We sat on the grassy bank overlooking the white picket boundary fence, surrounded by children and grandchildren, other families and groups, kids kicking footballs, while the (mostly) young Swans Reserves showed their fantastic skills in resoundingly defeating Northern Territory Thunder, in a NEAFL top-of-the-table clash. It took us back to our roots in 1950s country Victoria, and the VFL when football was played at suburban grounds.
Since our last newsletter we have travelled to Melbourne for the game against Essendon, attended the Ladies of the Lake Lunch, the Swans Indigenous Business Breakfast, the fabulous start to the Indigenous Round with the Geelong defeat, and travelled to the Gold Coast to see our Swans make it seven in a row.
Friday night football in Melbourne is really special. The momentum builds as you walk to Etihad Stadium along the south boardwalk from Spencer Street, with all the fans wearing their colours, excited and nervous at the same time.
Our seats, immediately behind the Swans Cheer Squad, added to the festive atmosphere, particularly once we’d learnt to negotiate the large flags and other paraphernalia which were in constant motion.
Our Swans played very well against Essendon so the Cheer Squad were in full voice. They sang and chanted the whole way through the game. Indeed, they had a song for every occasion – even for the Bomber fans who were leaving early! We learnt that there is a four-year waiting list to join the Melbourne Cheer Squad and can now understand why. Maybe you have to have a singing audition to get in?
We sat next to young Tom Tyson, who plays for the Maroubra Saints. He was celebrating a significant birthday with a trip to Melbourne with his dad to see the Swans. Between the Cheer Squad, the game, and the visit to the rooms afterwards, we imagine Tom will always remember this birthday.
The next day we were at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne with over 250, mostly female, Swans supporters, players’ partners, mothers and sisters, including a table of three generations of Dan Hannebery’s family. The atmosphere in the room was very celebratory following the great win against Essendon.
The Ladies of the Lake are led brilliantly by Geraldine Byrne and Anne Meadows, who is an ex Sydney-sider and Rugby League convert – they do make great Aussie Rules ambassadors don’t they? In their own words: The Ladies of the Lake are passionate, spirited women, sharing a connection through football, proud to celebrate our club’s heritage and history. 'Ladies of the Lake' members can share their passion for AFL, not to mention their dedication to a wonderful club and superb players.
Peter ‘Grubby’ Stubbs and Dee Dee, his long-time radio partner, did a fantastic job as comperes. They interviewed Jude, Josh Kennedy and Nick Smith. All paid tribute to their mothers who were proudly present in the room. We’re sure their mothers played no small part in how these great Swans’ leaders turned out.
Four partners of former players were made ‘Ladies of the Lake Legends’: Val Heriot, June Lambert, Irene Goonan and Karen Morwood. What a fantastic idea to honour the often selfless and unrecognised support team that goes into making a successful player. And here they are, so long after their husbands played, still supporting the Swans in very tangible ways.
You are probably getting sick of hearing us say it, but we love the dedication and passion of our supporters outside Sydney. They are such an important component of the culture of our Club.
It was good to have a rest over the bye weekend, because it was an early start for the Swans Indigenous Business Breakfast which was the first AFL event in Reconciliation Week, the week of the Indigenous Round. A high-profile group was there, including the Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs, the (new) NSW Premier, the (new) AFL CEO, the head of Reconciliation Australia, and senior representatives from Recognise, which will spearhead the campaign for Constitutional recognition of the first Australians.
Adam Goodes spoke, as did Michael O’Loughlin, about their foundation, the GO Foundation. During Indigenous Round, the Commonwealth Government announced they would provide a $500,000 grant to GO to assist with providing scholarships for young Indigenous students. If you would like to know more you should check out their website at www.go-foundation.org.
Of real significance was the release of the Swans Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). A RAP sets down actions which will be taken, and behaviours which are expected, within an organisation in order to build better relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. We are proud that our Club is one of the first AFL Clubs to embrace the need for a RAP. We encourage you to read the RAP which is available here.
The Breakfast was an affirming event, showcasing the ways in which football, and the Swans in particular, are a vehicle for changing community attitudes. The AFL will be playing an important role in the Recognise referendum.
Michael O’Loughlin with Maree and Peter, holding the Swans RAP
The Thursday night clash with Geelong needs little further comment – how good were our Swans. The Chairman’s Dinner beforehand had over 450 attendees, corporate hospitality at the SCG exceeded that at the Ashes test, it was the biggest AFL crowd at the SCG since the famous Nick Davis goal-winning finals match of 2005 (also against Geelong), and the biggest win ever for the Red and White over the Cats.
We entertained friends, Geelong supporters, who, half way through the match, decided that the best way of coping was to sit back and enjoy the wonderful display by our Swans.
We travelled to the Gold Coast last weekend, to be welcomed by warm sunny weather and the Swans Gold Coast Supporters Group, headed by the dynamic Pat Alcock. The Group had organised a Saturday lunch at a quay-side venue, which drew about 100 supporters.
Among the ex-players present were Team of the Century players, John Heriot, who had travelled from Melbourne; Barry Round, a local on the Gold Coast; and David Murphy, who still looks as if he could pull on a guernsey if the need arose. We reminisced with Craig O’Brien over his six goals in that 1996 match when the Swans beat Carlton at Princes Park.
Peter “Grubby” Stubbs, again our MC, interviewed Peter “Spida” Everitt, now a broadcaster on the Gold Coast. Spida told us how he had tried to cross to Sydney at the end of the 2005 season but was thwarted by Hawthorn ... a move which might well have cost the Swans the 2006 premiership.
We met a number of Gold Coast Swans, replete in their Gold Coast Swans Supporter tee shirts. Some of these supporters are fully paid up members of the Swans despite rarely getting to Sydney to see a game – they’re to be cherished.
At our table was Bryan Durham, who remembered back to when he was sometimes one of about three in the MCG outer watching the Swans. He told us how, in the last 20 years, he has become so proud of the well-managed Swans. He is proud of everyone from the Board to the boot-studder!
Ian Beadel told us his boyhood hero was Herbie Matthews, another Team of the Century member who played for the Swans from 1932 to 1945. Herbie won a premiership in 1933 and was in several losing Grand Final teams including the 1945 ‘blood bath’. He was appointed captain in 1938 and captain and coach in 1939 at just 25 years of age. According to Ian, Herbie was not just his hero, but the hero of every school boy in Melbourne back then. Wife Diana Beadel grew up in Albert Road and went from a very early age across to the Lake Oval with her family. The Beadels are still supporting their Swans over 70 years later.
We caught up with Mal and Louise Binnie, number one ticket holders in 2009, who now live in Sawtell on the NSW mid-north coast. About eight of the Sydney based Cheer Squad had also travelled for the weekend. Peter was able to talk to them about joining in a banner making session before the end of the season. And we will reprise our Melbourne Cheer Squad experience before the season ends as well.
The gathering was very pleased to welcome Chairman, Andrew Pridham, and were strong in their praise of the forthright public statements he and CEO, Andrew Ireland, had made on equalisation earlier that week.
The match the following day saw further success for the team at the well appointed Metricon Stadium. We saw almost all of the reserves game and again saw plenty of talent (how to give them a game?).
There was excellent support for the Swans and the Sydney chant rang out around the ground a number of times as our boys closed out a comfortable win. But … watch the Suns, they will only get better.
At the airport on the way home, we saw the team, saw who was smiling and who was limping. Umpire Ray Chamberlain and Maree shared a two person coffee queue. She was tempted to engage him in conversation but decided against it … best to adopt the stance that winners can be grinners.
And, now to the second half of the season, with Port Power at the SCG for starters – it promises to be a mighty match.
Cheer, cheer
Peter and Maree
Your Number One Members
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