The Sydney Swans are mourning the loss of former club recruiter Laurie Dwyer, who sadly passed away on Monday aged 77.

Dwyer was a champion footballer who played 201 games for North Melbourne, won two Club Champion awards, finished runner up in the Brownlow Medal twice, and was named in the Kangaroos’ Team of the Century and Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in North Melbourne, Dwyer made his debut for his local club in 1956 and affectionately became known as ‘twinkletoes’ by the North faithful – a nickname he obtained from his prowess as a ballroom dancer and the skills he used to dominate on the football field.

Upon his retirement in 1970, Dwyer stayed on with North Melbourne as a runner, administrator and recruiting manager before joining the Swans in their recruiting team.

It was a role he held for a number of years, helping to put together the teams of the mid 1990s that launched the most successful era in the Club’s history.

Some of the names that Dwyer helped recruit to the Club include Michael O’Loughlin, Brett Kirk, Paul Roos and Tony Lockett, just to name a few. 

Dwyer’s son, David, also worked for the Swans as an accountant.

The thoughts of the Sydney Swans are with the Dwyer family.