Shannon Prenter can hardly contain his excitement about what’s happening at the club he runs as president, the South West Sydney Blues.
Two days out from the opening round of the 2026 Sydney AFL season, Prenter is having a chat with the South West Voice about the club’s prospects, on and off the field.
Mostly he is ecstatic about the incredible $8 million new facility built by Campbelltown Council that’s already the envy of the rest of the Sydney AFL clubs.
“It’s a magnificent facility and to their credit Campbelltown Council did a first class job,’’ says Prenter just before the footy players run out for training on a stormy Thursday night.
The first floor clubhouse really is very impressive, but it will get even better once things start to happen, like a proper trophy cabinet installed, tributes to club greats placed on the walls and so on.
“There’s a lot to do, so we’re just working our way through it all, but the focus is on making the best possible use of this great legacy facility,’’ he says.
The Blues are the product of a joint venture between the mighty Campbelltown Blues and the Liverpool based South West Sydney club and have two home grounds, Rosedale Oval and Bob Prenter Reserve.
Campbelltown were founded by the late, great John McLaughlin in 1972.
In the late 1990s Shannon’s late father Bob took over the running of the iconic Campbelltown club.
Now it’s Shannon Prenter’s turn to continue the tradition.
The club president tells me he is looking forward to success on the field in 2026 and beyond, starting with victory over the Pennant Hills Demons tomorrow afternoon at Bob Prenter Reserve in both Premier division in the under 19s.
“We’ve got a good squad, plenty of talented youngsters as well,’’ he says.
Sydney AFL experts are tipping the Blues to shake up the competition and maybe even go further than their performance in last year’s finals.
“There will be some really good quality AFL action here on Saturday, so locals who love the footy come along and enjoy it,’’ says Prenter.
The Under 19s match will start at 11am, with the Premier division clash at 1pm.
