AFL SPECTATORS will now be able to swan around on new seating at the Myimbarr Sporting Fields.
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The ground has been home to the Shellharbour Swans since 2005, but club president Glen Bachelor said supporters previously had only grass to sit on.
"You can imagine in the middle of winter when the ground's a bit soggy, it gets people's bums off the ground," he said.
The project cost $47,000, including grants of $26,250 through the state government's Community Building Partnerships program, $11,000 from the AFL and $5000 from Shellharbour City Council.
"We've got one of the best facilities in the Illawarra, definitely the best in the LGA," Bachelor said.
"We're hoping to continue growing our numbers."
Also benefiting from the seating will be the cricket, touch football and Oztag teams who train and play at the ground.
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said she had more than $1.5 million-worth of projects vying for grant money.
"When you look at projects like this from the Shellharbour Swans, it's a very easy decision to make," she said.
"It benefits a large chunk of the community, it's a healthy thing for our kids to do. We're all supporting healthy lifestyles for our children and parents alike, so this is just a great project."
Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the council's support was part of a plan to improve city infrastructure.
"It's a growing sport and there are a lot of young people in Shellharbour City who participate," she said.
"These are a fantastic facility for parents to sit in relative comfort; it's better than standing."
Sydney Swans Lewis Roberts-Thomson and Tim Membrey also visited the ground last week to run clinics with the juniors.
Membrey said it was important for up-and-coming players to have good facilities.
"The grounds we're training and playing at, you want to have good seating arrangements for parents, and grandparents even, and the whole community to come and watch and really get behind us, and now the younger guys who are training and get involved," he said.
The Illawarra Junior Competition will kick off on March 30.