Having grown up in Northern NSW where AFL wasn’t as popular as the other footy codes, Margaret moved to Sydney to live with her cousin, who quickly informed her of her famous bloodlines.
“Tom Wills was my great, great, great uncle,” Pearson said.
“My cousin was flabbergasted that I was related to this guy. He would tell all of his friends and brag about the fact, so I knew it must have been impressive to be a descendant.”
Impressive is right. Wills was an Australian all-round sportsman, umpire, coach and administrator who is credited with being a catalyst towards the invention of Australian Rules Football.
His contribution to the game is honoured with a sculpture at the MCG which was erected in 2002. The sculpture reads that Wills "Did more than any other person - as footballer and umpire, co-writer of the rules and promoter of the game - to develop Australian Football during its first decade."
A Swans fan since 1996, it took her cousin from Albury to introduce Margaret to the game before she got hooked.
“My cousin was mad about Carlton and AFL. He’d always watch it and that’s how I got really involved,” Pearson said.
“1996 was a great year for the Swans; Rodney Eade was coaching, they had Plugger and Paul Kelly and they made the Grand Final.
“I just got wrapped up in the game. I’ve always watched rugby, but AFL was different. It had more speed, skill and pace and I just love it. It’s a great game, very entertaining.”
Margaret loves the SCG; a ground that has many fond memories for her over the years.
“There have been so many nail-biters at the SCG that I couldn’t pick just one. Some that spring to mind include the games against the West Coast Eagles a few years ago and the victory over St Kilda when they were at the top of the ladder and virtually unbeatable,” Margaret said.
Margaret will be one of many in the crowd at the SCG on Saturday night paying tribute to Paul Roos and Brett Kirk when the Sydney Swans take on the Western Bulldogs.
“My friend that goes with me to the games is a big fan of Brett Kirk and I’ve liked Paul Roos ever since he started playing. Hopefully the team will rise to the occasion for Roos and Kirky.”
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