As we prepare for Member Thank You Round on Sunday we reflect on the many and varied stories among our fan base as to how they came to love the Sydney Swans.

Today Patrick Perriam Frisch, a 10-year member, Bloods 2020 member and Membership Support Specialist at the Sydney Swans shares his story of how he fell in love with the red and white.

As I was growing up on the Central Coast in NSW, it seemed to me there were four sports: Rugby League, Cricket, Soccer, & Netball. Sure, there were rumours of some other sports, but they were a bit niche and unfashionable. As a teenager in 2005 I stumbled across the Swans while flicking through channels on TV. I decided to keep it on and check it out. I soon understood that this was finals footy, and that the Swans were pretty good. Much to the disappointment and dismay of some family members, I decided that I liked AFL and I liked the Swans.

In 2011 I joined the Swans as a member, I bought two seats in Bay 33 so that I could bring friends along to a game or two. All part of the plan to convert more Swans fans. I quickly learned that to be a member in the concourse, a rainproof jacket was just as important as your member card on game day. Sitting in bay 33 my friend Albert and I decided that our hero was Nick Malceski, because it seemed important to have a hero, and we liked Malceski's hair.

In 2012 I moved to general admission area behind the goals with some more friends to enjoy the footy. It was from this vantage point I took in our Round 13 match against Geelong. The Swans got off to a flying start and in the first quarter we saw seven goals that all seemed to be kicked directly at us. This was countered by five Geelong goals in the final term, also seemingly kicked directly at us. Upon Everitt kicking the winning goal and the final siren I was jumping and waving my scarf in dreamland. I love this game, I love this club, where would you rather be?

Not expecting the Swans to go deep into September, I booked a trip to the USA in 2012. I went to many gridiron and baseball games on that trip, but the sporting highlight was watching the AFL grand final with the Philadelphia Hawks AFL club. I proudly wore my Swans guernsey through Philadelphia that day and felt an amazing sense of belonging when I met up with the other AFL fans to watch the game and saw fellow Swans fans. I cursed each of Buddy’s three goals while most of the crowd around me celebrated wildly. At around 2.30am, up popped our hero Nick Malceski with the infamous match winner. I couldn’t sleep after that, how could you? In the wake of the glory of the final, I decided to get a Cyggy tattoo, much to the amusement of the American tattoo artist.

After this I followed the Swans while living in the UK, the Swans membership pack arriving at my flat in London was a great cure for homesickness. In this time Albert and I decided that with Malceski’s departure, Sam Naismith would become our cool hair hero. As a result of longing for home, I watched more footy in 2016 than I ever had before. As the Swans progressed through the finals, I felt that my dedication to the 2016 season was being rewarded. I awoke at 4am in Glasgow to watch the final wearing my Swans member cap under a tartan blanket to keep me warm. It was not to be, but I loved being part of the journey, even if it was watching from afar.

In late 2019 I applied for a role in the membership team at the Swans. As I sat in reception waiting for my interview, who should walk past but my cool hair hero, Sam Naismith. It was hard to not see this as a positive omen ahead of my interview.  Positive omen or not, I was offered the job and I happily accepted. Walking into the office at the SCG for the first time was surreal. In a tour of the office I bumped into Horse, “Hi, I’m John” he said. Yeah mate, I know, great to meet you. In my induction I watched highlights of the 2012 grand final with the HR manager. This was real, I was working for the Swans.

I love my job; I get to work for my footy club and get to know our members better. I get to hear stories about how people rode their bikes to watch the Swans train at lake oval, that time they met Micky O, and what it means to them to be a member of the Swans. I get to soak up the South Melbourne history and see what excites our newest members. I get to work on ways for our club to say thank you to our members. I get to see how much it means to the club to have the support of our fantastic members.

To our members, thank you. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for making me feel welcome and at home in my job. Thank you for the incredible support you provide our great club.