RYAN O’Keefe calls it one of the best Swans functions he’s ever attended.

Bloods Legend Paul Kelly says it was a “fantastic night’’ and he wouldn’t miss it.

Club Chairman Richard Colless says it’s like a re-union of the Swans family, and a celebration of more than a century of proud history.

O’Keefe, Kelly and Colless are talking about the inaugural Swans Hall of Fame dinner, held in 2009.

Through a generous donation from one of the Sydney Swans major benefactors, 10 tickets to the Swans Hall of Fame Dinner presented by QBE, have been donated back to the Club to be given away to Members who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend. Places will be given away in pairs meaning five members in total will be selected on merit from the list of worthy candidates.

If you would like to nominate a member who goes above and beyond in their support of the Club despite financial obstacles, click here to register them.

Entries close at 5.00pm Tuesday 26 April 2011.

This second Hall of Fame dinner - which will see a significant number of former players and coaches inducted - will be the last stand-alone Swans Hall of Fame. In future years inductions will only be announced at the annual Guernsey Presentation.

Kelly, the courageous captain who received the highest Hall of Fame honour in 2009 when he was named a Bloods Legend, along with Bob Skilton and Bob Pratt, will definitely be there in Sydney on April 30 to see who is inducted.

“The first one, two years ago down in Melbourne, was massive. There were so many really keen fans there and it’d be great to see them all there at this event in Sydney,’’ Kelly said.

“It was great to get so many old South Melbourne fans and Sydney Swans fans in the one room so I hope that happens again.

“It was a great night last time and it was extra special to be inducted alongside Bobby Skilton and Bobby Pratt. It was unbelievable really!’’

Kel has a few thoughts on who he’d like to see join him in the Hall of Fame.

“Well, Majo (Mick O’Loughlin) for sure. He’s the games record holder and was a brilliant player and club man,’’ Kelly said.

And he’s also hoping an old mate of his, the great full-back of the 1990s and early 2000’s, Andrew Dunkley, will get the nod from the Hall of Fame selectors.

“Among the group I played most of my footy with, I think Dunks warrants a place in the Hall of Fame,’’ Kelly said.

“He was a huge part of the success in my time. He was so important and to some extent I think he’s been under-rated.

“Dunks was rock solid and played on all the best forwards. In 1996 when we made the grand final he was second in the best and fairest and he played for a long time.’’

Dunkley will certainly be a contender. He played 217 games for the Swans between 1992 and 2002, and was vice-captain under Kelly.

The selection criteria is broad, with those chosen simply needing to be retired, to be able to attend, and to have made a ‘’profoundly positive impact on the Swans football club’’ at any time in its 137 year history.

Sydney Swans Chairman Richard Colless says selection always provokes healthy debate.

“This is a pretty exclusive club but over time every deserving player will achieve recognition. The criteria is less prescriptive than other clubs,’’ Colless said.

“It brings into stark focus - how do you value a really solid, highly reliable player’s 200 games, versus an explosive, high octane player’s 60 games, for instance.

“There has to be clear merit, that is very important. And to be inducted with less than 70 or 80 games you would want to have made an extraordinary impact.

“Some selections will bring surprises to the audience, and there will be some surprised inductees. I don’t think any will invoke violent disagreement but there will be talking points for sure.’’

Every current player will be in attendance on the night, and many former players will also be there.

If you love the Swans, it’s a night not to be missed, so book here.

Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless also wants supporters to know that if they are keen to come to this last stand-alone Hall of Fame but might not have the means to pay at the moment, the club may be able to make arrangements for tickets to be paid off in instalments. For any such requests, please email collessr@sydneyswans.com.au.

“As always if there is real financial hardship and people are genuine long-term supporters, we’re prepared to find ways of accommodating them and they should contact me. I’ll treat all requests with absolute discretion,’’ Colless said.

Applications should be submitted no later than Wednesday April 20 at 4pm. An initial installment will need to be paid by Thursday April 21.

Colless says the Hall of Fame is a special night for the fans, the club and for former players, and emphasises that this will be the last stand-alone HOF function.

“It is a celebration of the Club since 1874. A number of players will be inducted who are deceased, from 1874 to the 1950s. But there will also be a significant number of players from the mid 1950s on through to 1981 and then from 1982 when the club re-located to Sydney, to 2010 in theory.’’

Colless said the Hall of Fame was a chance for old bonds to be made stronger, and also for differences to be resolved.

“In a way I see this for some people as like a long overdue family re-union. There is the prospect in some cases of reconciliation and redemption between the club and the player.

“It is a bit like what happens in families where in some cases, on reflection, parents think they might have been too demanding with their children and too set in their ways. And the children, now grown and left home, think they might not have been as respectful as they might have been and not appreciated family values and traditions. It is a way for the family say ‘let bygones be bygones’.

“It’s a reminder we are all part of a family of sorts at the Swans."