Why do YOU support the Swans?

[bloodspirit]

I love hearing these replies - thanks for taking the time. It's only a few but it does confirm my suspicion that there's plenty of you older than me. Certainly plenty of you that know a lot more about our club's history, and not because you are historians but because you were there!

[Aprilbr]

I'm a 59 male (about to turn 60). I live in Melbourne now but I grew up in Ballarat. The reason I follow the Swans is my father was a fanatic. He was born in 1933 and always used to say that they won a flag the year that he was born and they would win another the year he dies. Unfortunately, he was one year out as he passed in 2004. He would have been over the moon had he been around in 2005.

My childhood memories were of us regularly driving down from Ballarat to watch South Melbourne play in the 1970s. This was a mostly lean period for the Club with a few outstanding players like Bedford, Goss, Brice and Browning. 1977 was a particularly memorable season for me when we made the finals with players like Teasdale, Browning and Round featuring. As it got to the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was playing a lot of football myself for Redan in the Ballarat Football League so I did not see many live games. Of course, the Swans relocated to Sydney in 1982 and I enjoyed watching those Sunday afternoon TV games. Great memories, and I am so proud how the Club has blossomed following the Sydney relocation.

[Bloods05]

I'm a 59 male (about to turn 60). I live in Melbourne now but I grew up in Ballarat. The reason I follow the Swans is my father was a fanatic. He was born in 1933 and always used to say that they won a flag the year that he was born and they would win another the year he dies. Unfortunately, he was one year out as he passed in 2004. He would have been over the moon had he been around in 2005.

My childhood memories were of us regularly driving down from Ballarat to watch South Melbourne play in the 1970s. This was a mostly lean period for the Club with a few outstanding players like Bedford, Goss, Brice and Browning. 1977 was a particularly memorable season for me when we made the finals with players like Teasdale, Browning and Round featuring. As it got to the late 1970s and early 1980s, I was playing a lot of football myself for Redan in the Ballarat Football League so I did not see many live games. Of course, the Swans relocated to Sydney in 1982 and I enjoyed watching those Sunday afternoon TV games. Great memories, and I am so proud how the Club has blossomed following the Sydney relocation.

Great story.

[swannymum]

I didn’t follow the football, though as a child I could remember being allowed to have a meal of tomato soup and Vegemite toast in front of the TV (never allowed to at any other time) watching Collingwood games on the TV.

My brother successfully raced in scrambles (now called Moto X) and later was Australian sidecar champion on sealed circuits and that was my passion.

My daughter was at primary school and realised everyone else had a team. She doesn’t like to follow the herd so she selected the Swans. We took her to her first game where we won by 1 point. I was hooked after that.

Have been to 1996, 2005, 2006 and 2014 grand finals. We joined the cheer squad for a couple of years, travelled to SA, SCG, and Geelong and trod the turf. We were members of Marvel Stadium when it was called Etihad, have been silver AFL members. However after racing back to the MCG whilst holidaying interstate in 2014 and experiencing the abuse directed to Goodesy, decided to give up attending matches.

Still a passionate supporter at the age of 66. Husband rolls his ???? as I get vocal!

Best memory was staying at the team hotel for the 2005 grand final. Didn’t realise they were there until I heard a noise outside our room and saw Barry Hall walking past ????

[bloodspirit]

Fantastic memories, swannymum! Love hearing your story. Thanks for sharing!

[Unwell_Miguel]

All of these stories really warm the heart

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I'm a 59 male (about to turn 60). I live in Melbourne now but I grew up in Ballarat. The reason I follow the Swans is my father was a fanatic. He was born in 1933 and always used to say that they won a flag the year that he was born and they would win another the year he dies. Unfortunately, he was one year out as he passed in 2004. He would have been over the moon had he been around in 2005.

I'm sorry your father didn't make it. I'm a little older than you, and one of my most cherished memories was seeing my father and two uncles watching the 05 grandfinal. Being there as these old taciturn guys cheared and the weaped at the victory was special.

[Trekkertony]

I'm sorry your father didn't make it. I'm a little older than you, and one of my most cherished memories was seeing my father and two uncles watching the 05 grandfinal. Being there as these old taciturn guys cheared and the weaped at the victory was special.

Hi, my father who was born in 1929 and whilst under the care of the Christian Brothers lived in the orphanage backing onto the Lake oval. He did not see any success with the swans until l took him to the Lake Oval in the Seventies when the Swans were playing Essendon. We had Terry Danniher playing for the swans prior to the infamous Neville Fields transfer. It was decided we would have a beer every time the swans kicked a goal, believing we would possibly only have 3 - 4 beers for the day. Well the swans were electric that day and the drive home to Bairnsdale was memorable. ( My wife driving of course). Down the years the Number 14 has been warn with distinction by all players since Bobby Skelton laid the foundation for those who have come after him. I recall taking my son to the Gabba when the late Ron Barrasi was coaching the swans in the 90’s. Brisbane had us down and out at half time leading by some 15 goals, the weather was abysmal, raining heavily when my son who was 10 at the time asked me if we could go home to Hervey Bay. I said, “Son if the swans have to face the music in this rain, the least we can do is stay here and support them”. I am pleased to say that my son is a dyed in the wool Swans man now. Swanboy for life.

[Blood Fever]

Is that the orphanage that was in Cecil Street ? Now a family services centre. At school as a little kid, I played against the orphanage team. Tough game.

[graemed]

My tale stems from a heritage steeped in black and white. My family like many in Melbourne were dyed in the wool Collingwood. My uncle who lived in Preston began the indoctrination. He and his wife ran the picture theatre there and I remember I’d get picked up from school on a Friday arvo, be driven to the theatre watch the early movie and spend the night with them. The next day we’d walk to the bus go to the Victoria Park ground and stand in the ground just near the race with other members of my family.
Many years later I’d been living and working in Sydney since 1974, attending Swans games regularly since ‘82 but it was during a game involving the Swans and Collingwood around the time our long losing streak had begun.
During the game I realised that I’d been watching and criticising the umpires as per usual but on this occasion it was for failing to award frees for the Swans and obviously favouring the Pies.
I’d been saved from the Dark Side and I’d only just realised it.
Facing my family at a gathering some years later I was having a conversation with my brother and we were arguing about who was the better recruit between Adam Goodes and Chris Tarrant. At some point I realised that all other conversations had stoped in the room and all my relatives and friends were looking at me with their mouths open.
I was now officially outed and the family has never been quite able to reconcile my betrayal.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Blood Fever]

My tale stems from a heritage steeped in black and white. My family like many in Melbourne were dyed in the wool Collingwood. My uncle who lived in Preston began the indoctrination. He and his wife ran the picture theatre there and I remember I’d get picked up from school on a Friday arvo, be driven to the theatre watch the early movie and spend the night with them. The next day we’d walk to the bus go to the Victoria Park ground and stand in the ground just near the race with other members of my family.
Many years later I’d been living and working in Sydney since 1974, attending Swans games regularly since ‘82 but it was during a game involving the Swans and Collingwood around the time our long losing streak had begun.
During the game I realised that I’d been watching and criticising the umpires as per usual but on this occasion it was for failing to award frees for the Swans and obviously favouring the Pies.
I’d been saved from the Dark Side and I’d only just realised it.
Facing my family at a gathering some years later I was having a conversation with my brother and we were arguing about who was the better recruit between Adam Goodes and Chris Tarrant. At some point I realised that all other conversations had stoped in the room and all my relatives and friends were looking at me with their mouths open.
I was now officially outed and the family has never been quite able to reconcile my betrayal.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Excomunnicated! Reminds of when I stopped going to Mass. I became a pariah for a number of relations.

[Daisi]

My grandfather was one of the original 'Harbord Boys' who founded the mighty Manly Warringah Rugby League football club.

My first trip to the SCG was when I was about 3 years old to see Manly play, and I spent my whole childhood following them around Sydney...until super league.

That's when we started following the Swans. At first it was just on TV, then we went to a couple of games, then we became members. It was the only sport my dad liked and he, mum and I used to go together. Dad has passed now and mum's a bit frail so she no longer goes- but she does watch on TV.

I'm the only member left. I've been a member for over 20 years, I love the Swans! Thanks Rupert !

[SexyMachine]

Well i started 2014 I watched most of our season games but seeing hawthorn destroy sydney hurts really really bad from 2015-2021 i was mainly roosters (NRL) fan since i supported them most of my life but despite that i still check the swans casually by the 2022 finals -2023 i started becoming truely invested as a swans fan i remember seeing us struggling in the second half while buddy retired but i had faith swans will be great tbh its really hurt the grand final but i am optimistic enough that this isn’t over yet so it took me to be a fully swans fan at 22

[Blood Fever]

Well i started 2014 I watched most of our season games but seeing hawthorn destroy sydney hurts really really bad from 2015-2021 i was mainly roosters (NRL) fan since i supported them most of my life but despite that i still check the swans casually by the 2022 finals -2023 i started becoming truely invested as a swans fan i remember seeing us struggling in the second half while buddy retired but i had faith swans will be great tbh its really hurt the grand final but i am optimistic enough that this isn’t over yet so it took me to be a fully swans fan at 22

Good to see you still have faith!