Years - 1897 - 1915, 1919 - 1981 (as South Melbourne) 1982- (as Sydney)

Home grounds: Lake Oval, SCG, Stadium Australia

First VFA match: May 1878 at MCG
Last VFA match: August 1896 at Lake Oval
First VFL match: Round 1, 1897 at Lake Oval

The first club in the area was called Emerald Hill, eventually after becoming South Melbourne in 1867 after they amalgamated with the Albert Park club. They switched back to Emerald Hill, and then to Albert Park in 1869. In 1880 they became South Melbourne again.

South was Melbourne's opposition in their first VFL game and enjoyed most of their success in the era before the Second World War. South beat Melbourne at the MCG in every game between 1909 and 1919, then the Redlegs won every match there until 1931.

After years of struggle Norm Smith took South back to the finals in 1970, but by the end of the decade they were struggling financially. Against the wishes of a majority of their fans, the Swans relocated to Sydney for the 1982 season. Melbourne was one of two clubs, with Essendon to oppose a loan to the club to keep them afloat, but despite these objections the loan was granted and the side moved north.

VFL/AFL

Wins	Draws	Losses	%
94	2	117	44.13

(to end 2022)

Biggest Win

	Margin	Round	Venue
1	107	Round 6, 1939	MCG
2	105	Round 1, 1971	MCG
3	97	Round 12, 1984	MCG
4	83	Round 15, 1991	SCG
5	76	Semi Final 1987	MCG
6	73	Round 17, 2010	MCG
7	71	Round 4, 1972	MCG
8	69	Round 13, 1927	MCG
9	67	Round 19, 1990	MCG
10	65	Round 6, 1975	MCG

Highest Score

	Score	Round	Venue
1	26.21.177	Round 15, 1991	SCG
2	27.11.173	Round 19, 1990	MCG
3	24.23.167	Round 15, 1979	MCG
3	27.5.167	Round 24, 1994	SCG
5	24.21.165	Round 1, 1971	MCG
6	25.13.163	Round 22, 1982	MCG
7	22.23.155	Round 6, 1975	MCG
8	23.15.153	Round 4, 1938	MCG
9	21.23.149	Semi Final 1987	MCG
10	22.16.148	Round 12, 1936	MCG

Biggest Loss

	Margin	Round	Venue
1	124	Round 17, 1986	MCG
2	116	Round 18, 1997	MCG
3	101	Round 8, 2012	SCG
4	79	Round 13, 1943	Punt Road
5	78	Round 12, 1912	MCG
6	73	Round 15, 1988	MCG
7	70	Round 10, 1978	Lake Oval
8	69	Round 1, 1977	MCG
9	68	Round 21, 1985	SCG
10	68	Round 21, 2002	MCG

Lowest Score

	Score	Round	Venue
1	0.0.8	Round 12, 1912	MCG
2	2.3.15	Round 6, 1898	MCG
3	2.7.19	Round 15, 1913	MCG
4	3.2.20	Round 8, 1897	MCG
5	3.4.22	Round 3, 1912	Lake Oval
6	3.6.24	Round 3, 1909	Lake Oval
6	3.6.24	Round 12, 1909	MCG
8	3.8.26	Round 9, 1905	MCG
9	2.15.27	Round 11, 1919	Lake Oval
9	4.3.27	Round 11, 1906	Lake Oval

Lowest Score (1980-)

	Score	Round	Venue
1	4.7.31	Round 13, 2016	MCG
2	5.7.37	Round 8, 2012	SCG
3	5.8.38	Round 7, 1996	MCG
3	5.8.38	Round 6, 2014	MCG
5	5.12.42	Round 22, 2019	MCG
6	7.4.46	Round 20, 2004	Docklands
6	6.10.46	Round 15, 2020	Cazalys Stadium
8	6.14.50	Round 17, 2009	Manuka
9	6.16.52	Round 9, 1989	SCG
10	6.16.52	Round 18, 1996	SCG

Shared Players

1900s

Joe Canavan
Jack Davidson
Horrie Drane
Henri Jeanneret
Harold Rippon
Norm Rippon
Ted Wade

1910s

Les Abbott
Harry Brereton
Frank Cummins
Bill Daly
Len Incigneri
Herb Joolen
Herb Matthews
Archie Pratt

1920s

Bert Lawrence
Jim Makin

1930s

Bert Avery
Fred Backway
Norm Matthews
Tom McMahon
Pat McNamara
Lou Reiffel
Jack Richardson

1940s

Billy Deans
Jack O'Keefe
Jack Quinn
Percy Taylor

1950s

John Ferguson

1960s

Sid Catlin
Ray Dawson
Rob Dowsing
Graeme Jacobs
Terry Leahy
Herbie Matthews
Kevin Mithen
Ray Nilsson

1970s

Daryl Cumming
Stewart Gull
George Lakes

1980s

Garry Baker
Adrian Battiston
Michael Byrne
Paul Callery
Vin Catoggio
David Cordner
Jamie Duursma
Gerard Healy
Doug Koop
Shane Zantuck

1990s

Paul Bryce
Kevin Dyson
Wayne Henwood
Craig Nettelbeck

2000s

Darren Jolly

AFLW

Shared players
Aliesha Newman
Brenna Tarrant

Media
Age - 02/12/1981