Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley has praised the club’s members as “the true believers” as he leads the red and white through the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic.

All clubs in the AFL will play in front of empty stands for the foreseeable future and there’s a chance the competition will be put on hold if a player contracts the virus.

But the support of Swans members has been phenomenal in the lead-up to Sydney’s opening-round match against the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, with fans pouring out their passion in an avalanche of posts on social media.

“I’ve got to say the general sentiment of our members has been overwhelmingly positive,” Harley said on SwansTV.

“There are clearly some things that we can’t answer at the moment as the industry works through this time, but I’m pleased to say the sentiment has been really positive – and we are so grateful for that.

“We’re going to need membership support more than ever this year. We did have record membership last year, we had been tracking well until this point in time and we really encourage those who haven’t yet signed up to get on board. Membership benefits cover a whole myriad of components and that sense of belonging to the Swans community is really important.

“Membership is the lifeblood of our footy club. Members are the true believers who are totally invested in what we’re doing.”

The club prides itself on a rich history born almost 146 years ago out of South Melbourne Temperance Hall, originally known as the Emerald Hill Total Abstinence Society Hall, on June 19, 1874.

The Swans have since outlasted, among a host of enormous challenges, World War I, World War II, the Great Depression, the financial chaos that forced the club into its 1982 relocation to Sydney and their 26-game losing streak across seasons 1992 and 1993.

South Melbourne won premierships in 1909, 1918 and 1933, and Sydney in 2005 and 2012, while a trove of champion footballers have donned the red and white: names like Bob Skilton, Peter Bedford, John Rantall, Dennis Carroll, Paul Kelly, Tony Lockett, Adam Goodes, Michael O’Loughlin, Jarrad McVeigh and Lance Franklin.

“We absolutely intend on being around for another 146 years,” Harley said.

“Get behind the team, we need you more than ever, watch the game on Saturday afternoon and spread the cheer. I’m looking forward to seeing how the boys go.

“We don’t know what the future holds for the season, but what we do know and what I can absolutely commit to is a 100-per-cent effort.

“As a football club we aim to make our members proud.” 

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