Swan Districts Football Club
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Swan Districts Football Club |
| Former name(s) | Swan Districts National Football Club (1932–80) |
| Nickname(s) | Swans, Swannies, Black Ducks |
| 2011 season | |
| Home and away season | 8th |
| Leading goalkicker | Tim Geappen (51 goals) |
| Best and fairest | Tallan Ames |
| Club details | |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Colours | Black White |
| Competition | West Australian Football League |
| Chairman | Peter Harvey |
| Coach | Greg Harding |
| Captain(s) | Josh Roberts |
| Premierships | 8 |
| Ground(s) | Bassendean Oval (capacity: 22,000) |
| Other information | |
| Official website | http://www.swandistrictsfc.com |
Guernsey: |
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The Swan Districts Football Club, nicknamed the Swans, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). The club is based at Bassendean Oval, in Bassendean, an eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. The club was formed in 1932, and joined the WANFL in 1934, acting as a successor to the Midland Junction Football Club, which had disbanded during World War I, in the Perth Hills region.
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[edit] History
Swan Districts finished 7th on the WAFL ladder winning 7 out of 21 games in their debut season in 1934.[1] Ted Holdsworth kicked 109 goals in the first 14 games of the 1934 season and was the fifth top goal kicker for that season.[2]
In 1935, Swans finished 6th on the WAFL Ladder with 6 wins and 12 losses and George Krepp won the Sandover Medal for that season. The 1936 season saw the Swans pick up 9 wins and 11 losses but still finish seventh on the League Ladder.
The 1937 season saw Swan Districts, under new coach Jim Ditchburn, finish in 3rd place on the League Ladder with 14 wins and 7 losses, and play in their first final series. East Perth beat Swan Districts 13.9 (87) – 11.7 (73) in the first semi-final.
The team had another good season in 1938, finishing 3rd with 11 wins and nine losses but were again beaten by East Perth 8.18 (66) – 8.17 (65) in the first semi-final by a single point.[3]
By 1939, Swans slid to 6th on the ladder and in 1940 and 1941 finished last on the league ladder with 2 wins in 1940 and 3 in 1941.
Due to the Second World War the WANFL suspended a senior competition and implemented an under age competition to replace it. In 1942 Swans were unable to raise a side to play and did not compete in the 1942 season at all.[3]
By 1943 Swan Districts assembled a side to compete in the under age competition that was still running for that season. The team performed exceedingly well, finishing 4th on the ladder with 9 wins and 8 losses, then winning the first semi-final against West Perth followed by another victory against Subiaco in the preliminary Final. Swans the played in the their first Grand Final only to be defeated by East Fremantle. The final score was East Fremantle 17.15 (117) to Swan Districts 11.11 (77).[4]
Jim Davies became the second Swan Districts player to win a Sandover Medal in 1944 with 33 votes in what was otherwise a forgettable season with Swans finishing 6th on the ladder, but in 1945 their fortunes improved as they finished 4th on the league ladder only to be defeated in the first semi-final by South Fremantle. However, after this Swan Districts fell of dramatically for the next fifteen years. During this period they never finished higher than sixth of eight teams, and overall won only about 20 percent of all their games. However, in 1957 Swan Districts won their first Thirds Premiership, repeating the dose in 1958,[5] and these teams provided the nucleus of their successes in the 1960s.
After finishing last in 1960, Swan Districts appointed Haydn Bunton Junior as senior coach in early 1961, which saw the Swans win their first flag in 1961, with two more following in 1962 and 1963. Their fall afterwards was however just as rapid as their rise from 1960 to 1961. Swans finished only fifth in 1964, and after being overwhelmed by East Fremantle in the 1965 Grand Final, they fell off completely in the following eight years. In 1968, they came nearer to a winless season than any team in senior WAFL competition between 1918 and 1998: winning only one game after the siren by a point against East Fremantle, and scored their all-time lowest score against East Perth. Swan Districts were also last in 1970 and 1971, and not until 1974 did they again make the finals, under the coaching of Jack Ensor, who most unusually never played senior League Football.[6][7] Again, however, they declined abruptly, falling to wooden spooners again in 1977 and 1978.
John Todd, who took the coaching reins at Bassendean in 1977 and began with a big clean-out of players, brought with him a new winning culture, one which would emulate that of the Haydn Bunton era. By the 1980s, the Swans became the dominant side in the WAFL, winning three straight flags in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and a further flag in 1990 after his stint as coach with the West Coast Eagles.
Brian Dawson took over as coach of the seniors in 2008 and the club rebounded from disappointing results in the previous two years to play in the 2008 Grand Final which they lost to Subiaco. Dawson then steered the team to a preliminary final in 2009. Dawson announced his retirement at the end of the 2010 season.[8] then took the team to the Grand Final which they won over Claremont by a single point. Andrew Krakouer won the Simpson Medal on top of winning the Sandover Medal for 2010, he accumulated 42 possessions during the grand final and kicked the last goal of the game ensuring Swan won the flag.[9] Josh Roberts will be remembered as the premiership skipper in his first year as captain.
Greg Harding was appointed as senior coach for the 2011 season.[10] The club had a poor season finishing the season with only 6 wins from 19 games and finishing second from bottom of the league ladder.
[edit] Statistics
Sandover Medallists: George Krepp 1935, Jim Davies 1944, Haydn Bunton Junior 1962, Bill Walker 1965–1967 & 1970, Phil Narkle 1982, Mick Grasso 1990, Jeremy Wasley 1996, Shane Beros 2003, Andrew Krakouer 2010.
Most Games: Bill Walker 305
WANFL/WAFL Premierships: 1961-62-63, 1982-83-84, 1990, 2010
Record Home Attendance: 22,350 v West Perth, 19 May 1980
[edit] League premiership teams
1961 Finals Swan Districts lost the second semi final to East Perth, then beat Subiaco in the Preliminary Final to win through to the Grand Final
1961 Grand Final Swan Districts 17.9 (111) defeated East Perth 12.15 (87)
1961 Premiership Team
| Backs: | C Maynard | Joe Lawson | Tony Nesbit |
| Half Backs: | W Brown | Ken Bagley | D Thompson |
| Centres: | B Gray | M Kelleher | J Mack |
| Half Forwards: | M Ashworth | John Turnbull | K Watt |
| Forwards: | Cyril Litterick | L Johnston | Bill Walker |
| Ruck: | Keith Slater | Fred Castledine | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
| Interchange: | C Noble | A Sangalli | |
| Coach: | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
1962 Finals Swan Districts defeat East Fremantle in the second semi final.
1962 Grand Final Swan Districts 14.10 (94) defeated East Fremantle 10.16 (76)
1962 Premiership Team
| Backs: | K Cooper | Joe Lawson | Tony Nesbit |
| Half Backs: | W Brown | Ken Bagley | G Devitt |
| Centres: | B Gray | C Maynard | F Copeman |
| Half Forwards: | C Noble | John Turnbull | K Watt |
| Forwards: | Cyril Litterick | Eric Gorman | Bill Walker |
| Ruck: | Keith Slater | Fred Castledine | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
| Interchange: | H Fullgrabe | M Drennan | |
| Coach: | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
1963 Finals Swan Districts defeat East Perth in the first semi final, then Swan Districts defeat Perth in the Preliminary Final
1963 Grand Final Swan Districts 17.10 (112) defeated East Fremantle 13.12 (90)
1963 Premiership Team
| Backs: | K Cooper | Joe Lawson | Tony Nesbit |
| Half Backs: | C Maynard | Fred Castledine | G Devitt |
| Centres: | B Gray | John Turnbull | D Sidebottom |
| Half Forwards: | C Noble | Ken Bagley | K Watt |
| Forwards: | Cyril Litterick | Eric Gorman | Bill Walker |
| Ruck: | Keith Slater | F Copeman | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
| Interchange: | R McVee | P Downey | |
| Coach: | Haydn Bunton, Jr |
1982 Finals Swan Districts defeat Claremont in the second semi final
1982 Grand Final Swan Districts 18.19 (127) defeated Claremont 11.12 (78)
1982 Premiership Team
| Backs: | P Kenny | Tom Mullooly | Bill Skwirowski |
| Half Backs: | Graham Melrose | Alan Cransberg | Anthony Solin |
| Centres: | Phil Narkle | Leon Baker | Jeff Davidson |
| Half Forwards: | Brad Shine | Murray Rance | Keith Narkle |
| Forwards: | Allan Sidebottom | Stan Nowotny | Don Holmes |
| Ruck: | Ron Boucher | Jon Fogarty | Mike Richardson |
| Interchange: | Don Langsford | R Fitzgerald | |
| Coach: | John Todd |
1983 Finals Swan Districts defeat East Fremantle in the first semi final, then Swan Districts defeat South Fremantle in Preliminary Final
1983 Grand Final Swan Districts 15.14 (104) defeated Claremont 12.11 (83)
1983 Premiership Team
| Backs: | Bill Skwirowski | Anthony Solin | Peter Ware |
| Half Backs: | Don Langsford | Murray Rance | Leigh Brenton |
| Centres: | Keith Narkle | Mike Smith | Phil Narkle |
| Half Forwards: | Gerard Neesham | Peter Kenny | Don Holmes |
| Forwards: | Barry Kimberley | Leon Baker | Ron Boucher |
| Ruck: | Peter Sartori | Jon Fogarty | Brad Shine |
| Interchange: | Alan Cransberg | Stan Nowotny | |
| Coach: | John Todd |
1984 Finals East Fremantle defeat Swan Districts in the second semi final, then Swan Districts defeat Claremont in Preliminary Final
1984 Grand Final Swan Districts 20.18 (138) defeated East Fremantle 15.12 (102)
1984 Premiership Team
| Backs: | Bill Skwirowski | Tom Mullooly | G Outridge |
| Half Backs: | Don Langsford | Murray Rance | Anthony Solin |
| Centres: | Shane Renfree | Steve Richardson | Keith Narkle |
| Half Forwards: | Don Holmes | Peter Sartori | Brad Shine |
| Forwards: | Joe Ahmat | Brent Hutton | Ken Marshall |
| Ruck: | Michael Johns | Jon Fogarty | Barry Kimberley |
| Interchange: | Kevin Caton | Gerard Neesham | |
| Coach: | John Todd |
1990 Finals Claremont defeat Swan Districts in the second semi final, then Swan Districts defeat South Fremantle in Preliminary Final
1990 Grand Final Swan Districts 16.7 (103) defeated Claremont 10.17 (77)
1990 Premiership Team
| Backs: | Kim Hetherington | Steve Eaton | Brendan Retzlaff |
| Half Backs: | Danny Penny | Paul Gow | Mick Grasso |
| Centres: | Geoff Passeri | Len Gandini | Andrew Holmes |
| Half Forwards: | David Ogg | Shaun Davey | Phil Narkle |
| Forwards: | Todd Menegola | Shane Strempel | Peter Hodyl |
| Ruck: | Ken Bell | Don Langsford | Don Holmes |
| Interchange: | Greg Walker | Brent Hutton | |
| Coach: | John Todd |
2010 Finals Claremont defeat Swan Districts in the second semi final, then Swan Districts defeat East Perth in Preliminary Final
2010 Grand Final Swan Districts 14.16 (100) defeated Claremont 14.15 (99)
2010 Premiership Team
| Backs: | Graham Jetta | Tallan Ames | Matt Riggio | |
| Half Backs: | Wayde Twomey | Matthew Spencer | Clancee Pearce | |
| Centres: | Tom Roach | Josh Roberts | Brett Wolfenden | |
| Half Forwards: | Justin Simpson | Tim Geappen | Paul Richardson | |
| Forwards: | Andrew J. Krakouer | Ashley Hansen | Ben Colreavy | |
| Ruck: | Llane Spaanderman | Brett Robinson | Travis Casserly | |
| Interchange: | Ryan Davis | Stephen Coniglio | Tony Notte | Michael Walters |
| Coach: | Brian Dawson |
[edit] Team of the Century
[edit] Club record goal kickers
- Eric Gorman – 555
- Ted Holdsworth – 532
- Bill Walker – 456
- Don Holmes – 323
- Troy Ugle – 312
- Simon Beasley – 293
- Andy Holmes – 277
- Kevin Caton – 274
- Mark Olsen – 268
- Brent Hutton – 256
Ted Holdsworth was the first Swan Districts player to kick more than 100 goals. The most goals ever kicked in a season by a Swan Districts player was by Simon Beasley who kicked 119 goals in 1981,.[11] Warren Ralph kicked 120 goals for Claremont and won the Bernie Naylor Medal.
[edit] Bernie Naylor Medallists
The Bernie Naylor Medal is awarded to the leading goal kicker in the WAFL. Max George was the first Swan Districts player to top the WAFL goal kickers list and win the award in 1974 when he kicked 90 goals during the season. Simon Beasley shared the Bernie Naylor Medal in 1980 with Warren Ralph of Claremont (97 goals) Brent Hutton won the award in 1984 (83 goals) and Kevin Caton won it again in 1992 (51 goals).[12]
[edit] Club Song
The Swan Districts club song is to the tune of the 1926 song Babyface written by Harry Akst and Benny Davis. The club's song lyrics were written by John Watts.
- We're all right,
- We are the mighty fighting black and whites
- There's not another team to match our pace,
- Take our place
- The Swans boys are jumping
- We sure have started something
- Here we come
- Our banners fly on high to show that we have won
- We play with all our might
- Because we're full of fight
- We're the famous
- Black and whites
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "WAFL Ladder – 1934 League Ladder". 2008. http://www.waflonline.com.au/ladders/index.php. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ "Ted Holdsworth – Goal kicking Champion" (PDF). 2008. http://www.swandistrictsfc.com/media/docs/Document8.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-12.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Full Points Footy – Swan Districts". 2008. http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/Swan_Districts.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ "WAFL Online – 1943 Home and Away season". 2008. http://www.waflonline.com.au/games/index.php?year=1943. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
- ^ The First Forty Years
- ^ [1]
- ^ The Coaches
- ^ "WA Today – Swans ready to cap off strong three-year stretch". 2010. http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/wa-football/swans-ready-to-cap-off-strong-threeyear-stretch-20100918-15gvu.html. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ "Sportal – Krakouer seals flag". 2010. http://sportal.com.au/afl-news-display/krakouer-seals-flag-98753. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
- ^ "Perth Now - New Swan Districts coach Greg Harding has big shoes to fill". 2011. http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/new-swan-districts-coach-greg-harding-has-big-shoes-to-fill/story-e6frg243-1226021888301. Retrieved 2011-04-08.
- ^ "Swan Districts Football Club – Leading Goal Kickers". 2007. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070822121601/http://www.swandistrictsfc.com/history9.html. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
- ^ "WAFL History – Bernie Naylor Medallists". 2007. http://www.wafootball.com.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=127. Retrieved 2007-09-29.
[edit] External links
- Official Website of the Swan Districts Football Club
- Full Points Footy History of Swan Districts
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