Since we last wrote, we have seen a fine win over Freo and a loss to North Melbourne at the SCG; a win at the MCG against Roosy’s Demons; a very efficient win in Brisbane; and the great win against the reigning premiers at ANZ Stadium to make it four in a row.
The Melbourne game was preceded by a Member Loyalty Cocktail function for 14-year-plus Victorian Swans’ members. There were about 400 people gathered in a room at the MCG, wearing the colours almost to a man and a woman.
Drawing the raffle – which has become a permanent duty in our travels
Jude was the compere for the evening. He interviewed fellow 2005 premiership player Paul Williams, who still looked to be match fit. After finishing with the Swans, Paul coached at three clubs, including a brief stint as senior coach of the Western Bulldogs, and now works outside football in Melbourne.
Swans royalty was among the throng … Bobby Skilton was there, attending his first match since the 2012 Grand Final, and looking very well.
We had a long chat with John Heriot, named at full-back in the Swans’ Team of the Century.
John also looks to be defying the years and confided that, after Leo’s mark to seal our win in the 2005 Grand Final, he had offered him his place in the Team of the Century … only problem was it was the wrong century!! (Incidentally, they both wore number 21). John also reminisced about the 1970 team which broke a 25-year finals drought, and the influence of the great Norm Smith.
John Heriot is President of the Swans’ Past Players and we look forward to attending one of their functions later in the year. He told us how it was an initiative of Richard Colless and Kelvin Templeton during the 1990s to get the Past Players group going on a more formal basis. It should not surprise us that the Swans ex-players group is now considered one of the most active and supportive of all of the clubs. There are so many aspects of our club of which we are rightly proud.
Peter and Maree with John Heriot
We also met Greg Lambert, originally from Corowa (like our great coach). Greg played 167 games (22 goals) between 1966 and 1979; a career covering finals appearances in 1970 and 1977. The ex-players’ recall of finals shows how much they cherish those games on the really big stage, especially when they are few and far between as they were back then.
Our many interstate supporters are well served by the Swans Melbourne Office team, headed by Tony Morwood (another to wear guernsey 21). There is a full calendar of events in Melbourne to involve the avid fan of the red and the white, and functions to coincide with Swans matches in all the other states.
Our admiration for our non-Sydney fans grows every time we mix with them and experience the passion they feel for their footy team. Many travel long distances to see Sydney play and so many fans arrange to take in at least one match outside their home state.
Our own family is now in the third generation of Swans support, but in Melbourne particularly, you find fans who’ve been loyal for six generations. They are the heart and soul of our club and to be cherished.
We love their stories. Steve B told us how when the Swans relocated to Sydney he was angry and decided to relinquish his membership and follow another team. He joined up and started regularly attending St Kilda matches at Moorabbin. But his heart just wasn’t in it. And then came the day when St Kilda was playing the Sydney Swans and he found himself hoping the visitors would win, so he gave in and rejoined. He was there to see two Swans premierships and just loves his team.
We also reconnected with Peter Hatley who many will remember from his days leading the cheering in front of the Brewongle Stand at the SCG. Peter has relocated to Melbourne and leads our southern Cheer Squad. Half of your Number One Member team, Peter T, sat with Peter H and the Cheer Squad behind the goals for part of the Melbourne game. It was a freezing night and much cosier in the stand for the other half of the team!
The next weekend took us to Brisbane and beautiful weather, another great pre-match function, a good win, and Rhyce Shaw’s 200th game.
It’s worth noting how so many of the comments about Rhyce’s achievements emphasise the role he has played off the field. He is such an important member of our team. To top off the win, Rhyce kicked a goal, his 43rd! We loved the way he embraced the Cheer Squad and so many of the supporters around the boundary fence after the match. His family was there and Dad, Ray, noted that when he played his 200th game he was not afforded such a banner. We pointed out that he never played for the Swans.
There were about 250 supporters at the Brisbane pre-match at the aptly named Pineapple Hotel. The Pineapple is about the length of a Malcolm Blight torpedo from the Gabba, and a great AFL-friendly pub.
The function was hosted by the Gold Coast supporters group with club legend, Michael O’Loughlin, as compere. He interviewed fellow legend Barry Round, and also spoke about his time at the AIS as the coach of the elite young footballers, and his recent appointment as head coach of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.
Mick outlined details of his key role overseeing the more than 60 coaches who are involved with the Swans Academy at various locations in NSW, and of his task of developing a coaching blueprint for them. He took a number of questions from the floor and was his usual interesting and amusing self.
At the function we reconnected with some of the Adelaide supporter group who had travelled to Brisbane for the match.
A number of mini-buses had also brought Swans fans, including Barry Round, from the Gold Coast. Pat Alcock, who is chief Swan on the Coast, was looking forward to Barry entertaining the bus on the return journey.
The Gold Coast Supporter Group started in 2009, and describes itself as a passionate group of Swans supporters who regularly get together at the Burleigh Sports Club to watch their boys play. They also have an annual lunch at the Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern. There are many past players that live on the Gold Coast who regularly come along and join the group. Pat can be contacted on pat.alcock@live.com.au for more details.
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We also met Roger Boyden and his daughter Liz. Roger has recently relocated to Brisbane from Victoria where he was an active member of the South of Melbourne Swans supporter group. Also in the crowd was Sean O’Hara aged nearly 77, who first started following South Melbourne when he was about eight or nine years old. Sean looked as fit as a fiddle, is still running regularly in local fun runs and has competed recently in four World Masters Games.
We are looking forward to catching up with many of these supporters in a few weeks when we venture north again to play the Gold Coast Suns.
Indeed as the Willie Nelson song says, our Number One journey involves:
Goin' places that we’ve never been…
Seein' things that we may never see again…
We just can’t wait to get on the road again!
Cheer, cheer
Peter and Maree
Your Number One Members
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