Rainbow footy socks were the fashion of the day in Sydney’s iconic Taylor Square today, as the Sydney Swans launched this weekend’s Pride Game against St Kilda.

Swans co-captain Kieren Jack and defender Nick Smith were joined by chairman Andrew Pridham and CEO Andrew Ireland, along with members of the Rainbow Swans, the Club’s official LGBTI supporter group.

The Round 21 clash at Etihad Stadium will mark the first Pride Game for AFL premiership points.

Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham says the match is about celebrating diversity and making everyone feel welcome at the football. 

“The Swans played in the first Pride Game against Fremantle in the pre-season competition last year and the Sydney Swans are delighted to take a leadership position on LBGTI issues, as the core values of the Swans are inclusion and fairness,” Pridham said.

“We believe it’s very important as a football club with 1.2 million supporters and over 55,000 members that we take a leadership position, that we don’t sit back, and we are proactive in advocating for important causes, such as the LGBTI cause.”

Swans players will wear socks with a rainbow strip while Saints players will have rainbow-coloured numbers on their guernseys.

Sydney’s Principal Partner QBE is proudly supporting the Pride Game by supplying members of the Swans’ Melbourne Cheer Squad with Swans rainbow socks to wear on game day, as well as rainbow flags to show support for the LGBTI community. 

To learn more about the Rainbow Swans, the official LGBTI Supporters Group of the Sydney Swans, click here.