It’s hard to believe that we have reached the final quarter of our year as Number One Ticket Holders as we continue to follow the team and the Club through their busy schedule.
Four weeks ago we witnessed a Saturday afternoon top-of-the-table clash against Port Adelaide, the SCG almost filled to capacity with more than 41,000 cheering Swans fans, a 68.8 metre goal from Lance Franklin, and a four-point win. Our six-week old grandson attended his first game. It doesn’t get much better!
Before the match we had a chance to chat with Bob Hawke, a life-long supporter of our Club. We recalled how, as newly paid up Swans’ members, we were at the 1983 Sydney Swans guernsey presentation dinner in the Sydney Town Hall. We saw the first crop of relocated players receive their guernseys from the recently elected Prime Minister of Australia and Swans’ Number One Ticket Holder. We’ve all come a long way since.
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A flock of Number Ones
Next stop was the MCG on a bitterly cold Friday evening to see our Swans win ugly against Richmond, and to enjoy mingling with Melbourne-based Swans supporters again, at a pre-match function. Anthony Daniher was among those interviewed pre-match, speaking of the difficult decision his son Joe faced in choosing Essendon over the Swans.
We felt this win was just as important as the thrilling Port Adelaide one, as the team ground it out when not much went to plan. There were almost as many Swans supporters as Tigers supporters at the MCG that night, judging by the noise.
The morning after the Richmond match, we joined the Melbourne supporters again at a player “Meet and Greet” at Albert Park, in the shadows of the old Lake Oval. There must have been 1500 red and white bedecked fans there and 100-metre queues at each of the tables where the players were seated. The players (about 18 of them) patiently signed footy jumpers and other footy paraphernalia, posed for photos, and were unfailingly polite and friendly to seemingly endless streams of young and not-so-young supporters. It was great to see so many kids who are rusted on ‘Bloods’, including our Melbourne-based grand nephew and niece. The Swans now have 11,000 fantastic Melbourne based members.
Ned and Amelia with two future stars
Sophie and Elyse at the Meet and Greet
Peter “Grubby” Stubbs, a passionate supporter and Swans’ life member who doubles as a Melbourne radio host, was our energetic compere at both events. We remarked how well served the Swans are with ready made comperes in both Sydney and Melbourne, drawn from our supporter base and ambassador ranks.
Then it was back to the SCG to demolish GWS on a very cold Saturday night. The game ticked off another milestone delivering the 10th win in a row, and just a little revenge for the round one disaster.
The Chairman's pre-match was filled with talk of the developing Swans Academy and it was explained that our Club will choose Academy graduates using the same rules as operate for father/son selections. Hardly a great concession you would think, particularly as all AFL Clubs will benefit from the enlarged pool of talented footballers being developed.
Peter joined our Cheer Squad for the first half of the GWS game. Sitting so close to the play gives a totally different perspective. You can hear the players talking, directing and supporting each other, while, when the play is at the other end of the ground, you are relying on the large screens.
The chanting, singing and flag-waving is great fun and an important part of the colour of our game. Our Sydney-based Cheer Squad is led by Cathy Mahony and Kylie Stanmore and they are always looking for new members. If you are interested in a real and important involvement in the game and the Club, email: cheersquad@sydneyswans.com.au.
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Peter with Cheer Squad
We are going to a banner making session later in the year and will join the Cheer Squad with the banner on the ground for the Richmond game, in the final home and away round.
The day before the GWS match, we attended the annual Sydney Ladies Lunch at Pyrmont, on the shores of Sydney Harbour. Peter was among the few males present, forsaking the Carbine Club’s AFL Lunch a couple of hundred metres up the road at the Star Casino. He had a great day and gained another insight into the many facets of our Club.
What a terrific event this is. About half the player group (mainly the younger ones) were there, along with more than 450 guests, including an array of media personalities, Sydney Swans ambassadors, players’ partners, mothers, L@SS members and other loyal Swans female supporters. Our generous partner QBE made it all possible.
The event was hosted by Channel 7 duo Chris Bath and Jim Wilson. Guests were also entertained by a panel of player interviews, by Swans’ Ambassador and comedian Tommy Dean, and a club trivia competition featuring three teams of female media Swans’ ambassadors.
Australian football stands out among sports in this country because of its historically high proportion of female spectators. This fact is recognised and fostered by the Swans with coterie groups such as L@SS and Ladies of the Lake, and also through this thoroughly enjoyable annual function, each of which provides opportunities for female supporters to join like-minded others to watch and discuss footy.
Did you know that girls and women are driving the growth in AFL football, with player participation soaring by almost 80 per cent in the past three years? And did you know that since the annual rotation of Number One Ticket Holders was instituted by the Swans in 2009, five women have been so honoured?
At the lunch we caught up with Swans’ Ambassador and Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art Director, Liz-Ann Macgregor, who tells the story of how we took her to her first Aussie Rules game (Swans of course) the weekend she arrived in Australia from the UK to take up her current post, and of how she loved the game immediately.
After the lunch many joined those from the Carbine Club function at the Star Cherry Bar to roll into the evening. From all reports, a good time was had by all.
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Maree with Tommy Dean
The Sydney Ladies Lunch
The next weekend it was on to Perth for the 11th straight win and top spot on the ladder.
We had planned to fly in so we could take in the cocktail function for WA Swans supporters on Friday evening, catch up with friends on Saturday, before enjoying the match on Sunday. However, a late change to the team with the withdrawal of Kurt Tippett was matched by a late change to our team with Maree being unable to fly because of a lingering winter bug. One stayed in Sydney, watching the game with friends, while the other travelled west late on Saturday.
Peter ran into Swans Hall of Famer, Barry Hall, in the Sydney Qantas Lounge on the way. They watched the final quarter of the Gold Coast/ Collingwood game - how good was that - and reminisced over past glories, including Barry's 52 metre goal in the last quarter of the 2005 Grand Final and his six goals in the qualifying final against Port Adelaide in 2003.
Sunday's match was preceded by a fans’ get-together in the Subiaco Sports Bar. Over 250 were there, despite the wet, cold, windy weather. Peter met up with Ross Atkinson, president of the Swans WA supporters group, and his energetic team. Their commitment and enthusiasm inspires. Many WA Swans had travelled long hours to be there, from places north, east and south of Perth showing wonderful dedication. A number had travelled from Sydney and Melbourne and places further afield as well.
Peter with WA Swans Committee
The Williams family from Newcastle was there and at least two other families had driven across the Nullabor, playing golf on the most spread-out golf course in the world on the way. These golfers included Past Players’ President, John Heriot and his wife Val. There’s no doubt, following the Swans allows some terrific opportunities and experiences.
Our Chairman, Andrew Pridham, spoke to the supporters about issues facing the Club and the game and Peter had the chance to tell our Swans’ story.
The game delivered the desired result in persistent and often driving rain. Maree celebrated in the warmth of Balmain, while for Peter it was back to the Sports Bar via the rather antiquated visitors change rooms, with wide smiles and bountiful good will to all. Cheer, Cheer was played over and over. A group of Swans enjoyed a Vietnamese meal by the aptly named Swan River to seal a great day. How a good win sets you up for the week ahead!!
It was home on the early plane on Monday for many, while the players had to suffer the red eye. Nick Smith was hoping that rumours of business class seating proved correct. We haven’t heard, but they recovered well regardless of the seating arrangements.
A blow-by-blow debrief for Maree followed Peter’s WA excursion, and she had the pleasure of meeting Ross Atkinson the next week, as he had travelled to Sydney, along with several other supporter group conveners from around the country, to enjoy a home game.
Last weekend we duly despatched Carlton for 12 wins on the trot, equalling our Club’s record number of consecutive wins. We’ve achieved this feat three times before. In two of those years we won the premiership. Let’s hope it’s an omen. But our advice on this is the same as the coach’s … “just take it one week at a time!”
We’ll enjoy the bye and then it’s off to Melbourne to honour Jude at the Legends Dinner before taking on the Hawks again.
Cheer, cheer
Peter and Maree
Your Number One Ticket Holders
