A KERANG family’s devotion to the Sydney Swans is creating plenty of discussion.
The Sambrooks family turned the front yard of their Boundary Street house into a shrine for the club on Sunday morning, two days after the club qualified for tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final.
Flags, footballs, hats, jumpers, scarves and t-shirts hang from the roof and trees of the house, with the family looking forward to the club’s fifth grand final appearance in 12 years.
“It took us about an hour to complete, and all we did was get all of the items out of my room and the shed,” Zak Sambrooks said.
The grand final will be extra special for the 17-year-old, who will travel with his dad, Harry for the big game against the Western Bulldogs.
“This will be my first grand final, as I have not been old enough previously, but dad was there in 2005 (when the Swans defeated West Coast) and 2006 (when the side lost to the Eagles),” Zak said.
The family are devoted Swans fans – a passion that began when Harry was growing up.
“Kerang was in South Melbourne’s zone when I was a kid. David McLeish and John Payne, who both lived in Kerang, played for South Melbourne, and my family is related to John,” Harry said.
“Growing up, South Melbourne was always on the bottom of the ladder, so most of the supporters in town were Carlton, Richmond or Essendon fans.
“For the first 35 years of my life I hardly saw the Swans win a game.”
The decorations have created plenty of interest, with people honking their horns as they pass the house or calling in wanting photos.
“I’ve been woken up quite a few times during the mornings this week with people saying ‘go Doggies’,” Zak said.
“If we are to lose, it could not happen to a better side than the Bulldogs,” Harry said.
