Catherine Boundy is a master recruiter, managing to convince 13 of her friends to sign up as members of the Swans under the popular “Nominate Your Mate’ program.

Catherine was last night named as the top member recruiter for 2011 at a cocktail function at the SCG attended by a number of Swans players, just edging out Chuck Kavalec, who recruited 12 new members to the club.

Catherine has won two tickets to the AFL Grand Final, and says her new member friends are all vying for the chance to go with her.  “I’m so excited, I can’t wait to go as I’ve only been to one before, and it was the 2006 Grand Final when we lost by a point,’’ Catherine said.

“I was always taking my friends to Swans games on guest passes so this year  I decided it was time they put their money where their mouth is and became paid up members, and I managed to get 13 of them to do it. We love the whole atmosphere at games.’’

Rhyce Shaw, who was MC at the function for the Club’s top member recruiters, thanked Catherine and Chuck and all those who had generously helped the club find new fans.

“It’s a fantastic effort to get new members on board for us. We know they’re the lifeblood of our club, and as players we really appreciate their support as it helps us perform better on the field,’’ Shaw said.

Catherine, who has been a member of the Swans since 1996, started coming to watch in her teens with a big group of female friends, and they still come together.

“There’s a big female following and we all sit together in the Ladies Stand at the SCG. We started coming for the bodies and stayed for the excitement,’’ Catherine said.

“I remember being there at Goodesy’s first game when he was 18, because he was the same age as us, so we’ve watched him all along.’’

The Smith family, Beth and Peter, brought along their six weeks old baby daughter, Grace, who looked gorgeous in a red and white woollen cap.

“She was seven weeks premature and she was born on Mummy’s (Shane Mumford) birthday,’’ Beth said of baby Grace.

So does Grace have Shane for a middle name? “I wanted to but they wouldn’t let me,’’ laughed Peter.

The Smiths, who helped sign up four new members this year, have been members for three years and love the family atmosphere at Swans games.

This year over 800 new members were recruited to the Club under the Nominate Your Mate program.