EXPERIENCED on-baller Darcy Ryan has scooped up this week’s Player of the Year nomination after playing a starring role in his side’s shock defeat of the then-top of the table Nyah Nyah West United Demons.
The talented veteran had a homecoming season of sorts last year, returning to the club where it all began.
A job out of town meant he would leave the Swans a few years back, heading to play for the Tooleybuc Manangatang Saints.
But with a young son, Ryan said it was an easy decision to come back to Swan Hill.
“Employment took me out there and so I played for the Saints, but then I was able to come back,” the 30-year-old said.
“I always wanted to come home and now I have a young family and naturally I wanted my son to play at Swan Hill, I thought it would be the right thing to do.
“Not a great deal had changed, the club had always had a strong club culture and, even though we don’t have the same money as some of the bigger clubs, we have tried to build our mateship and team.”
It was this mateship that carried the Swans to cause one of the upsets of the season.
Before the match, the players were spoken to by clubman Hugh Foott about their previous form.
After a disappointing loss to Cohuna, Ryan said the side needed to be “revved” up by Foott to get back on track.
And that is what they did.
Led by Ryan, who kicked one goal and spent his day on-ball, the side handed the Demons their second loss of the year.
“I played my role on the day, I am not one to pump myself up and I think Matt Wade and a few of the other boys had really good games,” Ryan said.
“We are disappointed with our loss to Cohuna, it wasn’t Swan Hill football,” he said.
“We got back to the simple things on the weekend and our young blokes really stood up for us.
“I would love to be in a spot to play finals but we aren’t this year, so we will look to take a few scalps on the way out.”
