Dear Members,
We are grateful for your commitment and support all the year through, however in Round 19 especially, we are celebrating you.
Round 19 is Member Recognition Round, which is an opportunity to pay tribute to our members and acknowledge the important contribution you make as part of our footy family. On behalf of everyone at the Sydney Swans, thank you for all you do for our club.
I’m thrilled to be able to announce that for the first time in Sydney Swans history we have reached 61,671 members, passing the previous membership record of 60,934 set last year. It’s a wonderful achievement and we couldn’t have done it without your support.
Our on-field results have been mixed since the mid-season bye. We recorded a good win in Round 14 at the SCG, defeating Hawthorn by 19 points. Following on from the Hawks win we had a strong outing against the Gold Coast Suns, before dropping games to Essendon at the MCG, Carlton at home and a nail-biting loss to Fremantle in the west.
The competition is as even as it has ever been, meaning that any given side only needs to be marginally off to be vulnerable. Injuries to our ruck stocks have provided a challenge but consistency has been missing during the past few weeks. Given our position on the ladder, we are realistic that we won’t be playing finals this year. Clearly it’s disappointing, but we will continue to learn, grow and challenge again.
One of the notable things about our team this season is youth. So far this season we have fielded four debutants, namely Nick Blakey, Justin McInerney, Hayden McLean and James Rowbottom, with Blakey to be congratulated for earning the Round 14 Rising Star nomination. We’re also delighted that Rowbottom, along with Jordan Dawson and Colin O’Riordan, have recently recommitted to the club by signing contract extensions. Our young players have been exciting to watch this season and we are looking forward to watching their progression.
As we transition our team into a new era, we will have stability with senior coach John Longmire committing to extend his coaching tenure – which is a fantastic outcome. John’s passion and energy will be incredibly important for our young list and we are fortunate to have a coach of his calibre.
The final five weeks of the home-and-away season present challenges and opportunities. Our form this year has reinforced that our best football is very competitive. John and the match committee continue to show faith and trust in our young squad and the shared experience of our team will prove to be invaluable in the future.
We have two games left at the SCG, including this Sunday against Geelong. We have plenty planned to mark Member Recognition Round, including a pre-match function for members celebrating a milestone year and a post-match function for all members and their guests in the Noble Dining Room. Keep an eye on your email inbox for more information.
I look forward to seeing you at the game.
Cheer, cheer,
Tom Harley
CEO, Sydney Swans
