How Far We've Come

[magicmoment2014]

I was at University of NSW in my first year in 1996 and took an American exchange student as something Australian to the footy for my first game. Until then I had been a die-hard rugby league fan calling AFL aerial ping-pong. Once inside the SCG, I was amazed as the Swans played Essendon. Tony Lockett shoved an Essendon player over the fence (was it Dustin Fletcher?) and Hirdy kicked a behind to tie the game. I was hooked and since then have been involved in junior, womens and senior footy in Sydney and Canberra.

I was only a member in 2012 and bought a membership for my dad the same year. It was a priority 1 membership and got to the G. I was hopeful to win the GF but not hopeful unlike this year I feel there is some expectation since the Buddy trade. Now we've been converted into the greatest game of all. Good luck to all the members on Saturday. It's a great experience of a lifetime!

[Faunac8]

Ahah the pieces fall into place Matt this information explains your left of centre way of thinking about all things Swan related including trading players.
Anyone who had to experience Rocca and Grant walking and Carey and Longmire being practically given away is usually a bit touchy about possibly losing good
( maybe even gun quality ) young talent. Especially when it is done so casually and dismissively.
Watching the Swans at Whitten Oval , Windy Hill and Victoria Park was certainly a challenging experience in the 80's and early 90's after the promise of so much during the Edelstein / Capper era. Even during THAT run of defeats the promise of the club eventually turning it around kept us hanging in there. The AFL in a move still not fully appreciated to this day sent us a messiah Ronald Dale Barassi, to me the turning point in our recent history. If we could attract somebody of that calibre we were going to be ok. In a very short time he took the club shook the hell out of it and pointed it in the right direction . And then along came Plugger and our onfield fortunes started to head in the same direction. The Grand Final in 1996 was a teaser for what was to come and since then we have been perennial finalists.
Interestingly during the mid 80's many clubs complained about Sydney spending too much on their list and poaching big names , a concern that has become part of the general public mindset recently .

[Matt80]

I was in the boxing studio at 6.00am this morning, smashing a workout (no it was not with Jimmy). All the people in the class were talking about the AFL Grand Final. They were all saying how well publicised the event was and how they all wanted the Swans to win.

I think it helps that Sunrise, although based in Martin is full of AFL people. Kochie, Beretts, Reeve and Nat Barr are passionate about AFL. That passion is slowly helping to educate the Sydney community on AFL.

[Conor_Dillon]

I started barracking for the Swans as a 5 year old in '95 because Plugger was the only player I knew...I hope Buddy can do the same for the next generation of youngsters!