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How the $wan$ cashed in
Sydney may have not benefited much financially as a result of its premiership win ? the prizemoney of $250,000 was hardly enough to meet grand final day expenses ? but nobody can accuse the club of not having since done its best to cash in on its 2005 success. The Swans have now revealed that an online premiership guernsey auction has reaped the club more than $58,000 ? and two of the most important jumpers of all, those worn by Barry Hall and Brett Kirk, are yet to be sold. "It was a fantastic effort to raise that amount. It demonstrates the value people are putting on owning a piece of Sydney Swans history, " said Swans chief executive Myles Baron-Hay. Jude Bolton's match guernsey topped the list, selling for an impressive $5170, just ahead of Michael O'Loughlin's, which sold for $4720, and those of Irish-hero Tadhg Kennelly ($4300) and Amon Buchanan ($4120). All this on top of matchwinner Leo Barry's jumper, which sold at the grand final dinner for $7000.
Sydney may have not benefited much financially as a result of its premiership win ? the prizemoney of $250,000 was hardly enough to meet grand final day expenses ? but nobody can accuse the club of not having since done its best to cash in on its 2005 success. The Swans have now revealed that an online premiership guernsey auction has reaped the club more than $58,000 ? and two of the most important jumpers of all, those worn by Barry Hall and Brett Kirk, are yet to be sold. "It was a fantastic effort to raise that amount. It demonstrates the value people are putting on owning a piece of Sydney Swans history, " said Swans chief executive Myles Baron-Hay. Jude Bolton's match guernsey topped the list, selling for an impressive $5170, just ahead of Michael O'Loughlin's, which sold for $4720, and those of Irish-hero Tadhg Kennelly ($4300) and Amon Buchanan ($4120). All this on top of matchwinner Leo Barry's jumper, which sold at the grand final dinner for $7000.
The day Bolton did a Billy
That Bolton's jumper attracted big bids is not surprising given he is one of the more popular players in the club, although whoever forked out the $5170 for it should perhaps also try to get hold of this classic post-game photograph of him wearing it (along with that ghastly helmet he still had on but thankfully threw into the crowd afterwards). But we reckon the best feature about Bolton in this snap was his impromptu crooked-finger impersonation of zany New Zealand cricket umpire Billy Bowden. The Swans midfielder not only loves his cricket but was a handy player in his youth, as a leg spinner, and even made the Victorian squad at under-16 level. Wonder if Bowden ever discovered that his bent wicket finger has now become so famous that it even rated some recognition on the MCG out of cricket season?
That Bolton's jumper attracted big bids is not surprising given he is one of the more popular players in the club, although whoever forked out the $5170 for it should perhaps also try to get hold of this classic post-game photograph of him wearing it (along with that ghastly helmet he still had on but thankfully threw into the crowd afterwards). But we reckon the best feature about Bolton in this snap was his impromptu crooked-finger impersonation of zany New Zealand cricket umpire Billy Bowden. The Swans midfielder not only loves his cricket but was a handy player in his youth, as a leg spinner, and even made the Victorian squad at under-16 level. Wonder if Bowden ever discovered that his bent wicket finger has now become so famous that it even rated some recognition on the MCG out of cricket season?
Billy Bolton
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