Hugs and tears as Swans end drought

THERE was more on the line for Curra Swans than a premiership for the 22 blokes on the field.

This was for everyone at the club who had pushed through more than two decades without the success, fuelled by nothing more than love for their jersey.

Finally, after a dominant 2020 campaign, they can rejoice after a gutsy 8.8 (56) to 7.7 (49) win over Thuringowa Bulldogs.

Swans president Matt Brischetto was in the grandstands with several club lifetime members, his head in hands frequently as the Bulldogs looked to claw back the lead in the third quarter.

But an inspired performance from centre halfback Simon Mackie lifted Brischetto’s eyes bit by bit.

And after 22 years between flags, with a helicopter delivering the club its trophy, the outpouring of emotion could begin.

“I think premierships mean a lot to clubs but this one if you saw the reaction of t the guys and the s sponsors who have been around a long time, this meant more to anyone than any premiership in the last 20 years,” Brischetto said. “I think it was just a feeling of relief that we’d done it. There’s been a lot of work in the last two y years to get to this, there were a lot of hugs and tears.

“(This was for) the likes of

Kurt Poole and Mitch Dennis – the guys who have been at the club since juniors.

“Even after we won the semi-final, (Poole) and Shane Lindgren in the changerooms were already in tears just to be there.

“The guys we brought into the club have won grand finals and they were here to do it for the guys who have been wanting one for so long.”

Throughout the season Curra has been so dominant this premiership almost seemed inevitable.

But the build-up work becomes irrelevant if a team does not turn up on grand final day and Thuringowa very nearly proved that.

Prior to Saturday’s eightpoint win, the Swans had been rampant in attack and impenetrable in defence – scoring more than 1000 points in the eight games and conceding fewer than 200.

However, going into threequarter-time locked at 47-all, Curra needed someone to steady the ship.

That is when Mackie came to the fore.

Through his rugged defence and telling clearances, the Swans were able to regain the ascendancy and send their passionate followers home with a lifelong memory.

Given the coronavirus pandemic almost ensured this was the season that never was, Brischetto made a point of passing on to the players how fortunate they were.

“I made a special mention how blessed we are we can actually still play up here. Leagues around Australia didn’t go ahead, clubs’ futures are in doubt because of financial problems,” he said.

“For us to be able to kick goals on and off the field shows the work the committee have done.”