There has been a lot happening around the Swans headquarters in the past week.
It started off with a bit of skullduggery when there was a spy at training, skulking behind the fence with his notebook. But John Longmire bowled over and told him he was welcome to come out into the sunshine and take all the notes he wanted. Which club was he from? Rumours are flying but we can’t confirm ….
Any spy worth his salt would have been impressed not only by Trent Dennis-Lane’s seven goal haul in the intra-club match, but also by dual premiership player and now Swans defensive coach, Stuart Dew. Dew still has the incredible kicking ability that was always his trademark. But on Friday he didn’t do his best work sending long bombs from outside the 50m arc. Rather, he showed off his freaky skills much closer to goals. He stood about a metre outside the boundary line on an acute angle and when someone challenged him to have a shot, he casually curled it through for an extraordinary goal. Dew left us all shaking our heads as he sauntered away!
Goals were also on the mind of TDL. Asked to come and speak to the media about his six-goal haul in Friday’s intra-club match, TDL shot back, “It was seven!’’ Sorry Trent, it was a bit hard to see down the other end of Lakeside Oval.
Employees from our new corporate partner Volkswagen spent last Wednesday at the Club, learning more about the Swans business and how we can all work together. Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia Managing Director, and Jutta Friese, General Manager, Marketing, are both women who have a strong interest in sports. Volkswagen is well-known for being a major supporter of soccer in Europe and was also involved with last week’s Super Bowl in the US. The company’s new TV commercial had over 16 million hits on YouTube last week, ahead of the game won by the Green Bay Packers. Both women attended a Swans match last season, really enjoyed the atmosphere, and can't wait to get along this season. Players and staff are excited about the opportunity some will have to drive Volkswagens. John Longmire’s three kids couldn’t believe there is a table in the back of the car he will be driving!
Longmire was full of praise for the players' efforts during the community camps last week. The boys went far and wide across NSW, and Nick Smith and Ted Richards stopped in at the famous Narrandera Bakery for a "bee sting'' - apparently full of custard and they didn't tell the dietician, Lorraine. But the best effort of the week went to Sam Reid and Ben Haren, who were spied on the see saw and the swings in Newcastle. Longmire applauded them on their new-found maturity! Kieren Jack described his two days with them as akin to baby-sitting.
Friday's intra-club match saw a strong turn-up from fans eager to get a glimpse of the boys in action. We even saw famed jockey Kerrin McEvoy and his two year old son Charlie on the sidelines, apparently watching their friend Rhyce Shaw, who was running off the half back line and wing.
Also playing in the intra-club match was Kane Murphy, the son of Swans Team of the Century wingman, David Murphy. Kane was on a scholarship with St Kilda but didn't get drafted last year. He was one of the 'top-up' players helping to make up the numbers in the game. He did a couple of nice things, showing good vision and skill.
A few of our younger boys were having their photo taken for Cosmo Health magazine last Friday. Trent Dennis-Lane, fresh from his seven goal effort, Sam Reid, Nick Smith, Brett Meredith and Lewis Johnston took part in the shoot with a dark-haired, lanky model. The boys thought everyone had gone home and wouldn’t spy them but as they walked across the road to Lakeside Oval, there was a thunderous noise as their mates banged on the windows in the rehab and massage rooms. Papparazzi Marty Mattner emerged from behind a tree to take photos of the boys on his phone. They are sure to be put to good use…
Courtney Roulston, a former contestant on Masterchef, has been cooking meals for the squad at least once a week, and the players are particularly taken by her chicken soup and her Asian noodles. They love eating but not cleaning up. The latest note in the club kitchen states that there are “No fairies, wives or mothers in here to do the dishes!’’
