We broke a record today

[Dooloo]

Lets not forget how they continuall stole our top clas players. Gre Williams, David Rhys-Jones Bernies to name a few, and we got JACK in return. Even made Williams lie so as to void his contract with us so as he could cross over to the scumbags. As my old man says, ?ou can never beat Carlscum by enough

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Foreign Legion
I remember going to Princes Park and never seeing a win - I think it was 1965 til 1990 - Shane Fell got us home!!

...and Barry Mitchell.


Some beers were consumed that night!

You should of gone to the Swans v Roys games there!!!

[Charlie]

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Originally posted by robbieando
There is also the small matter of the "Bloodbath"

Also another reason to hate North - they were the only club to vote in support of Carlton's move to play their away games in Sydney and get rid of us.

Do you think the fact that Carlton owned about 20% of shares in North at the time might have had anything to do with that? Jack was hell-bent on launching a hostile takeover of someone... it was either them or us.

[GoSouth33]

Off the top of my head, I recall that those tribal rivalries helped save the Swans, and it might've been the 'pies that had something to do with the voting which gave the Swans the lifeline from the AFL...maybe the red's getting to my head tonight...and as for my tipping this weekend...swans, crows and bulldogs - 3 out of 8...

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by GoSouth33
Off the top of my head, I recall that those tribal rivalries helped save the Swans, and it might've been the 'pies that had something to do with the voting which gave the Swans the lifeline from the AFL...

McAlister had a bit to do with it, yes. His motivation was to prevent Carlton having an advantage over his Magpies, but he was an ally to the cause of saving the Swans. For that reason I no longer loathe the Magpies, and I take great pleasure in our consistently good form over the Boos.

We've come a long way since then.

[robbieando]

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Originally posted by Charlie
Do you think the fact that Carlton owned about 20% of shares in North at the time might have had anything to do with that? Jack was hell-bent on launching a hostile takeover of someone... it was either them or us.

Of course North only voted to kick us out because Carlton part owned them at the time, but that still means they voted for us and a hex I wish upon them.

The whole issue was over the Swans asking the AFL to re-direct our license fee as a loan so the Swans could get themselves back on their feet and start to build themselves up. The issue however had to be voted upon by the clubs so in October 1992 the AFL and clubs met to decide upon the Swans request to have our licence fee re-directed as a loan. Sadly the clubs were against the move because they had enough of the Swans failure to support themselves.

Peter Weinert made a plea on the Swans behalf and managed to get the Swans an extra week to put together proof that the re-direction would do as it intended. So the Swans owners went to work and got promises from QBE to extend the sponsorship deal until 1994 at a higher rate than before and the Swans also worked on some clubs to gain their support.

During the week the AFL was hellbent in getting the Swans out of Sydney and went to the Swans with an offer to merge with the Brisbane Bears and become the Brisbane Swans. That offer was rejected and there have been reports that the AFL even offered the Swans the second licence in Perth so they could become the Fremantle Swans and have the backing and support of the two Fremantle clubs that would later form the Dockers. Again of course that was rejected.

So one week after the first meeting the Swans went into the meeting expecting to be killed off, but also knowing it held a trump card in its pocket if the AFL moved to kick us out. Earlier in the 92 season the Swans found out about the AFL and Carlton's deal to take the Swans place in Sydney and play Carlton's 11 away games in Sydney while still playing their home matches at Optus Oval.

Knowing that this news might come in handy the Swans leaked this information to Allan McAlister when the two sides met and left things at that. So come the meeting when the time came to vote the Swans had one last plea to make and again that fell on deaf ears, however as Weinert and co left the meeting McAlister told them that he wanted the Swans saved.

Behind closed doors while the 14 clubs decided the Swans fate, the AFL set out its plans to continue its presence in Sydney and the plan to have Carlton play away matches in Sydney came up thanks to McAlister. The other clubs were dead against that idea, as that meant Carlton would get to pick the bones of the Swans playing list, get their sponsors and get 22 games which they would have a home ground advantage.

When the Swans owners were called back in McAlister put forth the point that the $1.5million the Swans were asking for was just over $100,000 per club if the Swans ended up defaulting on this loan and not that much to save a foundation club. Then as the clubs started to come to the Swans side, Essendon put forth the idea that the Swans allow the AFL to send an AFL appointed administrator to run the club.

Thus the plan was put to a vote and the Swans were saved with a vote of 12-2 and thus puts Carlton and North in my doghouse forever.

[GoSouth33]

Thanks Robbie, that's a terrific summary and confirms my understanding. And with the benefit of hindsight, you'd have to say an inspired decision....there's many many magical moments since to vindicate that vote..