« Nick Davis - Hero for All Men | Main | Swansblog.com 2006 Season Preview »
January 27, 2006
Colless Honoured for Services to Football
AFL pioneer in Sydney receives Award
Swans Chairman Richard Colless has been honoured in the Australia Day awards. Colless, Swans chairman since 1994 (the longest current serving chairman in the AFL) has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). He received the honour for his service to Australian Rules football through initiatives to develop the code nationally and in leadership roles with the Swans and Eagles football clubs.
Now while I have been an outspoken critic of Colless in the past and still to this day not his biggest fan (but hey a premiership isn't enough to keep me happy for ever more I guess), I can only tip my hat to the man because this honour is well earnt because of what he has turned this club into despite the knocks delievered by critics and fans such as myself. Also his work for AFLNSW as Chairman until he quit on principle in face of the AFL's spineless backdown to Eddie can only be rated so highly.
Several years ago he stoked the fires with an infamous one-fingered gesture towards Collingwood president Eddie McGuire on ABC television. The gesture dominated news for months and added to Colless's reputation as a leader capable to walk the talk.
This alone means the AM is well overdue.
Conratulations Richard.
Posted by robbieando at January 27, 2006 07:54 PM