Sydney Swans Hall of Famer and Swans Team of the Century member Tony Morwood has drawn curtains on his long-standing commitment to the club’s administration.
Friday marks Morwood’s final day in his posts as General Manager of the Melbourne office and Head of Sydney Swans Foundation, bringing to end an outstanding service to the club dating back to 1978.
Swans CEO Tom Harley paid tribute to Morwood’s contribution to the red and white.
“Tony’s impact has been extremely significant,” Harley said.
“His legacy at the footy club was assured after his playing career, but what he’s been able to contribute as a member of staff has absolutely solidified his standing in the club’s history.
“He started in 2003 with a clear vision to galvanise, reconnect and grow the Melbourne supporter base through the South Melbourne connection, and the fact we now have in excess of 11,000 members in Melbourne is testament to that.
“His role expanded in 2005 to include the birth of the Sydney Swans Foundation. The QBE Sydney Swans Academy has been a great beneficiary of the Foundation, and clearly with the new facility the Foundation will play a big role in that.
“When you couple his on-field and off-field contribution he’s been an unbelievable servant to the club.”
Morwood played 229 games for the Swans in the years spanning 1978-1989, he was inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2011 and he was named at half-forward in the Swans Team of the Century.
He was a member of the Swans side as the club relocated from South Melbourne to Sydney in 1982, the result of diminishing attendance and memberships almost leading to bankruptcy.
Morwood, who claimed the Swans’ leading goal-kicker honour in 1979, again earned the leading goal-kicker award in the club’s first year in Sydney.
Sydney Swans Head of People Development Dennis Carroll – Morwood’s teammate between 1981 and 1989, Swans captain in the years spanning 1986-1992 and fellow member of the Swans Team of the Century – has a better idea than most as to just how special a player Morwood was.
“Tony was an elite player. He was one of the key forwards that was not only a great, high mark, but who had an amazing ability to run games out,” Carroll said.
“Tony was an elite runner and he would cover vast distances, so if they had the GPS system like they do today, Tony would be right up there in the elite running category.
“He was a wonderful player and he was highly regarded, not only at the Swans but throughout the VFL or AFL.”
Carroll was also full of praise for Morwood’s leadership at the time of the Swans’ relocation.
“Tony had his partner Karen and was married quite young,” Carroll said.
“So, for Tony to uproot from day one and leave family and friends, and partner Karen’s family and friends, and be one of the real leaders in the move to Sydney, showed fantastic leadership.
“Tony, always a glass half-full sort of guy, made Sydney his home and made many great friends and connections up here.”
Carroll believes there are few people who’ve had as big an influence on the club over the past 40 years as Morwood.
“There aren’t too many who’ve had more of an impact in my time at the Swans, whether it be on the playing field or in an administrative role,” Carroll said.
“Not only was he an elite player in his time, his contribution over the past decade, and more, to pull our Melbourne part of the business together, grow our membership and oversee the Foundation has been enormous. I think the club has been very, very fortunate to have someone of Tony’s ilk, so he will be dearly missed.”
A central element of the ‘Bloods culture’ established under the reign of former coach Paul Roos was Sydney’s ties with South Melbourne.
Coach John Longmire, who has maintained that strong connection, has lauded Morwood’s contribution as a player and Head of Sydney Swans Foundation, but he spoke particularly highly of his impact on the South Melbourne-Sydney link.
“Tony was able to really grow our strength of profile and membership in Melbourne, and it’s been so important to have a strong connection with Melbourne after moving to Sydney,” Longmire said.
“To have strong and thriving support down in our Melbourne heartland, with so many members and supporters consistently turning up to our games, means a lot.”
The Sydney Swans Board, staff and players would like to thank Tony Morwood for his service and wish Tony and his family all the very best for the future.
