THE Sydney Swans’ past 25 years have produced the most triumphant highs, and lows that tested even the most passionate of supporters, but through the good times and bad, QBE have been with the Swans every step of the way.
QBE began their association with the Swans in 1987, and the partnership has since developed into one of the most enduring and rewarding in Australian sport.
This Friday night’s game against Carlton will celebrate QBE’s 125 years as an insurance provider, and the 25 years QBE and the Swans have been in partnership.
On Saturday night, QBE will proudly present the second Swans Hall of Fame dinner.
Click here for full match day information for Friday night’s game between Sydney Swans v Carlton.
QBE’s first year with the Club will be remembered for high scoring, Warwick Capper’s 103 goals, a second consecutive finals appearance, and a dominant midfield of Greg Williams, Barry Mitchell and 1987 Brownlow Medalist Gerard Healy.
The following seven years were challenging for the Club. There were three successive wooden-spoons from 1992 to 1994, including a 26-game losing streak broken by a memorable win against Melbourne at the SCG. But there were positives too, and the Swans stuck together through the on-field leadership of the likes of stalwart Dennis Carroll and the exciting NSW-born-and-bred midfielder Paul Kelly, and the off-field support from QBE.
In late 1993 Ron Barassi arrived to coach the Club. The tide began to turn and in 1995 the Swans were able to recruit Tony Lockett and Paul Roos, and captain Paul Kelly won the Brownlow Medal.
The following year, 1996, was a brilliant season. The Club finished atop the AFL ladder en route to the first grand final appearance since 1945. Although North Melbourne defeated Sydney in the 1996 grand final, the foundation for a successful era had been set in Rodney Eade’s first year as coach..
Eade guided the Swans to four more finals series before Club favourite Paul Roos took over as coach midway through the 2002 season. Roos led the Swans to the finals in 2003 and 2004, before the Club went on to claim the ultimate in 2005 - the premiership cup. The QBE logo was proudly emblazoned on the front of the Swans jumper when the players took to the dais to receive the Club’s first premiership in 72 years.
2006 saw the Club go within one-point of claiming back-to-back premierships, and since then the Swans have been perennial finalists. 2010 saw QBE take their partnership to another level when they became the principal partner of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.
2011 marks the 25th year of the partnership between the Swans and QBE, and in a new era for the Club under coach John Longmire, it’s comforting to know that the off-field success of the club is in order thanks to the support of our principal partner, QBE.
QBE - celebrating 25 years of partnership with the Swans and 125 years of insurance worldwide.
