The Sydney Swans have support from the holiest of locations ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final against Hawthorn, with the Ambassador to the Holy See, John McCarthy QC sending his well-wishes from Vatican City.

Not only will Ambassador McCarthy be watching the season decider live from across the globe, the avid-Swans fan has organised his own Grand Final party at an Irish pub in the centre of Rome.

McCarthy, who is a former SCG Trustee, told sydneyswans.com.au that nothing could stop him from seeing his beloved Swans take on the Hawks on the last Saturday of September.

“I’ve already arranged, and I’m hosting, a Grand Final party at one of the famous Irish pubs here in Rome,” McCarthy said.

“They’ve got big television screens and coverage, and a lot of ex-pats in Rome go there for soccer, rugby and Australian Rules.

“A group of us have it all to ourselves because the Grand Final will get underway at about 7am.

“It will only be the really committed who will be there at 7am in the morning.”

McCarthy was determined to arrange his own Grand Final celebration after missing the Swans historic Preliminary Final win over Collingwood last Friday night due to diplomatic commitments.

Fortunately, the lifelong Swans fan was able to keep tabs on the game through the wonders of the internet.

“(The Collingwood) match was happening here during the day and I had a series of diplomatic commitments and I have conferences and I have people here from Australia and that sort of thing and it make it just impossible to (watch),” McCarthy said.

“I had various people hit the internet news for me and found out the fantastic information that the Swans had beaten the Magpies and that the hoodoo against Collingwood had been broken in no uncertain terms, and that the Swans were in the Grand Final.”

McCarthy, who attended the club’s last Grand Final win in 2005, said that while he wasn’t able to watch the match, the Swans victory last Friday night was evidence that Sydney has what it takes to go all the way in 2012.

“I think the Swans (will win),” McCarthy said.

“After the victory over Collingwood, I can’t believe that anyone in Australia would seriously think that the Swans are not a huge prospect to win the Grand Final.

“They have played the highest standard of Australian Rules when playing at their best and it’s obvious that they are at their very best at this time.

“The way that they’ve played in the finals in 2012 is one of the great milestones and markers in Swans history.”

This weekend in sport is of even greater significance to the Ambassador, with McCarthy’s NRL team, the Canterbury Bulldogs, also vying for Grand Final glory against the Melbourne Storm on Sunday.

McCarthy said he was praying that his two teams would produce the Sydney double this weekend.

“I think if there is anyone who is ecstatic about this weekend in sport, it’s the Ambassador to the Holy See,” McCarthy said.

“We only pray that both teams will play at their most spectacular and that both will win.”

More Swans fans backing the side around the globe: