Every day when the players arrive at the Swans headquarters at the SCG, they check the number pasted to the wall at the entrance to their locker room.
Yesterday it read 21,000 - a number which made players like veteran Jude Bolton proud.

The figure is our number of 2011 members, and Jude, who has been here for 13 seasons, knows how important it is that the Club has a strong base of loyal members.

While the number is tracking ahead of last year, there is still plenty of time left before the season starts and there are still reserved seats available with great views of Jude and his mates as they charge around the field in the red and white.

Bolton said the healthy membership figures were heartening for the players as they toiled away on the training track in readiness for the 2011 season.

“We know how supportive our fans are, and seeing so many of them sign up as members is fantastic. When you become a member, the support goes directly to the Club, and there’s no doubt having our members at games inspires us to perform better on field,’’ Bolton said.

Membership packs began arriving at homes late last week, and the message from Member Services is that all members should check their envelope to make sure they’ve received all their benefits, and that the details on their membership cards are correct.

The club is also pleased to advise that Superpass memberships are now on sale. If members choose this option in 2011 they’ll find their three match Superpass to ANZ Stadium games includes improved seating, the option to pay using our instalment payment plan and loads of other member exclusive benefits.

While the membership number is encouraging for all at the Club, there is still work to surpass last year’s total of 33,598, which is the target.

Bolton said the players were doing all they could to get in the best shape possible for the 2011 season. “We’re trying to hit our targets on the field, and we’d love it if all our supporters joined up and helped us hit our off-field membership targets,’’ Bolton said.

The Swans Melbourne office is also very pleased with how membership numbers are tracking there, and particularly the number of members who have upgraded to the AFL Platinum package.

This package was introduced a couple of years ago and offers members access to the AFL members zones at the MCG & Etihad Stadium along with access to another five games at the MCG involving teams other than the Sydney Swans - very handy if you have a club split at home!

On top of this if the Sydney Swans participate at the MCG in weeks one or two of the Final Series, AFL Platinum package members receive free access to the AFL Members Reserve.