Of the club’s thousands of passionate supporters, there are some that certainly stand out from the crowd and have gone above and beyond to show they are true Bloods.
Melanie Sweep is one of those fans; not only has she supported the club for more than 25 years, she has also incorporated the Swans into all facets of her life.
Sweep, who lives in Sydney’s Hills District, describes herself and husband Shane as ‘fanatical’ Swans supporters, and they’ve got the track record to prove it.
Not only did the pair select a Swans game as the location of their first date, Shane also chose a Swans function as the venue to propose to Melanie, and the SCG – on game day – as their wedding venue.
“When I met my now-husband, our first date was at a game of football,” Melanie told sydneyswans.com.au.
“We had been friends for years and we decided we would catch up at a game of football and that was our first date, and then Christmas came along and we had been dating, so I decided to buy him a Swans membership.
“In 2005 when we won the Grand Final, at the Club Champion Dinner a week later he decided to propose.
“I’m sure he only did it because we won, because he was in really good spirits!
“We then got married at half-time of a Swans versus Essendon game in 2006, which we won.”
The pair wed in a corporate box at the SCG, and the ceremony was overseen by former Swans CEO Myles Baron-Hay.
Baron-Hay’s impact on the pair, which included removing his own tie to allow Shane to wear the official club colours during the ceremony, had a lasting effect on the couple.
“I’ve got these photos of Myles Baron-Hay ripping his tie off and giving it to my husband, which was amazing,” Melanie said.
“Some time later we had or first son and we named him after Myles, and then came our second son whose name is Jenson Kirk, obviously after Brett Kirk, and then when we had a daughter we thought we had only two real options: Sydney or Kelly.
“We opted for Sydney, so now we’ve got the CEO, the captain and the club.”
Melanie and Shane Sweep on their wedding day at the SCG
The entire Sweep family – including 17-month-year old Sydney, will be jumping in the car and travelling down to Melbourne this weekend to attend the AFL Grand Final, but Saturday’s game will not be a new experience for the Sweep children.
“We don’t miss a Grand Final,” Melanie said.
“We’re loading all three children into the car, so it’s going to be a fun drive with a 17-month-old, a three-year-old and a five-year-old.
“But Myles was at his first game when he was 11 days old, Jenson was 17 days old when he got to his first, and Sydney was 15 days when she got to her first game.
“We don’t let them miss a thing.”
This weekend will also be a time to remember for Swans fan Ken Sackville, thanks to a lovely Fathers’ Day gesture from his children.
Ken’s children, William, Sarah and Leah, all of whom are big Swans fans in their own right, went above and beyond for their dad this year.
“I’ve got such a bunch of good kids that they all put in money to buy me a present for Fathers’ Day, which is going to be pretty good for Grand Final day,” Ken told sydneyswans.com.au.
“The kids know how much I love the footy, so part of my present was that they backed every Swans player for me to win the Norm Smith.
“I don’t think anyone else in Australia would have got a present like that, but I’m hoping for Luke Parker to win because he’s probably my favourite player.”
Not only is Ken lucky enough to have three wonderful children, luck was also on his side when he received the call that he was drawn as the winner of the Cellarbrations’ Grand Final experience competition.
As the winner, Ken received four tickets to Saturday’s big game, as well as tickets to the Swans Grand Final Lunch and two nights’ accommodation at the Hilton.
Ken said he could hardly believe his luck when he heard the news from youngest daughter, Leah.
“I thought it was a prank from my daughter,” he said.
“I actually was in a meeting and Leah texted me four times, then I rang the number and I actually said “Are you sure this is true?”.
“The Grand Final is something as a family we try and get tickets to each year.
“It’s just amazing this has happened, you’ve got no idea!
“I’m taking three great mates, who are all avid Swans supporters, so I think we’re going to have a pretty good time!”
