Friends and family fly in to welcome a new Swan

LEONGATHA’S Tom Hanily made his debut in AFL football last Friday night, in one of the biggest games of the year, the season opener against Hawthorn at the time-honored SCG.

And they came from everywhere to witness the special occasion.

A carload of mates from Xavier College, uncle Ants Hanily from Inverloch, for whom Tom has milked cows in recent years, all the family members; father Mick, mother Veronica, siblings Matilda, Ned and his partner Lara, Tom’s partner Lily Debono, Josh Smith and Roger Mark, some of Tom’s local footy mates and family friends.

There would have been more than 20 Leongatha and district people who made the late dash to Sydney to see him run out on the ground and into the big time.

“It was pretty surreal really, seeing his picture go up on the big screen and being introduced to the crowd,” said Mick Hanily on his return home at the weekend.

“He doesn’t say much, but pretty happy though. We’ll see what happens next week. But yes, a huge thrill.”

Mick said the Swans organisation could not have looked after them better, a “real family club” but with all the professionalism you hear talked about in connection with Sydney.

The tributes and best wishes came from all quarters before the game and after.

• Leongatha Primary School newsletter: Best of luck to former LPS student Tom Hanily who makes his AFL debut tonight with the Sydney Swans.

• Leongatha FNC: Congratulations Tom! We will all be watching.

• ‘Diehard Swans fan’ Darren Chester, the Member for Gippsland, also welcomed the selection of Tom Hanily as another ‘outstanding football talent’ from the Leongatha Parrots.

Former coach at Gippsland Power, Rhett McLennan, paid tribute to Tom’s remarkable achievement in coming from the mid-season rookie draft in May last year to making his debut at the start of the 2025 season.

“He’s always been able to go out there and get a kick but what is a real credit to him is the way he’s been able to focus on that role that’s likely to get him a game at the top level, as a small forward, and really work hard on honing his skills in that area,” said McLennan.

After being drafted as pick 14 out of 19 by Sydney in May last year, after earlier turning out for Gippsland Power, Tom played nine VFL games for the Swans reserves and clearly impressed in his first pre-season with the club.

Tom started as the tactical sub and replaced Angus Sheldrick in the third quarter. He inserted himself into the play on a number of occasions, notably trying to find Isaac Heeney with a kick close to goal, hitting the stats sheet with two kicks, four handballs, a mark and a free kick.

There were certainly signs.