‘Muted’ fans and glaring corporate backlash: My day with Swans diehards
I was certain the “Bloods” culture had taken a massive hit this week. But sitting in the stands on Sunday afternoon at the SCG might have just changed my mind.
Amidst the recent scandal, the Swans AFLW team unfairly wore the consequences of their male counterparts’ actions, a dark cloud cast over what was meant to be a historic double-header at the SCG.
Julie has been a fan since the start. Sophie Wisely
But online, a rallying cry went out to show up for the women, make it clear they had no part in this saga and ensure their target to break their overall attendance record wasn’t derailed.
They hit their mark and then some, drawing a crowd of 16,672.
The energy during the AFLW match was easily some of the most electric and engaged the team has ever seen. It was a shame to see such a historic occasion underscored by the actions of a few, but the team rallied to a 9.12 (66) to 6.6 (42) win.
Beside me, a fan spent the first quarter furiously scribbling ‘AFLW’ over her cheer squad flags.
Julie and Margaret, AFLW supporters, told me they were solely for the women and were really happy to see all the men in the crowd also rally earlier than usual.
Usually decked head-to-toe in team gear, Julie instead opted for an Adam Goodes jersey and an old 2018 flag she had modified.
Around the stands, the scandal was the topic on everyone’s lips.
Every overheard conversation came back to the same theme: those few have let everyone down, but the rest of the team shouldn’t have to suffer.
“F---ing idiots,” Julie said, capturing the crowd’s mixed emotions.
“It’s just wrong, wrong honestly, as fans it feels like a betrayal. What were they doing?
“Everyone has a right to feel safe at their workplace and yeah, it feels very strange here today at the SCG. Honestly, we’re not too sure if we’ll stay for the AFL game, we’ll see what happens.
Swans players are cheered as they walk off at half-time. Sophie Wisely
“i mean Isaac Heeney - he came up through the Academy, (he) had the Bloods culture brainwashed into him - respect, no homophobia, no racism, I don’t know.
’If this enacts change in the wider AFL community, then look…I don’t mind that Sydney is the club to suffer.”
Ultimately, there was no mass walkout.
While a few fans departed after the women’s siren, the majority stayed. A host of Swans greats came down onto the field between the games and CEO Matthew Pavlich was spotted congratulating the women’s side after their win.
If anything, the crowd got right into it, galvanised by the remaining players having a real crack on the field and taking victory.
The corporate retreat, however, was glaring.
It was hard not to mention the absence of star players Heeney and Chad Warner in multiple activations around the stadium.
The fanfare felt noticeably uneven across the bays. Support crews pushed hard to belt out the club song after every goal, but many fans remained muted, choosing to clap selectively.
I even overheard one supporter debating whether to continuously walk in and out of the stadium just to inflate the attendance metrics for the men’s game, declaring, “we need every supporter we can get today.”
Is that brand of blind passion misdirected? I’m still not sure.
“Honestly, we might stay because look - the players still on the field are also allowed to feel fan support,” Julie said further.
Fans used subtle gestures to point out their anger at the AFL club. Sophie Wisely
Fans beside me who have held the same seats for more than 30 years said the turnout was smaller than usual.
What I did see is that it was the women near me who yelled the loudest when the men scored, and the men - many wearing subtle shirts protesting the broader AFL culture - who showed out in droves for the AFLW game.
Eight seats beside me sat empty for the entirety of the double-header. But for the rest of the crowd, the task was simple: we’re not letting down the Swans and we’re supporting the players out on the ground.
