Hundreds of budding young footballers showed off their skills on the SCG on Tuesday evening as part of the annual Swans Friendly Clubs SCG visit.

Children from 20 clubs across the Swans’ zone were invited to take part in the clinic, which was run by a number of Sydney Swans players, including Adam Goodes, Rhyce Shaw, Luke Parker, Sam Reid and Heath Grundy.

Clubs from within Sydney, as well as clubs from as far as Kiama and Cardfiff, were in attendance for the clinic, which saw participants take part in an on-field clinic with the Swans’ players while parents watched on from the stands.

The SCG visit was a reward for clubs who registered the most Sydney Swans members or Red Rookies in 2013, or had purchased tickets through the Swans Friendly Clubs Ticketing Program.

Local club East Sydney Bulldogs were this year’s rewards program winners, and were permitted to send 20 footballers to the clinic as well as the granted the opportunity to nominate one player as the Swans’ junior mascot for the round 23 clash with Hawthorn at ANZ Stadium.

Bulldogs president Marelle Sharpe said her club had really benefited from being a part of the Swans Friendly Clubs program.

“Our kids were very, very excited and felt very honoured to be invited to the event,” she said.

“I know a lot of children from our club signed up as Red Rookies.

“We also have had various teams who have gone along and done a team bonding session at the football together using the tickets available, which was absolutely fantastic.

“That brings teams together which is good, so it’s been very positive being a Swans Friendly Club.”

Sharpe said the Bulldogs had nominated under-12 player Lou-Tiger O’Rourke as the junior mascot for next week’s match for his helpful nature on match days at the club.

“I haven’t heard from our little one who has been selected to run through the banner but I imagine he’d be stoked,” she said.

“The reason why he got that is that he’s one of our under-12 boys and every Saturday we have a home game he offers to help.

“He’ll do things from cleaning up around the barbeque, he collapses boxes for us and he puts out goals back into the goal set, he moves fields to help with different configurations on the day and he’s just a general helper, which is absolutely wonderful.

“We’re thrilled to be able to give him this honour because he deserves it.”

Coaches from both junior and senior clubs were also invited to take part in an exclusive educational coaching session headed up by Sydney Swans assistant coaches John Blakey, Stuart Dew, Leigh Tudor and Henry Playfair.

Swans Friendly Clubs in attendance included:

Manly Bombers
North Ryde Dockers
Easts Bulldogs
Maroubra Saints
Highland Hawks
Willoughby Wildcats
St Ives Saints
Mosman Swans
Drummoyne Power
Westbrook Bulldogs
Newtown Swans
Penshurst Panthers
Wests Magpies
Cronulla Sharks
Glebe Greyhounds
Forest Lions
Pittwater Tigers
Pennant Hills Demons
Moore Park Tigers
Hornsby Berowra Eagles