Ask him about the 1996 grand final and Michael O'Loughlin's dusty memories from 12 years ago are all you get. At no time have they been refreshed or jolted by watching a replay, as - at least for the moment - the last remaining Swan from that day has no need to linger in the football past.

He's not trying to bury the scars of a day of disappointment when Sydney lost the decider to North Melbourne. He also hasn't stretched on the couch and watched replays of the successful 2005 grand final, nor the loss a year later. "I've never seen it. Have no desire to watch it," the man nicknamed "Magic" said of the 1996 match. "I've seen bits and pieces of highlights when they play them at reunions but I've never sat down and watched the game.

"I just don't usually watch replays of our games. Once it's done, it's done. You can't change the result whether you have won or lost. All of the grand finals, I haven't sat down and watched any of them. Once I'm retired I might have a look at them again.

"But not right now. It seems like forever ago. I saw a picture of me after the 1996 grand final, and it brought back some memories of shocking hairstyles.

"That was my first full year of senior footy in 1996, and we had a pretty good year as a team, and as a young kid it was great to play in those finals, but like any kid, while everyone else was gutted after the game, you just think: 'We'll be back here next year and give it another shake.' It wasn't until 2005 we were back there."

Reflections on '96 were inevitable for O'Loughlin this week. Sydney meet North Melbourne tonight in an elimination final at ANZ Stadium, the first time they have met in the finals since that 1996 decider. Only three players from that day still play: O'Loughlin the only Swan, along with North captain Adam Simpson and former Swan now Kangaroo, Shannon Grant.

But while Grant and Simpson will be on the field, an ankle injury will keep O'Loughlin in the grandstand tonight, hoping his teammates can continue the season, leaving the window ajar for a return in coming weeks.

"I'm the worst spectator. When the boys play away, I tend to throw things at the TV," he said. "I'm pulling my hair out at the moment. I was able to string a lot of games [87]together then I got this ankle injury - it's just a collision injury - and it hasn't healed in time.

"I ran today, and I ran really well. I've been running for the last few weeks now, but just straight-line stuff. I'm still having a bit of trouble with the sharper movements, the turning, which is what my game is based around. But the window of opportunity is still there, and it's improving every day, so I haven't written off the year yet."

Playing the Roos in a final isn't needed for O'Loughlin to have regular memories of 1996.

He gets them every day at training. His coach Paul Roos was there 12 years ago as a teammate, and so, too, were assistant coaches John Blakey, Brett Allison and a then-injured full-forward John Longmire.

"Yeah, it is a little weird having all those guys who are North Melbourne legends, here at the Swans. John Blakey is the forwards coach so I have a lot to do with him … In Sydney-North games he was usually assigned to me. We had some great battles."

O'Loughlin and Grant were drafted in 1994 by Sydney but both expected to spend only minimal time in Sydney before heading home, to Adelaide and Melbourne respectively. Grant followed through with his goal, being traded to North in 1998. But O'Loughlin stuck and has played 286 games, a club record.

After 58 games with Sydney, and now 242 with North, Grant last week played his 300th.

"I sent him a text to say congratulations last week," O'Loughlin said. "He's had a great career. Things have worked out well for me, and for Granty, too. He went back and won a premiership with North.

"I actually thought Shannon would have stayed, but things happen and people want to go home to see their families and play footy where they have grown up, and we got a good player in 'Schwatter' [Wayne Schwass] out of it.

"And now he's announced he's retiring, he'll be looking to finish on a good note. Hopefully we can spoil it."

But O'Loughlin, turning 32 in February, will play next year. "I'm out of contract at the end of the year, but we have just come to an agreement on a new one-year contract, I just have to sign it … you can't get rid of me that easily."