Swans HOF 2011

[Primmy]

OK, so my nails are half painted, I have narrowed it down to two outfits, and its only 11am. Rumours are that Kirky is in town. Any siting of MickyO yet?

[ScottH]

1st Era
Well done to Henry 'Sonny' Elms, Bill Windley, Bill Thomas, Len Mortimer and Charlie Ricketts who have been inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame for the First Era - 1874 to 1918.

2nd Era
Please welcome Edward "Ted" Johnson, Len Thomas, William Faul, Jim Cleary and Jack Graham into the Hall of Fame.

Chairman Richard Colless has just introduced a brand new Swans Heritage List for important moments, places, objects and memories of the Club.

Leo Barry's famous mark in 2005 was just inducted into the new Swans Heritage List. Emotional scenes here.

3rd Era
Three champions of the club, Bill Gunn, John Heriot and Graeme John have just been inducted from the 3rd era into our Hall of Fame

Great high Markers Warwick Capper and Graham Teasdale have just been inducted.

4th Era
Two great men of this Club, Tony Morwood and Rod Carter are the next to take the red carpet and have been inducted into the Hall of Fame this evening

Rod Carter is telling funny stories about his first goal that came after a whopping 215 games

Stephen Wright and David Murphy takes the stage to accept their much deserved induction into the Hall of Fame

Well done to Mark Bayes and Andrew Dunkley, two prolific men of our club and new inductees into our Hall of Fame.

[ScottH]

Paul Roos and Rick Quade are the two newest inductees, Quade said the journey has been long but exceptionally worthwhile

It is remarkable how many great players we have had, put your hands together for our two newest hall of fame members, Leo Barry and Stuart Maxfield

[nomae]

Great to see tributes for Craig Bolton from both Mickey O and Kirky

[alison.z]

Just got home ...

I went as Liz's guest so i need to say a big thank you to her and i know there were a few other RWO-ers who suggested she take me so thanks so much to those people too!

It was a fantastic night and at times, quite a moving tribute to our Club's history. Tonight is a night that makes me hugely proud to be a Swans supporter. Because it was quite last minute, I never really thought about the significance of the Hall of Fame but it was a beautiful tribute to the players that have shaped this club and to have so many of them in the same room was remarkable. Best speech probably goes to Warwick Capper in fine form as usual but to have Kirky and MOL fly back in just for this was awesome.

The event organisers at the Swans did a great job and the room was beautifully decorated and featured a corner with all four premiership cups, premiership medallions, both of Goodes' Brownlow medals, all three of Bobby Skilton's, all guernseys worn by SMFC/Sydney Swans and some other pieces of memorabilia.

I also got to meet Primmy and Wardy which was fabulous and i was being shy (not normally like me!) so Primmy took me around and i got some photos with the players and some inductees which was one of the highlights of my night.

Overall, just a great night and one that makes me a very proud Swans supporter!

[Big Al]

Just home myself and concur with everything Alison has said. A wonderful night that reinforces my love for this great club.

A big thank you to Basil Sellers who donated the tickets that my nominee won. Also a big thank you to Jenny and the club for organizing these tickets. Also thanks to Primmy for the thoughtful gesture of getting everyone to sign a card thanking Basil.

At the end of night we embarked on a quest to get our Hall of Fame books signed by all the members that were in attendance. We fell short by 1 signature. Stevie Wright slipped our net. Not a bad effort if I do say so myself especially since we needed a commando style operation to get near the Whiz who was attracting quite a crowd. Also he was he's usual reserved self when accepting his honor. It was funny stuff.

[Primmy]

I am impressed with the early morning postings! Well done! I have had my morning coffee, and am almost normal, just that little buzzy feeling that comes with a bottle of wine consumed.....just a fraction more than I normally have as dear Wardy picked me up, and I had a cab driver homebound who was efficient and didn't have to be given directions to my place - first time EVER!

Great venue, would be happy to go back. Lots of milling space out front, bit noisy as this is a no carpet area, but very close to underground parking one end, and cab rank the other! We were beered and champagned and checked out everyone's outfits.

Long room, with a big stage one side for presentation and on the opposite wall was another stage which featured a very good jazzish band who played all through the night when appropriate and did not drown us out. Viewing of proceedings was easy this time, no straining required. Lots of good screens.

A cluster of guarded memorabilia at one end included The Cup, and three others for other grand final wins, which we are debating whether or not are the originals, going back wwaaay way back. Also all of Bobby's Brownlows, Adam's too, others as well, and Jude's premiership medal. Nice to see everything being guarded by people with smiles!

Well over 90 tables, and we could not take home flower arrangements this year, the centre pieces were made of "crystals" in bowl shapes, blocks on sticks, up high, and down at table level. Caught the light all night long. Our nametags were done in script, and looked very classy. The underneath cloths were charcoal and black, so were the napkins and chair covers. On each chair was a bottle of quality chardonnay (we are after all the chardonnay set!) in black carriers to take home. Gosh we were noisy. Everyone visiting everyone else. Table 81 was at the back, but not really .....

Lewies hair still fascinates me.
Kell had a mass of people around him at all times.
My gorgeous NicMal looks skinny .... said so too ... but he is bursting with energy, looks a bit dangerous with the hair and beard .... and is very confident that all is well ... and after seeing him up close and getting hugged, I concur. He is looking good.
The kids are great. Sam Reid is a shy but friendly youngun. TDL is a very good looking young man. Asked him why he isn't in seniors (3 glass of wine question that one...I did get pushy), he said it was his ankle, and I said 'you just kicked 5 goals!'. Fortunately they all fell about. Dylan McNeil has very broad shoulders and I suspect is quite powerful. Cambo is not as tall as I thought but he has an AFL footballer quality about him.
The wonderful Stuey brought his son Jesse with him. Stuey actually looked as though he was having fun, big smile and very happy. We chatted about young Jesse who he is very proud of.
I asked Craig about his walk around the ground on Friday night, and he just lit up. Said it was brilliant and he loved every bit of it. He has a lovely hug.
Great moment when he and Kirky came together for the first time (1,000 people there, it gets a bit lost) - massive manhug with grins from ear to ear.
Kirky is a delight. I have a theory. If you make up posters of Kirky and installed them in every hospital ward around, people would get better quicker.
MickeyO has put on a bit of weight in the face, and it makes him look older, which is probably practical. He spoke really well, and he is a funny bloke. Talked about taking his group to Anzac Cove and camping out for the dawn service. Still moves with grace.
Adam gave me a big hug, and then stood chatting with his arm around me. Now I am not going to complain. I had a wonderful time. And to the churlish female who sat behind me and talked all through the presentations - Tuff!!! You are not the centre of the universe, and if Adam wanted to keep hugging and talking to me, then deal with it.
Congratulated Doggy on his mark and he laughed saying that he wasn't allowed to do that. We said he was. He has an easy face to look at. Seriously nice.
The older players left a bit earlier than some of us, and the younger ones stayed and stayed and stayed. The core leadership group were on hand the whole time.
Leo Barry never stopped talking.
It was a massive shame that Dunks didn't come.
I had no idea how good looking David Murphy is. Now, in keeping with family tradition, let me say here and now that Kane Murphy (my project player) has a great personality, and is seriously good looking. I mean it. Easy to look at, wonderful smile. Seriously easy company on every level. (why oh why was I born so long ago.....its not fair). Suggested I come to Ressie matches! put him straight on that one. Told him I was up in the Noble Stand. Couldn't miss me, I am the one wearing red. Wonder if he thinks to give me a waive!
Must insert here that its hilarous at times when you address some of these guys by name. They look either startled or slightly guilty. The fact that we might know who they are hasn't occurred to them yet.
Smiffy is just a delightful young man - got a photo saying to him that the first one I got of him and 3 other boys, he is the only one still playing.....which is true.
Told Ted that we totally enjoyed his writing, and I in particular enjoyed his use of language, which appeared to be a welcome comment. He is easy to chat to.
Hanners said yes, he had really hurt himself slamming into the post, and he was very disappointed he missed the spoil. Bright eyed and full of energy that one.
Uncle Byron is a lovely bloke. Lewis is not a natural smiler, he is a fairly reserved kid but lights up about Lewis Jnr.
Mumms is enormous. We had a laugh when I told him he had made a huge difference to my Dream Team with his 130 point game.
Brad Seymour was there, and almost every time we spotted him he was holding hands with his wife. That man is still dammed handsome. Not just good looking, I mean Handsome.

Fascinating seeing all these men together. Those dressed and pressed and looking sharp, those who keep their jackets on all night, those who looked like they had slept in their shirts (and I mean you Mark Seaby). Looking at the recipients of the Hall of Fame honour roll, and you put Stuey Maxfield and Warwick Capper together, and its obvious that those two personalities are POLES apart. Tilt Carter and Mark Bayes. Did you know that one very good looking bloke from one of the original teams was banned for 20 weeks! Came back and almost immediately got banned for life! and it wasn't even 1900! Peter Bedford talked and he has such a gentle personality, and you compare him with Plugger and you think What? They are all so different, until they step over the line and become Swans.

One other thing I noted. We have so many Brownlow champions, true champions of the game. But so little grand final success. Guess Roosy was right. A team of champions can be beaten by a champion team every time.

At the end of the official proceedings each of us was presented with a bound book highlighting all the recipients of the HoF awards. Beautiful hard cover book. Very much appreciated everyone.

I am sure I have left stuff out, but I am still feeling slightly shady. Photos came out ok though.

[liz]

I will echo Primmy's comments on the quality of presentation of the evening. Everything about the night, from the venue, decor and memorabilia to the way the night was put together on stage was very impressive.

The overwhelming thing I took away from the evening was just how much the 2005 premiership meant to all those past champions of the club. This is not exactly a revelation - you could tell as much on the day it happened. But to hear player after player stand up on stage, and talk with so much pride and delight that the club finally broke through, really rammed it home to me. Other clubs may have won more premierships, but it is hard to imagine any than mean more to a club - not just to the players of the era but to the entire fabric of the club - than ours does.

Oh, and Warwick Capper was an absolute scream!

[dimelb]

Thank you Primmy, Liz, Big Al and Alison - a pleasure to read your reports/responses and be reminded again of some of the things, and people, that make this club what it is.
Thanks too to Scott for his reports.

[top40]

Oh, and Warwick Capper was an absolute scream!

So true!

A person next to me ridiculed the induction of Warwick Capper. I beg to differ.

Statistically Capper is one of only three players in the club's 137 history to kick 100 goals in a season. (The others being AFL/club Legend Bob Pratt, and Tony Lockett). Capper achieved 103 goals in 1987, and 92 goals in 1986. In context, only five players, (the others being Lindsay White and Barry Hall), ever kicked more than 70 goals in the season for the club dating back to 1874.

Statistics alone was not enough. Another factor was the image Capper promoted for the club. I know he was/is the class clown and a fool, but he was also a marketer's dream during the 1980's. And he's very funny. He was never a player who as far as I am aware, ever got into serious trouble, ie drugs, public drunkenness, brawls, gambling addiction etc. Even in 2011, if one conducted a poll in Sydney involving the entire public as to which Sydney Swan players are known to them, Capper would probably finish Top 5, if not Top 3.

Back to the overall Hall of Fame List, there are now 50 players. I couldn't help but notice that 8 of those 50 players were on the Players List in Seasons 1995 to 1998. They were Mark Bayes, Leo Barry, Andrew Dunkley, Paul Kelly, Tony Lockett, Stuart Maxwell, Michael O'Loughlin, and Paul Roos. In five games during those 4 seasons, these 8 Hall of Famers were all of the paddock for the Sydney Swans. Those games were:

-1996- Round 20 v Hawthorn Waverley -WON (First win against the Hawks in Victoria in 15 years)
-1997-Round 18 v Melbourne MCG-WON (Massive 116 point win, where the Hall of Famers kicked 20 goals between them)
-1997-Round 22 v Geelong SCG LOST (10 points down, although a still record SCG crowd of 46,000)
-1998-Round 4 v West Coast Eagles -WON (First away win against the Eagles in a decade)
-1998-Round 5 v Western Bulldogs-WON (Top of the table clash involving two then undefeated teams)

[aardvark]

A huge thank you to the club for putting the Live Feed on the net. I enjoyed every minute, it looked like a great night.

[annew]

I thought that the criteria stated you had to attend if nominated (& alive obviously) so if Kirk could return from overseas you would think Dunkley could come from Victoria.

[AnnieH]

I had to follow it on Facebook ... my niece had her 21st on.

Sounded like a great night. I'm so sad I missed it.

[stellation]

You're such a perv, Primmy.

[ScottH]

Thank you Primmy, Liz, Big Al and Alison - a pleasure to read your reports/responses and be reminded again of some of the things, and people, that make this club what it is.
Thanks too to Scott for his reports.

I just cut and pasted it from facebook

A huge thank you to the club for putting the Live Feed on the net. I enjoyed every minute, it looked like a great night.

I couldn't get it to work. I just got a logo and some music