Numbers flocking to the Swans with men’s revival
AUSSIE RULES: After a year in the wilderness, the Dalby Swans are back in the AFL Darling Downs senior men’s competition.
The club made the tough decision before the start of last year’s Allied Pickfords Cup to sit the year out with struggling player numbers a key factor.
Fast forward 12 months and the club has been given approval by the league for a return to the top flight.
Swans president Matt Waye said it was an arduous task to get the club up and running again for the senior men, but credited the commitment of players to keep the dream alive.
“The process was a long, drawn out one. It was tough last year pulling out and stepping away in the senior men,” Waye said.
“Midway through the year we had the new scoreboard and a few familiar faces come back to the club.
“A lot transferred to other teams last year, but we saw a few real leaders of the club come back into the fold.
“We had a lot of players transfer out after the division two premiership (in 2017), but players are back in town and keen to play.
“It’s tough for any committee to get anything happening if the players aren’t interested, but there’s a real core group that have stayed around and kept everybody in touch.
“Midway through last year we could really see that passion coming through in everything they did, and in the end it was an easy conversation to have (to enter a team).”
One of the key criteria is to ensure player numbers remain strong for Dalby, and Waye said they will more than meet that.
“For the league to let us back, they wanted to make sure we had the numbers, and we’ve been able to secure a lot of registered players,” he said.
“We’re not expecting to turn the world upside down in our first year back, but the side is better than it gives itself credit for.
“There are no grand visions of walking in and making the finals, but I think we can be competitive against some of the bigger clubs. It is a quality league.
“A big focus for the committee is to focus on the offfield, and we want to really push the culture of the club. It’s an enjoyable place to be around and is a family club.
Dalby is also working towards entering a senior women’s team for the upcoming season, with a decision to be made shortly.
“We’ve been given a provisional license and numbers are trickling along and I’m confident they can keep going from there,” Waye said.
“It’s important to have that pathway for our junior girls coming through the ranks, and as a club we are working hard to provide that.”