With just over a week to go until the Swans’ round one clash with Melbourne, Chief Executive Andrew Ireland has praised the efforts of those members who are taking part in the successful Nominate Your Mate(s) membership drive.

As the name suggests, Nominate Your Mate(s) encourages members to get their family and friends on board with the Swans in 2011, a concept Ireland said has been pivotal in driving membership numbers towards the Club’s target of 40,000.

“I have no doubt that by far the best method of building our membership numbers is for the tremendous pool of passionate Swans supporters who are current members to lead the campaign to reach our 40,000 membership target,” Ireland said.

The Club is aiming to have 30,000 members in Sydney, which combined with Melbourne and other interstate members would take membership over the 40,000 mark, a figure that Ireland believes is competitive in comparison to the other AFL clubs.

“Whilst our membership base is the largest of the football clubs in Sydney, the reality is that we compete on the national stage with the other clubs in the AFL competition and it is to those levels of membership we need to aspire,” he said.

“(Getting to 40,000 members) is a real challenge for our Club and as I have mentioned previously our best opportunity of building those numbers is if our membership base continues to provide strong advocacy to their friends about becoming a Swans member.

“If every Sydney member could recruit one additional member, the SCG could be packed to capacity.”

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh has re-iterated Ireland’s call for members to get their mates on board, recalling his days growing up supporting the Swans and the importance of the crowd getting behind the team.

“I used to go to the SCG to watch the Swans a lot as a youngster, from the age of 5 or 6 onwards, and my family and friends would always get together and make a day - or night - of it,” McVeigh said.

“When we play at the SCG or ANZ Stadium and the crowd is right behind us, there aren’t too many better feelings, that’s why it is so important that everyone who supports the Swans signs up as a member and goes each week.

“If you know of any friends or family who are in that category make sure you get them on board as a member - it will no doubt benefit us, and ultimately it could benefit you.”

Have you Nominated Your Mates to become members? There could be a spare seat next to you! Call Member Services on 1300 663 819 or download a Nominate Your Mate form here.