Alan Lau says he has few regrets in life, two regarding the AFL.
As an Australian-born child of Chinese immigrants, Lau grew up on the Central Coast and was discouraged from contact sport. Like many of his school friends he religiously followed the NRL and played soccer, basketball and tennis. At the time, AFL wasn’t on the school curriculum and the only person to play from his cohort was Ray Hall, who would go on to play for the Richmond Tigers.
After university, Lau moved to Melbourne where he failed to attend a single AFL game. Speaking in hindsight and as a Sydney Swans member 20 years on, he said, “It would have been amazing to hang out in South Melbourne and follow the Sydney Swans in that environment.”
It wasn’t until 2005 when he attended a live home game with his sister at the SCG did he realise the fanfare of Aussie Rules Football.
“I’ve been hooked ever since,” he told Sydney Swans Media. “The atmosphere and seeing the play unfold on a full ground, as opposed to just a TV screen, is why the AFL succeeds as a live game.”
Following the Swans for two decades now, Lau admits there has been plenty of success as a member. After missing the 2012 Grand Final (his second regret) he vowed never to miss another and went on to attend in 2014, 2016 and 2022. Since Lau joined the red and white, the Swans have only missed finals three times, won a premiership, and made four other grand finals.
Lau’s favourite moment however, arrived in Round 23 of the 2019 season as the Swans farewelled retirees Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Heath Grundy and Nick Smith.
“Both Kieren and Jarrad scored final quarter goals. It was the most party atmosphere at the SCG. We weren’t going to make finals, so everyone was there to have fun”, he recalls.
“Another was in 2016 when we were down 19 points to Essendon – people were leaving the ground halfway through –and the Swans went on to kick the last four goals in the dying minutes.
“That was the happiest I’ve ever been,” Lau laughed.
Lau is not the only Chinese-Australian to discover, and subsequently, love the AFL. Round 15 will see the Swans celebrate the Chinese community and their contribution to the game. Lau is excited for more Sydney-siders, especially those from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to get behind the Swans.
“If you want to experience Australia - whether you’re just visiting or you’ve been here for a long time - you should attend the AFL. The live experience is next level.”
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