Former Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless says the late John Yates was a key figure in the turnaround of the club, and football in NSW, a quarter of a century ago.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yates, the Yerong Creek farmer who passed away at the age of 86 last Thursday, twice served on boards chaired by Colless (the Swans and the AFL NSW-ACT Commission).
"In 1993, we (the Swans) were sort of a basket case or laughing stock. I wouldn't have known John for long at that stage but he was the first person I approached about coming on to the board," Colless said.
"His reputation preceded him and the Swans, and I personally, were major beneficiaries of his agreement."
Colless, who had earlier been involved in the creation of the West Coast Eagles, said he didn't want a heap of Victorians flying in to tell them how to run the Swans. In Yates, he had a kindred spirit.
The pair agreed that the success of the Swans had to be underpinned by broad support for Australian rules in NSW and their taskforce was successful in getting the AFL to increase funding by 800 per cent.
"Having John involved sent a message through the Riverina and southern NSW that we were for real and not just another forlorn attempt to kickstart the game," Colless said.
"My view, and it coincided with John's, is that if the Swans have success it will be fleeting unless the game is growing and getting much stronger."
Colless was the longest serving AFL club chairman when he resigned in 2014, a decade after Yates had finished up after 11 years on the board.
Colless said Yates managed to be 'the iron fist in the velvet glove': measured and respectful, but driven to get results.
"He knew what he wanted and when I look back at the 20-odd years, I think John and his counterparts should be unbelievably pleased. It was considered in many quarters a lost cause," he said.
"The term 'great man' is thrown around pretty casually these days but he really was, I believe, a great man."
Colless is proud of being involved in instituting the John Yates Award at the Swans in 2005 recognising individuals who contribute to the development of the game.
"There have been 15 or 16 John Yates Award recipients and it would be my objective that in 50 years time, it would still be going. I think it's seen by people involved in football as a pretty prestigious award to win."
Yates will be farewelled at a service at Wesley Uniting Church in Wagga on Friday at 2pm.
READ MORE