The Swans topped the ladder since round nine, lost just six games in the regular season, and remain premiership favourites among bookmakers.
They are potentially eight quarters away from winning the club's first premiership since 2012.
On the path to glory stands Port Adelaide.
At first glance, the Swans appear warm favourites after Ken Hinkley's men crashed to a humiliating 84-point loss to Geelong in a home qualifying final.
The catch? An eight-year losing streak against Port.
The Swans have not defeated the Power since 2016, falling short of the four points in eight matches played at Adelaide Oval and the SCG.
It is the equal-fifth longest losing streak in the league.
The last time they won against the Power, Aliir Aliir played as a full-back and Gary Rohan kicked two goals. Aliir stars for Port now, while Rohan plays for fellow finalists Geelong.
Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley, Dane Rampe, Harry Cunningham and Jake Lloyd are the only Swans players from that 2016 victory that will take to the SCG turf, while skipper Callum Mills has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The Swans were denied a victory last season at the SCG when defender Ollie Florent's set shot was spoiled by Aliir on the goal line, with the hosts losing by two points.
But it is their most recent Port Adelaide flop, slammed by Swans coach John Longmire as "completely and utterly unacceptable", that will cause the most reason for worry.
Hinkley's men handed Sydney their fifth-worst loss in VFL/AFL history when they steamrolled to a 112-point win after holding the minor premiers scoreless in the opening quarter at Adelaide Oval.
Port surged to a 71-point lead before the Swans finally notched their first score courtesy of a rushed behind near the 20-minute mark of the second term.
Largest in-game score while opposition scoreless (2001-2024 AFL seasons)— InsightLane (@insightlane) 71 PORT ADELAIDE v 0 SYDNEY R21 2024 64 North Melbourne v 0 Adelaide R7 201761 St Kilda v 0 North Melbourne R2 201061 Collingwood v 0 Brisbane R8 201661 Geelong v 0 Melbourne R19 2008@sirswampthingAugust 3, 2024
So substandard was their performance that Longmire opted against reviewing the match, the biggest loss in his 13-year-long tenure, in preparation for their preliminary final.
Should the Swans go on to take the flag, they will become the first side to lose by more than 100 points and win a premiership since Carlton in 1945.
The Blues lost by the exact margin to Essendon in 1945 before winning the flag.
"I always look forward and for this week, that's what really matters for us," Longmire said.
"How we meet, how we train, how we do our weights, how we prepare is what we're putting our focus in."
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