He may never don the red and white guernsey or kick the winning goal, but that hasn’t stopped Tom Waterhouse becoming the latest part of the Sydney Swans team.
Waterhouse, who is the managing director of online betting organisation TomWaterhouse.com, visited Swans headquarters on Monday afternoon after signing on as a Premier Partner of the Sydney Swans Football Club.
Like all of the club’s partners, the Swans were extremely impressed with TomWaterhouse.com’s brand values, which strongly align with those of the club.
The Waterhouse name is synonymous with Australian horse racing, with four generations of Waterhouses’ involved in the industry for over a century.
Speaking to SwansTV, Waterhouse said TomWaterhouse.com was an online venture following in the footsteps of the Waterhouse name.
“My great-grandfather, grandfather and dad were all bookies and when I finished university I decided to become a bookie, and then I realised about five years ago that people weren’t going to the races anymore,” he said.
“I thought I better get online so that people who want to bet with me can not only call me, they can bet with me with their computer or mobile and that’s why I started TomWaterhouse.com."
Waterhouse took part in an exclusive tour of the club’s facilities, including a visit to the club locker rooms and a walk on the SCG turf.
Waterhouse, who grew up in Sydney, said he was looking forward to his partnership with the Swans this season.
“The Swans were such a great fit,” he said.
“I hadn’t sponsored any teams before and being a Sydney boy and living half the week in Melbourne - I actually live in South Melbourne - I always wanted to follow AFL and being a Sydney boy the Sydney Swans were perfect.
“They are a great organisation and I just thought it would be a fantastic (opportunity) as my first sponsorship deal to be the Swans.”
Although football was clearly on the agenda, Waterhouse offered SwansTV punters a little bit of advice ahead of next month’s Golden Slipper.
“This year mum (Gai Waterhouse) has had an unbelievable year and she has got so many really good two-year-olds,” he said.
“She quinella-ed the Magic Millions with horses No Looking Back and Driefontein and she’s got another horse called Raceway and they are all sort of the top six in terms of betting.
“She actually thinks she’s got a horse that’s a superstar and that’s called Pierro, and every time I see her she is talking about this horse … so I think that’s her pick for the Slipper, but it’s a tough race to win.
“I think if she had to lean towards one, (Pierro) would be it.”
