THE rain couldn’t dampen the fun as 500 junior Sydney Swans members attended a footy clinic with the players at the SCG today.

The members, from tiny tots to teenagers, did skills and drills with their favourite players and then got autographs before they were treated to Vili’s pies. The chance to attend the annual clinic is one of the benefits of being a Swans member.

The players were broken up into six groups and the youngsters rotated through various stations doing handball drills, kicking skills and practicing their speccy’s with some high leaps onto a tackle bag held by Nick Malceski.

The kids came from all over Sydney, and were quick to nominate their favourite player.

Ella Scriven, 8, has just come out of hospital after an ear operation, but she was there decked in red and white. “I like Daniel Bradshaw,’’ Ella said.

Alexander Parthenis, 5, looked like a young version of Warwick Capper in his favourite footy shorts. His mum, Elizabeth, told him they were too small, but Alex insisted he wear them with his Swans jumper.

He was intent on delivering a letter he’d written to his favourite Swan, Jesse White. “He just loves his footy, and he loves Jesse,’’ his mum said. Alexander plays footy for the Ramsgate RSL club.

And then there was three-year-old Jakob Tyrrell, who kicks the ball like a budding champ, and loves Adam Goodes. “Go the Swans,’’ said Jakob, whose dad, Chris, has been a Swans member for 23 years.

Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery said it had been a really good day despite the wet weather. “The rain is a bit disappointing but it’s been good fun. The kids have had a great time and that’s the main thing,’’ Hannebery said.

“The clinic was fantastic and the players really enjoyed it. I think Lewis Roberts-Thomson was certainly one the best out there."

Defender Nick Smith sat in the rain along with his team-mates to sign hundreds of autographs, but he said none of them minded.

"It’s been a really fun morning for the kids and the players. It’s a shame the rain has come but it won’t stop us signing as many autographs as we can," Smith said.