WHEN the Tamworth Swans hosted their 2009 premiership reunion recently, Gavin Knee was not expecting to be the centre of attention.
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However, as he and his teammates from a decade ago swapped war stories from their days of gracing Tamworth No.1 Oval an announcement was made.
Knee had been named a life member of the club in recognition of his 15-year long tenure.
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"I was so shocked when I found out at the reunion I was getting life membership," Knee told the Leader.
"It was just so unexpected.
"I was really looking forward to catching up with everyone and having a great night, and when it happened I was just blown away."
First pulling on a Swans jumper in 2004, Knee has seen his share of high and lows including a grand final loss in 2005, before premierships in 2006 and 2009.
"I was a Farrer boy, so my sport of choice growing up was rugby union," Knee said.
"There had never really been any real avenues to play AFL locally, so despite always following the sport, I stuck with my mates and played rugby. That was until I was brought to the Swans by a friend from work in 2004 and I have never looked back.
"I really love the club and to be awarded life membership is something I will hold pretty dear for the rest of my life."
Knee said he had seen many changes to the sport in the region during his tenure, but none more seismic than the growth of women's AFL in the region.
"The sport had a bit of a boom around the end of the last decade, but I think we are seeing another one at the moment thanks to the growth of women's AFL," he said. "What the women's team has done for the culture around the Swans is fantastic.
"The impact women's AFL is having is immeasurable and it is just fantastic."
Now playing a vastly different role for the Swans than he did in 2004, Knee said he is still enjoying the thrill of running out on Saturday's for his beloved club.
"There's still a long way to go for this current Swans group, but we are really building towards a good group," he said.
"For me, it is fantastic to be playing alongside young guys like Cooper Kelly and Ed George because I played alongside their dads. It really is special." On Saturday, the Swans will face their toughest test of the season to date, taking on the Inverell Saints at Varley Oval.
"There's no doubt playing Inverell on their home deck is one of the hardest games of the season," Knee said.
"But if we play to our best and play the way we want to play we should hopefully go pretty well."