I'm not sure of all the history but if I may be rude, South Melbourne ultimately failed to keep its identity in Melbourne through, partly, a lack of support financially, memberwise and unrewarding on field results. The Sydney Swans was slowly built after some really tough times in a non Aussie Rules environment. That new identity must be honoured and celebrated. I'm originally a South Australian but my love of the Swans has been forged over the years since we both 'LOL' arrived here in the early 80s. It's great to draw on the Bloods tradition and a new and traditional Melbourne supporter base, but I love the fact that essentially our identity is Sydney and we're helping slowly build a new AFL culture in a foreign environment.
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The Swans are undoubtedly Sydney’s team, but this is club football and the identity of our club is inextricably tied to, connected with, and a legacy and continuation of the South Melbourne Football Club.
People can connect to any aspect of our club’s rich history as they see fit - and it is good that they do. But the existence of one part of our identity does not cancel out the other.
The dual aspect of our identity is writ large. It is present on our guernsey, in our colours, within our club song and in the stands of the SCG.
He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)
Yes, GoSwannies. You are right on the money there. He was steeped in Bloods history and then went on to embrace the Sydney connection too. In the past couple of decades he has been involved in AFL talent identification in Qld. The article below talking about his induction into the Swans Hall of Fame tells some of this interesting history.
Mark Browning Chosen In Swans Hall Of Fame - Suncoast Power - GameDay
Personally, I love both parts of our history. They are complimentary. Its unique in the competition to have those two identities. The Brisbane Lions/Fitzroy link is not the same as only a few Fitzroy players joined the Brisbane Bears list whereas we relocated an entire team from Melbourne.
Nice to read tbe Club trained at the Lakeside Oval today. First time they would have done so in 40.years?
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