The Sydney Swans have held their 2012 Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Dinner tonight, in front of more than 650 people at the Grand Ballroom, Westin Sydney.

In a passionate speech, coach John Longmire urged his players to make the most of every opportunity they get in the red and white guernsey.

“Whilst listening to some of the greats that have gone before us, a message that has been consistent is the value of team,” Longmire said on the night.

“It takes a team to be successful, not just individual talent. A group of people working together that puts egos aside so a greater cause can be achieved. When this occurs, it's very hard to stop.

“Over the last three years there have been 33 changes to our list of 44. We've lost many champions, but in their place we believe others are starting to find their feet. To these players, make sure that you take your turn. Don't wait – be impatient.

“In 12 days’ time we begin the 2012 season. We have 44 players, and a club all prepared to go to work. We have fantastic corporate partners and members who have committed their support.

“12 days to go and I’m sure you’re like us – we can’t wait!”

During the night four new players were inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame – premiership players Harry Clarke (1933) and Jared Crouch (2005) along with dual All-Australian Barry Mitchell and former Board Member Craig Kimberley.

Clarke, who was named in the Swans’ Team of the Century, was a brilliant winger who made his debut in 1926 against Richmond at the Lake Oval.  

Harry played 147 games for the Club between 1926 and 1935. He was rated as one of the Club’s finest players and was a classical centre-line player with exceptional skills.

He played in four successive finals series between 1932 and 1935. Named on the wing in the 1933 Grand Final against Richmond, Harry was one of the Swans’ best players in the 42-point victory, and won the Best and Fairest award in that premiership year.

Joining Clarke to be inducted was Barry Mitchell who played 170 games for the Swans from 1984 to 1992 and was one of the driving forces behind the team contesting the finals in 1986 and 1987.

He was consistently one of the finest rovers in the League in his nine seasons with the Swans. Brave and skilful, Mitchell topped the Swans’ goalkicking with 35 goals in 1988 and won the Club’s Best and Fairest award in 1991.

On the night Barry was inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame, his son Tom, received his first Sydney Swans guernsey, the number 6, from former captain Craig Bolton. Tom was recruited as a father-son selection with pick 21 in last year’s Draft.

Premiership player Jared Crouch was the third player to be inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame.

Drafted from South Australian club Norwood in 1995, Jared Crouch quickly developed into a fine ‘run with’ player, especially against dangerous small forwards. He earned an AFL rising star nomination in 1998 as his pace and sticking ability made him a key component of the midfield.

After breaking into the senior team in 1998, he did not miss a game until round 13 of 2006, taking his consecutive games tally to 194 – an AFL record for consecutive matches played from debut. 

During these first six seasons, he also displayed remarkable consistency, finishing in the top 10 of the Club Best and Fairest each year and between 1998 and 2008 he played in nine finals series. He was an integral part of the 2005 Premiership team, and was presented with the Paul Roos Award for Best Player in the finals series in our Premiership season.

The last Hall of Fame inductee was former Club president Craig Kimberley. Craig grew up as a passionate South Melbourne supporter and was President of the Club in 1975 until the end of the 1977 season. 

He was the Club’s AFL representative from 1975 to 1988 and was made an AFL Life Member in 1991 in recognition of his outstanding service to the Swans. He was a Commissioner of the AFL from 1997 to 2000.

In 1988, Craig was one of the major shareholders who bought the licence to own and operate the Club. He served on the Board again from 1989 to 1993 and in 2006 he joined the Board of the Sydney Swans Foundation.

His elevation to the Hall of Fame, however, is based equally on his informal, behind the scenes involvement with the Club.

Also on the night, four integral pieces of Swans history – moments of brilliance, events, places of interest – were added to the Swans’ Heritage List. 

The Swans Heritage List was established by Chairman Richard Colless at last year’s Hall of Fame event to reflect the Club’s extraordinary history from its formation in 1874.

This year, the home of the Swans, the SCG, Bob Pratt’s 150 goals in a season, the famous red and white guernsey worn by the Swans, which was adopted by South Melbourne in 1880, and Nick Davis’ incredible four last quarter goals in the 2005 semi-final against Geelong, were added to the list.