The dress code in members’ sections at grounds around the country has long been a point of contention, but the rules in the relatively conservative SCG Members’ have seemingly caught the ire of every Sydneysider at some point.

Swans member Brenden was no exception, with his family refused entry at the gate for Sydney’s Round 2 fixture against Hawthorn on Sunday owing to a rip in his partner’s jeans.

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He took to social media to express his discontent, saying in a tweet: “whole family are paid (Sydney Swans) members. We got rejected from entry at the gate today because my wife’s jeans have a single rip in them.

“Hundreds of dollars annually, in memberships and merchandise, and we were made to feel like second class citizens being rejected at the door,” he wrote.

Brenden posted a photo of family before and after the incident, with his six year old son in tears afterwards at the prospect of not getting the chance to see his first AFL game.

“Have a look at how our day started, and has ended with my six year old in tears, who can’t watch his first AFL game now,” Brenden wrote.

“Understand the rules, but surely being polite about it and maybe giving a warning is better than rejecting a family with a 4 month old baby in the heat?”

While the Swans themselves, as SCG tenants, do not enforce the dress regulations themselves, Brendan noted in an update that the “Swans customer support team called within 30 minutes of me posting.

“Extremely apologetic, and offering options to make up for what happened.

“Good customer service goes a long way.”

Brenden declined to be interviewed for this story, stating that he was “more than happy with” the Swans’ swift response.

News.com.au understands that Brenden’s family will be compensated for their experience.

Social media was ablaze at the experience of the family, with football writer Sean Lawson saying “the SCG is a publicly owned entity run by a government trust, it’s time to get rid of these rubbish dress code rules.”

The Age sports journalist Roy Ward said it was “totally unacceptable.

“What a horrific experience for Brenden and his family.

“If it was me, I would never return. It’s a footy match, not a black tie ball!”

AAP Sport journalist Scott Bailey asked: “Surely they can just offer you different seats for the day if they can’t have you in the members?”

Brenden explained that the Swans, getting in touch with him directly, could have offered him different seats, provided they had gone round to the membership support booth.

“If you heard how the steward spoke to us, you’d understand why my wife just wanted to leave, though,” he added.

Welfare advocate Tom Studans noted the difference between football codes at the SCG, saying: “I’ve copped it for wearing jeans to the Members’ at Swans games before, NRL games always been completely fine though.

“Really makes you think!”

The Swans’ first home game of the season also marked the start of a six-month trial by the SCG Trust of more relaxed dress regulations in the Members’ Reserves, which have traditionally been relatively strict.

Prior to the trial, the Members’ required a collared shirt for men, and forbid “revealing” tops for women, with shorts of any kind completely forbidden in the Members’ Pavilion.

The new trial removed the requirement for collared shirts, and was broadened to allow a “minimum standard of dress (as) smart casual attire”, noting that “guest entry is at the discretion of (the) event day staff and security teams.

The regulation banning ripped or torn clothing has remained.

The Members’ Reserve encompasses four grandstands at the SCG – the recently built Don Bradman Stand and MA Noble Stand, as well as the centuries-old Members’ Pavilion and Ladies Pavilion, with Swans members typically receiving access to the Ladies’, Noble and Bradman Stands as part of their membership, described by the club as the “Red Zone”.

Part of the requirements of the membership include the dress regulations of the SCG Members’ Reserves, and the Swans’ membership terms and conditions state “dress regulations apply for all members and guests accessing the Red Zone at SCG matches.

“Members with access to this area are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that their own dress and that of their guests conforms to the standards required.

“Should a Sydney Swans member or their guest seeking to access the Red Zone fail to comply (to the regulations), they will not be permitted access into the venue and will waive their entry entitlements for that match.

“Limited reserved seat upgrades into areas of the SCG without dress regulations may be available for purchase from the Sydney Swans Membership Support Office at the SCG.”

The Swans ended up running rampant over a listless Hawthorn side in their biggest ever win over the brown and gold, romping to an 81-point win to resign the Hawks to their worst start to a season since 1950.

Young forward Joel Amartey, slotting in for the suspended Lance Franklin, had a party in the first half with four goals to his name while Logan McDonald kicked a bagful to secure his position as Franklin’s key forward heir apparent.

The Sydney Swans and SCG Trust have been contacted for comment.