Nobody is irreplaceable.
In recent times, Tony Lockett, Paul Kelly, Andrew Dunkley and Daryn Cresswell all left and the club not only survived but flourished.
Still, it will be sad to see O’Loughlin hang up the boots and unusual to look up and not see the Number 19 out there or to be worn by someone else.
O’Louglin holds the AFL record for the most games played wearing Number 19.
It’s not just the Swans faithful who adored O’Loughlin. He is a player who is well-liked and admired in the competition, even by opposition players and supporters.
It’s hard to articulate the ways he will be missed, the Swans will just feel it. Like the next time the Swans are making a late rally at the SCG – it won’t be O’Loughlin doing that something special to ignite things or kicking the go-ahead goal that brings the house down.
O’Loughlin went at 40 in the 1994 Draft and the Swans had four picks before they selected him.
It’s hard to imagine now but the Swans drafted Stuart Mangin before O’Loughlin. Magin played a total of three games.
O’Loughlin made his debut way in Round 5, 1995.
It was against Adelaide at the SCG and the Swans were trailing by 17 points heading into the last change. The Swans had kicked nine goals up until that point, but exploded with 11 majors in the last quarter and only restricted the Crows to a solitary point to comfortably win.
O’Loughlin kicked three goals that day and it was the start of a beautiful relationship between him and the Swans.
He has played in eighteen Finals matches, three Grand Finals, and one premiership winning side. He will leave the club with a number of records, but it is unlikely that Adam Goodes will leave him with many of them.
As a foil up forward with amazing overhead-strength, combined with agility on the ground, he was invaluable providing match-up headaches for opposition coaches and backmen.
Without any doubt, you can put your hard-earned on the Swans this Sunday. Tanking or not, there is no way the Swans will be losing as they give their all for the club’s most loyal servant.
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