SWIFTS completed a storybook centenary season by upsetting undefeated reigning premier and huge pre-match favourite Laharum by 29 points at Horsham City Oval on Saturday.
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The Baggies put together unquestionably their finest performance of the year when it mattered most to bring the Forty Winks premiership cup back to Stawell.
It was a fitting way to conclude the club's 100th season, an anniversary that was celebrated earlier this year.
On a beautiful warm day that suited their fast-paced style of play perfectly, they ran hard both ways, used the ball effectively and pressured their opposition for four quarters.
Their leg speed and composure proved too much for Laharum in the end, as Swifts held them off for a memorable 15.5 (95) to 10.6 (66) win.
Laharum got the start everyone expected when Angus Martin goaled inside the first minute after a quick clearance from the opening centre bounce by Hamish Roberts.
Swifts captain Scott Carey said before the game his team's objective was to stick with Laharum in the opening quarter.
They did just that when Ben Martin created a contest and fed the ball out to Richard Thomas for an easy goal minutes later.
The arm-wrestle continued, with Laharum assistant coach Ollie Braithwaite's snap bouncing over the head of Dylan Parish and defender Jakob Davis for a goal.
Braithwaite's run on the wing was huge for the Mountain Men in the opening term, and he finished the day as a clear standout performer for the runners-up.
He set up half-forward Rhys Bennett for another goal after Baggies Julian Carr and Zach Salmi kicked consecutive majors for Swifts.
With a one-point lead at the first change Laharum coach Shannon Argall implored his team to lift, calling for more accountability and bigger efforts from his small forwards.
Argall himself stepped up in the second term, rucking and getting back to help out the defenders.
Versatile key forward Dylan Parish got on the board quickly in the term after being pushed in the back.
The Mountain Men were on top in general play but could not capitalise on the scoreboard.
Damien Joiner weaved his way brilliantly through a pack and converted to give his side a one-point lead, but Jason Przibilla marked and goaled at the other end, then goaled again after Brett Hargreaves gave away a 50-metre penalty.
Just when Laharum was threatening to break away, Luke Mitchell goaled with a bomb from outside 50 metres on the run, and found another only minutes later after Carr out-muscled his opponent and fed Mitchell the ball.
Swifts' Sean Mantell goaled again immediately after streaming forward from a centre clearance, but Przibilla booted his third for the term just prior to half-time to get Laharum's nose in front at the main break.
Centre-half-back Justin Thomas got the first goal on the board at the three-minute mark of the third term when a Laharum player encroached on the mark and the umpire paid a 50-metre penalty.
It sparked a mini run from the Baggies, with co-coaches Ben Martin and Paul Hanns goaling in quick succession to open up a 62-46 lead.
A large Swifts contingent in the crowd started to find voice, and the Baggies' belief was clearly growing.
Both teams missed easy chances in the scrappy minutes following Hanns' goal, with Parish missing an easy snap as he ran into goal for Laharum.
Damon Folkes and vice-captain Jake Goodes were excellent across half-back, cutting off Laharum's forward thrusts and turning defence into attack.
Along with key defenders Thomas, Davis and Aaron Chavasse, they helped restrict the Mountain Men to just two behinds in the third term.
Ricky Whitehead was everywhere, cutting off Laharum kicks in the backline and pushing forward to deliver the ball inside 50 at the Baggies' end.
Hard-running Ash Cowen finally provided another goal late in the quarter to take the margin out to 21 at the final change.
Laharum came out prepared to fight for its season in the last quarter, but got off on the wrong foot when an attempt by Tom Crawford to switch play in the backline was intercepted by Isaac Rathgeber within the first minute.
Rathgeber converted the set shot, and Mantell burst away from the ensuing centre bounce to kick a trademark running goal.
With the margin out to 33 points, Laharum's back was firmly against the wall.
Daniel Easson found Parish in space after running his full measure, and Parish duly slotted the goal.
He kicked another with a ripping drop punt from 50 metres to reduce the margin to 21 at the eight minute mark.
Hanns steadied the Swifts ship with a superb goal on the run from hard up against the boundary, and the clock became Laharum's enemy.
Jack Shields - kept quiet all day after a tremendous semi-final performance against Kalkee - kicked an opportunistic goal, but it was too little, too late.
It was curtains for the reigning premiers when Ben Martin - playing his first full match in nearly a month after battling hamstring and eye injuries - snapped the last goal of the game to complete a famous victory.
Ricky Whitehead, a former Dellar Family medalist, won the AFL Victoria medal for best on ground.
SWIFTS 3.0 7.2 11.2 15.5 (95)
LAHARUM 3.1 7.3 7.5 10.6 (66)
Goals: Swifts, Luke Mitchell 2, Benjamin Martin 2, Sean Mantell 2, Zach Salmi 1, Isaac Rathgeber 1, Ashley Cowen 1, Scott Carey 1, Damien Joiner 1, Justin Thomas 1, Julian Carr 1, Richard Thomas 1, Paul Hanns 1; Laharum, Jason Przibilla 3, Dylan Parish 3, Jack Shields 1, Oliver Braithwaite 1, Angus Martin 1, Rhys Bennett 1. Best, Swifts, Ricky Whitehead, Scott Carey, Jakob Davis, Julian Carr, Sean Mantell, Nicholas Pickering; Laharum, Oliver Braithwaite, Brett Ervin, Shannon Argall, Robert Miller, Dylan Parish, Gerard Matthews.
