Season 2010 - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner

The Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner is your opportunity to hear from 2010 captains and coaches, meet new recruits and rookies, and welcome back your favourite players as they prepare for the 2010 season. Witness the tradition as each player is presented with their 2010 playing guernsey by a Sydney Swans Team of the Century member.

The Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner includes a three course meal with beer, wine and soft drinks.

Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner
Venue: Hilton Sydney, 488 George Street
Date: Wednesday 17 March 2010
Time: 7pm for 7.30pm

Gold Seating: $210 per person
Silver Seating:  $190 per person
Dress: Lounge Suit
Guests must be 18 years or over

Those who purchase tickets to the Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner before Friday 19 February 2010, will go into the draw to win limousine transfers to and from this event, thanks to Swans Limousines. Conditions apply.

Bookings close Thursday 11 March, unless sold out

Parking
Parking is available in the Wilson Parking QVB car park for a flat rate of $12 (entry after 5pm, car park closes at 1am). Entry to the car park from York Street.

Accommodation
The Hilton Sydney are pleased to offer guests attending the Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner a discounted rate on accommodation.
Room with breakfast for one person: $279
Room with breakfast for two people: $299
To take advantage of these rates please contact Natalie Frade on 02 9265 6050 or Natalie.frade@hilton.com and quote the Sydney Swans Guernsey Presentation Dinner

Terms and conditions - Swans Limousines competition: Transfers available from a Sydney Metropolitan location only. The limousine will collect from and return to one address only. Limousine capacity must to be adhered to. Collection and drop off times to be calculated with event start and finish times and anticipated travel time. Swans Limousines accepts no liability for late arrival at the event.

Read on below for a wrap of last year's event.

Guernesy Presentation dinner

Wednesday 18 March, 2009
by Michael Rogers

NEW Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes has implored his young teammates to embrace the club’s renowned culture to ensure its continued success.

In his keynote speech at the Swans’ guernsey presentation on Wednesday night, Goodes spoke of his search to understand his Aboriginality and how his search helped him foster the club’s Bloods ethos.

The dual Brownlow Medallist told the 500-strong gathering that when he moved to Sydney, he had little understanding of his indigenous heritage.

“I had fantastic role models here in Mick O’Loughlin, Troy Cook and Robbie Ahmat to help support me and mentor me in Sydney… I was surrounded by my brothers, but I still didn’t know what it was,” he said.

“I didn’t know where I came from, or the history of my people, or what my culture actually looked like. So I enrolled in TAFE and started my education into what it was to be Aboriginal.”

Goodes said the importance of storytelling in indigenous culture, which allowed Aboriginal law to be passed from generation to generation, was mirrored in the Swans’ community.

“From being involved in this community, I have learned a lot about how my indigenous ancestors and family members used to live. I feel a strong connection to this community, like I belong,” he said.

“I am a custodian of our group, and of our culture. I have many different roles that I can do for the group, and most importantly, I can pass it on to the next generation.”

To that end, Goodes urged the club’s new players to embrace the Bloods’ ethos of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the wider group.

“Don’t take what we have for granted. Our culture can change quickly so with good leadership and discipline, we’ll be able to sustain our culture in the future,” he said.

“We all have a role to play in this community, our Swans family, from coach to custodians to first-year players.

“Understand what we are asking from you and work extremely hard to do your best. For this family to succeed and flourish, we need everyone playing their role.”

Goodes’ speech echoed the earlier words of co-captain Brett Kirk, who spoke about the passion that the Swans demanded of their community.

Kirk said the Swans were “the best club in the AFL” and attributed its strength to the passion of its players and staff.

“Other AFL clubs and sporting organisations want what we’ve got. They want the blueprint to our culture. But it doesn’t matter what they do, they won’t be able to get it. We have our culture because of the people we choose in the Sydney Swans family,” he said.

“Consistent enthusiasm, a belief in what you are doing, a hunger to be better and a desire to achieve great results are not optional this year at the Swans – it is expected.”

And Swans coach Paul Roos left the congregation in no doubt as to his expectations.

“The simple thing will be the effort, the passion, the belief, the courage and all the things that go into playing AFL football,” he said.

“If we can have the same commitment that we’ve had for the last six years; the same effort, the same work ethic... we’ll play in finals again in 2009.”