Swans Clinic

One Monday in the holidays Dad and I headed into the SCG for Daniel to have a training clinic with the Sydney Swans. It made for an early start as we wanted to beat the traffic, leaving at 6:45 for an 8am registration and a 8:30am start. Daniel was very excited to be playing afl with the Sydney Swans. Dad came to help look after Eliza for me and to also drive the peak-hour traffic (of which there was none).

When we entered the stadium and had Daniel's name checked off Daniel and Eliza saw Cyggy. We asked if they wanted a photo with him and they were right into it, especially Eliza. It was so very sweet to watch Cyggy giving her pats on the back and a big cuddle. They then saw Blue Emu and had photos with it and also the squirrel from Ice Age. Eliza just loved the mascots! We then went and sat at the members stand, waiting for the clinic to start. 

Adam Spencer was mc. He announced that the kids 4-6year olds were to go onto the field and head down to the change rooms to do their session but parents weren't allowed onto the field. I walked Daniel over to the boundary and he ran over to the group, and headed down to the change rooms. Later he told me that he got to hold Cyggy's hand as they walked down to the change rooms. Too cute!!

I was a bit disappointed that parents weren't allowed to go down with them because I wanted to watch Daniel and as I headed back to Dad and Eliza I bumped into Mish who was very frustrated about the situation as she was told that parents could go down to the change rooms. We decided to go and talk to the person who told her that. The lady was lovely and sent us down to the rooms.

When we entered it was pretty chaotic in there! There were lots of kids, a couple of supervisors, no Swans players. Daniel was wandering around aimless wanting an AFL ball to kick but there was only a handful of them and the big kids who got them first were seemingly the only ones using them. He just seemed sad walking up to me saying 'Mummy, can you please get me a ball' and then asking for his one. It did break my heart a little bit. I told him that he needed to try and catch the ball so he could then kick it. Yeah... That didn't happen.

After around 30mins of free for all (where Daniel still hadn't touched the ball) I was just about to offer help in getting the kids organised when another guy came down to the rooms and had the kids organised. This made me feel a little bit better. There were 4 different activities around the room - hurdles, ladder drills, skipping, ladder drills again. Funnily enough none involved kicking a ball again. Anyway, Daniel saw that the balls were on the ground so picked one up and held it for the different activities. Ha. He started with the ladder drills. Running through trying to step in between the lines. He then moved to the hurdles. They were pretty cute being so little. 

Then he went to the next ladder drills. This one had a guy who had them do different skills each time - run through, side step, jump, catch and handball to him and then run through, etc. pretty funny watching the kids. All Daniel wanted to do was kick the ball. He ended up catching it which was great and then he threw it back, no handball. Dear. He was happy. 

The kids then got given a Swans activity book and then walked up to the field to get some player signatures. This was over the other side of the field. Daniel was good and went with the group as parents weren't allowed on the field. He ended up getting 6 signatures, 2 players that I knew - Teddy Richards and James Rose. He then wandered back trying to find me in the crowd. He eventually saw me calling out and came over. Other kids went to the different tables to get more signatures but that's ok. Daniel was happy with his 6. He was a bit sad and confused though that he didn't get to play with any of the Swans players on the field. He walked off saying 'But Mummy, why didn't I get to run around on the field with the Swans. You said I got to play a game with them.' This was true because I thought that was how it would happen. I just had to reply saying 'sorry sweetheart. I don't know.'

We then met Dad and Eliza again and went and got Daniel his sausage sandwich and water. He sat down to have it while Mish and I caught up and Alexander had a quick feed. We then got an afl ball on the way back to the car.

All in all Daniel said he enjoyed the morning which was great. His highlights were meeting Cyggy (as was Eliza's) and getting a ball at the end. Sadly no Swans players came down to the change room, where the kids on the field had a Swans player at each activity over the hour. I was a bit disappointed in how the session was run so emailed them to give some feedback and I received a great email apologising that they did let down the younger group and that communication about parents being able to go to the rooms fell through. It was nice to have my concerns acknowledged. They said they are wanting to improve this for next year.

Since the clinic Daniel has enjoyed playing AFL at different times. One part has been to be an umpire and bounce the ball - leg into the air included as he had seen at the game. Also to throw the ball up when it is 'too wet to bounce it'. Ha. 

Then yesterday Daniel was pretending to be checked by the physio so was lying on the ground. He then told me to lie on the ground so I could get checked. His checking involved sitting on his little blue chair to look at me, bending my leg up to my bottom and telling me to hold it until he got the other one. Rubbing my legs to check the muscles are ok. Then doing the same with my bottom and my back. Then re-checking my legs. He told me that I was ok to play again. 

This the led to Daniel and Eliza jumping onto my back. Many giggles were had too.

I just love it how what he has seen on tv and at the game has gone in, even the little things of umpires and physios.

He then did some more kicking of the ball. He's getting pretty good at the drop punts. 

Maybe one day he will move from being in the crowd to being on the field at a Swans game.