Former captain Brett Kirk is still and always will be ‘persona grata’ at the Sydney Swans, despite recent reports to the contrary.
 
Commentators during Saturday’s coverage of the Swans match against Geelong suggested Kirk had been banned from the Swans rooms after accepting an assistant coaching role with Fremantle for the 2013 season.
 
The Club wishes to clarify that no such ban is in place on the Swans great.
 
Match broadcaster Channel 7 sought permission to feature a live cross to Kirk from the Swans rooms 25 minutes prior to the first bounce in Saturday’s game at Simonds Stadium.
 
A number of issues were taken into account when the Club declined the request on Thursday.
 
Since 2003, the Club has enforced a strict policy around dressing room access prior to matches, with only required football staff allowed. Board members, other Club personnel, players’ family and friends, and other guests are all permitted access to the rooms after matches.
 
This season, the Club has worked with broadcast partners to allow access to a cameraman into the rooms pre-match, and one occasion, allowed commentator Bruce McAvaney into the rooms - some two hours prior to the match start time - to interview coach John Longmire. No other media representatives have been permitted access to the rooms pre-match.
 
The Club wishes Brett all the best for his new role with the Fremantle Dockers, and would be happy to see him in the rooms either in his role as a commentator, or simply as a Club great, at the conclusion of any remaining match this season.