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Chicago and Sydney Swans renew ties

  • Thursday, May 24 2012 @ 12:05 pm ACST
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After an earlier relationship may have seen the USAFL club Chicago Swans and the AFL's Sydney Swans drift away from each other, they have found each other once again.

The Sydney Swans website reports that: Long-time friend of the Chicago Swans and Sydney reserves coach Jared Crouch said the new affiliation was a relationship that benefitted both clubs. “For them, they want a little bit of support and for us it’s about getting our name and our brand out there and offering any help we can,” he told sydneyswans.com.au.

“(Australian Rules) football is actually pretty big in the US. Other clubs already have affiliations. There are the New York Magpies, the Nashville Kangaroos and Boston play in Melbourne’s colours, so it’s about getting our name and brand on that scene.” As part of the new affiliation, 'Windy City' native and Chicago Swans player Jason Wilhelm visited the Swans headquarters at the SCG last week, and was treated to a guided tour with Crouch.

World Footy News spoke to Wilhelm last week while he was in Sydney "Our team took a trip to Melbourne (from WA) to catch some footy matches and I added on a Sydney trip after that to see the Giants and Swans facilities. (I) Got to hang with Adam Goodes for like 30 minutes yesterday and just chat with him. Pretty surreal experience. I'm flying back to Melbourne tonight to catch the pies Geelong game at the G"

Wilhelm is playing with Gingin in country Western Australia and told us how he was going so far  " The season is going well! The boys were off to a bit of a lag start. Last year they were undefeated in their league and reserves side, so they started the year thinking it would be another cake walk which it definitely has not been. We are currently 1-2, playing the 3 toughest teams in our league right off the bat. Personally I can see my skills developing well, and my fitness levels increasing every week. Besides a broken pinky finger and a concussion in last weeks game I am doing fine!"

We hope to have a more detailed interview with Jason later in the season.

For more of Jason's journey you can read his blog at jasongoesdownunder.wordpress.com