The Sydney Swans will kick start their 150-year celebrations by opening the 2024 AFL season against Melbourne at the SCG. Swans CEO Tom Harley spoke to the media following the AFL's announcement of the 'new-look' opening round fixture.
On the best way to start the 2024 season:
“I think it is fantastic. To have the first game of the season here in Sydney. To start our 150th year with a bang. Ironically, against the Demons, who were our first opponent back in 1982 when we moved here. Also, for history in 1897 when we first started in the VFL. Great for the club, great for the code and certainly great for the Sydneysiders.”
On celebrating 150 years:
“One of the things I love about our footy club is that we have got national relevance and supporters across the country. June 19th, at the Temperance Hall was when we were founded in 1874, and 150 years from next year. To have that history and heritage on top of the forty plus years that we have since we moved to Sydney in 1982 is unique. One thing about history is that it is set in stone. As far as I understand, we are the oldest running football club in any code that has continuously worn red and white in the world. That is something we hold dearly, and we will celebrate our 150th year with gusto with our members next year.”
On the AFL and NRL in Sydney:
“I think it is a privilege to play the first game of the year. I’d love to think this is something we could look at beyond 2024 as well. It is not until you live in the Sydney market that you fully appreciate and understand how competitive the sports landscape and the reality is the other codes get a bit of a head start on us. One of the other codes obviously taking their season overseas, and we have slotted quite nicely into that weekend. It’s a long weekend in Victoria and I’m sure our supporters will travel up, as will the supporters of Collingwood playing the Giants as well.
“We can all co-exist in Sydney. We can only go on the last game we had at the SCG, which was against Melbourne, before the finals, and 42 000 people turned up on a Sunday afternoon.
“From my point of view and my understanding, the considerations specific to the NRL were only a small part of it. I think we have been here as a flagbearer for the code for over 40 years, and we have certainly been prosecuting as a club for starting the season with a bang. Andrew Dillion, under the new regime at the AFL, he’s worked with his team and collaborated with ours to deliver on that. I applaud the AFL for making such a bold decision.”
On Thursday Night Footy:
“The reality is that if you have a fixture that runs from Thursday to Sunday, there will be time slots which suit different demographics. I would like to think, and I am extremely confident, that with our supporter base, a record membership in the season just gone, would get right behind the first game of the year. It is an event; we know it now. We will make sure it is an unmissable event. Thursday night attracts a different audience than a Sunday afternoon, but I am really confident with the supporter base we have up here, we will have a strong showing.”
“I think it just broadens the spotlight of the start of the season. We have all become accustomed to starting the season with a bang in Melbourne. Carlton and Richmond have had a monopoly on that for a far bit of time now. If we are to be truly Australia’s game, with four of the clubs north of the Murray, and four good clubs might I add. It’s an opportunity, it is not going to be the only thing, not going to be a silver bullet, I would expect us to have a really strong turnout for that first game. I would also expect our next home game, whenever that may be, will have a good turn out as well. We will definitely take the opportunity from a club point of view to bask in that spotlight and make sure we put on a good show.”
On the disadvantage to a longer season:
“I think time will tell. The reality is the men's program is now in the off-season, we will start in earnest in the next couple of weeks which will give us some time to prepare for the season proper. The way the competition starts has evolved. Back when I was playing, a long time ago, you would play five or six practice games, now we don’t have as many of them, we get into the season early enough. I know that there has been a lot of discussion with the Players Association and football clubs around that. You play with what is in front of you, and as I say, it’s a privilege to open the season and a privilege to play an entire season, and if you are good enough you play finals, we will turn our attention to that when we need to.”
On Brodie Grundy facing Melbourne on the Opening Night:
“There will clearly be some interest around that. Brodie will have to answer that question I’m sure over the summer. That adds another bit of spice to it. Looking at the other three games over the opening rounds, there's a narrative weaved through all of them. I think it is a smart market decision from the code to launch the season with the four clubs north of the Murray.”
On AFL in NSW:
“I think it is going to be a great weekend of Aussie Rules football. With the Giants playing on the Saturday night against Collingwood, far be it from me to talk about how excited they might be about the prospect of that, but as a football fan, you’ve got the preliminary finalists going head-to-head in our market a couple of days after a big game here at the SCG, so it can only be a good thing.
"We have worked really hard for four decades to build a club here in Sydney. I know we have got rostered on fans and members and whether it is a game in February or a game in September, I'm sure we will have fans turn up. We will just enjoy that night, being the only show in town.”
On the appointment of Leon Cameron as GM:
“Firstly, Charlie Gardiner has been our GM for the last five years and will see us through to the end of the year. He and his family have invested significantly in our footy club, and we are wrapped that Charlie is going to stay involved with us based down in Melbourne. The reality is the GM of AFL role requires Sydney residence, and we were fortunate enough to bring Leon into our footy club 12 months ago, he’s clearly got footy acumen through his coaching resume, but the fact he has genuinely managed our QBE Sydney Swans Academy is significant and set himself up for a role like this. As far as the process goes it is a pretty seamless transition. He has built an enormous rapport within our club in the last 12 months and I am sure he will do great in the role.”
On 2024 captaincy:
“I am certain we will run the same process we run every year, and that is whether we have one, two or three captains; whether that captain is a first year or ten-year captain. I appreciate the interest in the question, but we will play that out after Christmas. What I will say about Callum (Mills), he has been captain as a part of a group for a couple of years. He is an exceptional person, an exceptional player, and I’m sure when we go through that process, he will be prominent in that again.“
On the response from Victoria:
“I did say earlier that one of the great privileges of being involved in the game has been to have a big chunk of that here in Sydney. I don’t say this flippantly, but the reality is if you’re not in it you don’t know. We have got a very significant and important role in growing and expanding our great game and we know our position as the Swans to do that. I am happy to answer any questions from our southern counterparts, but it will all be happening the week after, and it will be great.”
