Swans up to the challenge in 2011

The Sydney Swans are looking forward to another successful season both on and off the field, through the club’s extensive community program, in 2011.

While the spotlight is firmly focused on Sunday afternoon’s opening match against Melbourne at the MCG, many players are enthusiastically looking ahead to a busy schedule of community work and school visits through the Team SWANS Schools Program.

Defender Nick Smith said that the initiative, primarily driven and managed by the players, aims to promote “making the right choices” and is targeted at primary school aged children prior to their transition in to secondary education.

“We really try to highlight the importance of healthy choices in terms diet and physical exercise,” he said.

“We also discuss goal-setting, embracing diversity and more recently, have been sponsoring environmental awareness.”

Smith, 22, and in his fifth year at the Swans is a senior member of the Team SWANS group, which is primarily aimed at younger players who are new to the club and the pressures of a professional football environment.

He said that while players hoped their involvement would make a positive impression on the lives of the children they visited, the program was also highly rewarding and beneficial to the players themselves.

“We are in a truly privileged position and it is satisfying to be able to pass on some of the stuff we learn to the kids,” he said.

“It is great for the players, especially the younger guys when they first arrive at the club. It helps to build their leadership skills and confidence by getting them to speak in front of crowds and be role models.”

Team SWANS has seen players conduct school visits across metropolitan Sydney and the inner city remains an important focus for the club as the AFL continues to push forward in the battle fans in Sydney’s ultra-competitive football market.

“I’ve been involved in community work, either through ‘healthy choices’ (Team SWANS) or hospital visits ever since I’ve been at the club,” said Smith.

“Most of the players are involved in the community in one way or another. I personally really enjoy doing it.”

With new head coach, John Longmire, at the helm, the Swans recently wrapped up a gruelling pre-season and are well prepared to open their season against Melbourne.

“It has actually been a very smooth transition,” said Smith of the coaching handover from Paul Roos, who led the club for nine years and delivered its first premiership in 72 years in 2005.

“John actually started taking charge of training sessions and holding meetings last year with Roosy still there.”

Smith believes in addition to months of highly physical training and conditioning, an intense competition for positions in the senior side is an encouraging sign for the club.

“The players are hungry and the fierce competition across the team for positions definitely a positive for the club this year.”