M E S S AG E F R O M T H E C E O
TO M HARLE Y
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t has been another extraordinary year for our club. For our members and fans. For everyone. While the year provided its share of challenges, it also provided much excitement. Our return to finals football capped off a strong and much improved home and away season. As John Longmire speaks about in his column, I think we all look back on season 2021 with great pride in how our team was able to perform in such unique, challenging circumstances. As bright as the future looks on the field, it is a similar tale off the field. At the onset of the Covid pandemic, our Chairman
Andrew Pridham outlined to our members our plan in the face of so much uncertainty. It focused on three key stages; SURVIVE, RESET, THRIVE. I am proud of the way the club has navigated through our survival and reset to this point. Following a significant financial loss in 2020, we have returned to profit in 2021 and importantly repaid all debts incurred to the AFL as a result of the impacts of the pandemic. We have re-enlivened the Sydney Swans HQ development at the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park. Construction is now underway on this incredible project to transform the Royal Hall of Industries into a world class
4 S Y D N E Y S W A N S 2021 SEASON REVIEW
training, administration and community centre. It has taken a true Bloods effort to bring the project back to life, but such is its importance to the future of the club, we were determined to find a way. When complete in late 2022, our new home will help us engage with Swans members and the community like never before. In August, we celebrated the news that the AFL Commission had granted the Swans an AFLW licence. Our AFLW team is less than 12 months away from taking the field in what will be a truly historic event. There is enormous excitement for our AFLW program and our fans are showing their support with more than 3000
