The event, It's In The Blood, was attended by a crowd of over 1300 people at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, and told the story of the Swans since the team’s inception in South Melbourne in 1874.
Swans Chairman Richard Colless opened proceedings by thanking Melbourne’s “true believers” for their unyielding support during the tumultuous years that saw the team relocate to the harbour city.
“To those of you from Melbourne, can I say that some time ago something very precious to you was taken from you,” he said.
“You thought it was lost forever, it’s been found, it’s been returned and it’s in great shape.”
Football journalist Mike Sheahan took to the stage to speak of his admiration for the team, and to reminisce about younger days spent at Lake Oval, watching Swans greats work their magic on the field.
“I remember watching the Swans quite a bit, watching Bobby Skilton, watching Max Papley… get a kick whenever he wanted, watching John Rantall play on blokes who were a foot taller than him, ‘Wheels’ Bedford fighting it out in his division week after week and Ricky Quade, who was the Brett Kirk of his time, and I think that was when I just saw the commitment that these blokes had and the love they had for their footy Club.”
Current co-captain Brett Kirk issued a rousing battle call those in the room, welcoming them to the ‘Swans journey’, and encouraging them to remain a part of the journey for years to come.
“Tonight, we’re going together on a journey, one that’s made possible by many thousands of people, some are in this room tonight and along the way will tell the story, the saga of a football Club,” Kirk said.
“Like most stories, it’s a tale in process, with good times and bad, moments of triumph and others of despair, but above all it’s the path taken on a quest to survive, prosper and finally come out winners. It is a journey that has been with us, that will always stay with us, because let’s face it, It’s In The Blood.”
And what a story it is. Over the course of the night, the crowd remembered the exhilarating highs and the devastating lows the Swans experienced over the past 135 years, as they paid tribute to 23 fine footballers from five eras, including three ‘Bloods Legends’.
In accepting his award, fifth era inductee Barry Round acknowledged the Swans ‘heroes’ who brought the Club back from the brink of collapse in the 80s.
“The players get the glory, but those guys [Peter Weinert, Mike Willessee, Mike Edgely] kept the Club afloat, which is just fantastic. They’re the unsung heroes really,” he said.
“We had our day to day problems as far as existing, but we got out on the weekend and we either had a good game or had a win or whatever, but these guys had to face financial stress every day of the week.”
Another fifth era inductee, Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy talked about making the move from Melbourne to the Sydney Swans.
“I think for me, this is just a fantastic honour and it gives me the opportunity to thank the Sydney Swans for giving me the Club that I’ll always belong to,” Healy said.
“I think everybody wants to be a one-club player, I played for two, but… my heart is very much with Sydney, because it’s the Club that gave me a real foundation… It’s a true Club, and it’s a Club that has been able to embody this two-town, one-team ethic.”
Anointed with Bloods Legend status were Swans greats Bob Pratt, Paul Kelly and Bob Skilton. Receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as he accepted his induction, Kelly reflected on life after football.
“I think like most of the guys today and blokes before me, when you’re doing it, you’re just trying to do as best you can and make it better next time, and you’re sort of not worried about watching the team or where you’re at. And when you do retire, and look back and see who you were and what you did and what you meant to people, it’s pretty special,” he said.
Richard Colless returned to the stage to introduce the final Legend to be inducted, arguably the most popular Swans footballer of all time, Bob Skilton.
“From our point of view, we want to see skill, we want to see fairness, we want to see tenacity, we want to see perseverance, but we also want to see humility, and this man is all of that and much more.”
Bob Skilton told the crowd how he ended up with two numbers on his back in a time when most footballers strived for just one. He spoke of lending his famous number 14 guernsey to his young neighbour after winning his first Brownlow Medal, and how that young man was suspended from school for being out of uniform. He also appealed to the Swans’ current stock of young, up and coming players to enjoy the game, and make the most of the friendships and camaraderie that go along with it.
“Enjoyment is the main thing… I was lucky enough to play in a wonderful era, an era of mateship and friendship, and not only with my teammates but with the opposition,” Skilton said.
“Football has been great for me, and I’m richer, we didn’t play for a lot of money, but I’m richer for having played it and I like to think I’m a better person because I played it.”
Skilton earned a roar from the audience when he emphasised his faith that the Swans would soon return to 2005 glory.
“You know we might be down a little bit at the moment but we won’t be for bloody long.
“It really has been a wonderful journey, and I hope it’s a journey that, from a spectator’s point of view, becomes even better.”
Swans inaugural Hall of Fame inductees
| Pre 1897 | 1897 -1918 | 1919 -1945 | 1946 - 1981 | 1982 - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Burns | Vic Belcher | Bob Pratt (Legend) | Bob Skilton (Legend) | Paul Kelly (Legend) |
| Herb Howson | Roy Cazaly | Billy Williams | Tony Lockett | |
| Bruce Sloss | Mark Tandy | Fred Goldsmith | Barry Round | |
| Laurie Nash | John Rantall | Mark Browning | ||
| J. Herbie Matthews | Peter Bedford | Dennis Carroll | ||
Jack Bisset | Ron Clegg | Gerard Healy | ||
Greg Williams |
Billy Williams
Fred Goldsmith
Peter Bedford
Paul Kelly
All the inductees
