Around 2000 Sydney Swans fans flocked to the SCG today to show their support for the team in the build-up to the 2011 season.
Swans co-captain Adam Goodes said it was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic supporters at the Fan Day, wearing their red and white guernseys despite the very hot conditions.
“You can’t underestimate how much your support means to us at the Swans,’’ Goodes said as he made his way through the crowd.
Swans fans formed long queues to have caps and jumpers signed by the players, and learnt footy skills from Goodes and his team-mates at Fan Day, which was presented by the Club's new partner, Volkswagen. There were rides, face painting and entertainment for the kids, and the Swans mascot, Cyggy, was a big hit as always.
Volkswagen provided a 'green screen', which was a hit with the crowd, where people had their photo taken so they looked like Swans players
Coach John Longmire introduced all the players to the crowd and said they had worked very hard over the summer to give themselves every chance of performing strongly in 2010.
Longmire said the Sydney Swans Fan Day was a great way to give back to the fans and make them feel part of the team.
There was a “media zone’’ where the fans got to ask the tough questions of the players, with one supporter wanting to know how the team could finish higher in 2011 than their fifth placing in 2010.
“We’ve got to be able to beat the top four teams. That was where we fell down last year so we can’t wait to have a go at Collingwood this year,’’ Goodes said.
2010 AFL Rising Star Dan Hannebery was asked which young Swans might go well in that prestigious competition this year, and he predicted draftees Jed Lamb and Luke Parker, and second-year player Gary Rohan, were all in the mix to have big seasons.
Nine year old Kyandra Welch had travelled to Fan Day from the Central Coast. She goes to games with her nan, and said supporting the Swans was ''in my blood, I suppose!''.
Kyandra used to only come to day games but now that she's turned 9, she said she was allowed to come to night games as well and couldn't wait for the season to start.
So who's her favourite player? "Adam Goodes. He's awesome, you have to admit it!,'' she said. "Swans rock!''
Ten year old Zak Baran from Kellyville in Sydney has just joined as a Sydney Swans member this year and was attending his first Fan Day.
"I liked watching the Swans on tv and I said to my mum and dad that I want to go and watch the Swans play so we joined up. I just like watching AFL and especially the Swans,'' said Zak, who lists Goodes and Ted Richards among his favourites.
Fan Day is a chance for members and supporters to mingle with the players and get geared up for the premiership season, which starts for the Swans on March 27 with a game against Melbourne at the MCG.
Volkswagen also ran a competition for fans to guess how many footballs were in the back of their Amarok pick-up truck. And three lucky children and their dad were driven to Fan Day by players Shane Mumford and Jude Bolton in a Volkswagen Multivan Highline after winning a competition where they had to state in 25 words or less why they were the Swans biggest fans.