Sydney stalwarts Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry and Jared Crouch made an emotional goodbye to the SCG after the Swans' defeat to the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

All three players, who were key components of Sydney's 2005 grand final team and played a combined 763 AFL games, hung up the boots following the 15.10 (100) to 14.8 (92) loss.

Sydney stormed back from a 39-point third-term deficit to draw within one point late in the final term, but they were unable to give their retiring teammates the ideal send-off.

O'Loughlin ends his career as the club's all-time games record-holder with 303 under his belt, while he also kicked 521 goals and earned a spot on the indigenous team of the century.

Barry was the Swans' key defender throughout this decade and will forever be remembered for taking the match-sealing mark in the grand final victory over West Coast.

And Crouch managed to play a record 194 consecutive matches from his debut and became one of the most renowned taggers in the game.

All three were chaired from the ground in front of 27,933 adoring fans.

Afterwards, O'Loughlin found himself a little lost for words after finally ending a career in Sydney that began as a teenager back in 1995.

"I'm a bit emotion-less I suppose. First time in my life I'm speechless," he said.

"We're obviously disappointed in the game. We fought back and got really close but just couldn't get them.

"That's why they're in the finals and it's disappointing we couldn't walk away with the win, but Brisbane's a quality side.

"I've spent half my life here and I still struggle with it now talking about it."

Brisbane coach Michael Voss, who had some almighty battles with the Swans during his playing days, paid tribute to the retirees.

"I've had some battles against them," he said.

"Leo and Micky O, they've just been absolute ornaments.

"When you look at Sydney you see that real culture they've been able to build over a long period of time and you see that culture and team unity they have and how they've passed that on and that's the ultimate part of leadership.

"Not only getting to where you are but then being able to hand it on to others and mentor them to perhaps take your place in the team and it seems they've done that.

"They can leave the Sydney Swans knowing they can leave it in a better place then when they first came into it and that's a pretty big feather in the cap."

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