SWAN HILL
PROFILE
IT will be a very different Swan Hill team that opens the season against Woorinen next Saturday, having lost two of their greatest players to ever pull on the maroon and white.
Life without Matthew Wade and Xavier Moloney has been creeping up on the Swans over the past few seasons, it has now become a reality, with both veterans flying the nest. It won’t be just the loss of Wade and Moloney that will hurt Swan Hill this season, with another 10 senior players from last season also deciding to either move onto greener pastures or hang up their boots, including Leighton Dullard, Zach Mihocek and Jared Halligan.
But while losing not just the number and quality of players would be dagger to the heart of most clubs’ campaigns, that isn’t the case for the Swans, who remain bullish about the season ahead with a fresh voice and several high quality recruits set to breathe new life into the club.
Michael Herlihy will take over the reins from Cal Beasy for his first coaching stint, with the former South Bendigo and Numurkah midfielder looking to the challenge that awaits him without Wade and Moloney at his disposal.
“They’re obviously two very different players, ‘Xav’ (Moloney) is obviously very skilful and ‘Wadey’ (Wade) is just a competitive beast,” Herlihy said.
“Losing their experience is going to hurt us a lot, but we also understand their reasons for going and they don’t owe the club anything, they’ve both been loyal servants and superstars for the club over a long period of time and they leave with everyone’s blessing.
“But in terms of who we’ve recruited, we’ve recruited a bit more experience to help us fill that void, and I’ve said to the boys it’s just another challenge for us, everyone just steps up now and helps fill that void that’s been left.
“It’s a new Swan Hill look without them there, but what we can control is how we play football and going forward, we just want to have the best 22 on the park and do the best we can.”
Indeed, the Swans have seemingly filled the experience void left by their former club champions, with former AFL onballer Jimmy Toumpas signing on with the Swans, along with key forward Ned McKeown, defender Anthony Lewin and two-time EG Hunt Medallist Tom Isma. Also joining the Swans this season is former Woorinen winger Nyawi Moore, while Cooper Angus and Tom Spicer will pull on the Swan Hill guernsey once again.
While Swan Hill’s new recruits should hold them in good stead for the year ahead, it’s the future talent that has Herlihy excited by what he’s seen throughout a testing and challenging pre-season.
“We know we’ve got really good kids and the fruits of that will come in a few more years,” Herlihy said.
“Even though they are still four or five years away from being really good senior footballers, if we can have them coming through and mix them in with our experienced recruits, it will be a good mix and that’s what gets you into finals and beyond.
“We won’t be blessed with a lot of height around the ground, so we really want to move the ball quickly and use that to our advantage, yet on the defensive side we want to be a very organised side behind the footy.”
FROM THE COACH
“Hopefully a progression on last year, especially after missing the finals by percentage in the end. Every team wants to play finals and we’re no exception to that, so hopefully we can progress on last year and push into the top five. Every club picks up players at this time of year and everyone is buoyant about how they’re going to go, but footy is a funny game, so you never know.”
INS & OUTS
INS: Michael Herlihy (South Bendigo), Jimmy Toumpas (Woodville-West Torrens), Anthony Lewin (Bears Lagoon-Serpentine), Tom Isma (Woorinen)
Ned McKeown (Macleod), Ben Parkes (Golden Square), Nyawi Moore (Heywood), Cooper Angus (Monash Blues), Tom Spicer (Tooleybuc-Manangatang), Hamish McDonald (University Blues).
OUTS: Xavier Moloney (Terang Mortlake), Matthew Wade (Nullawil), Buol Majur (Heidelberg), Jude Seymour (Heidelberg), Hamish Robertson, Leighton Dullard, Tom Pontell, Jared Halligan, Brenton Halligan, Seamus Doherty, Zach Mihocek, Angus Monk.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024
Swan Hill are without doubt the hardest team to get a read on in 2024, as until the ball is bounced next Saturday, it’s impossible to tell if their recruits will lead to improvement, or their departures will result in a slide down the ladder. Perhaps the most logical theory is that they will instead tread water, fighting in that middle tier of clubs for a spot in the bottom half of the five like last season.
Their kids will continue to improve, which has to be the focus considering the talent at their disposal, but for a proud club, the Swans will need to continue to be patient.
Jimmy Toumpas and Michael Herlihy will provide the Swan Hill faithful with plenty of reasons to cheer, as will a new attacking game plan.
KEY PLAYER
Jimmy Toumpas: Despite having played 37 AFL games for Melbourne and Port Adelaide, Toumpas will have big shoes to fill as the replacement of three-time Jack Betts Medal winner Matthew Wade in the Swans’ engine room. Toumpas comes to Swan Hill with his own impressive resume however, having been drafted with pick No.4 at the 2012 national draft by Melbourne, while also winning three premierships for Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL. A classy midfielder who rarely wastes a possession, Toumpas should provide great run and drive out of the middle for the Swans.
BIG IMPROVER
Sonny Beasy: It’s hard to believe Sonny Beasy is only 16, having played 16 senior games over the past two seasons for the Swans. Beasy starred for the Bendigo Pioneers under-16 team a fortnight ago against the GWV Rebels, having been named among his team’s better players, and looks set for a breakout season in the maroon and white. Can play anywhere from half forward to half back, but is likely to spend considerable time in the centre as part of the Swans’ midfield rotations, where his ability to win the contested ball and use it efficiently will be vital to Swan Hill’s season.
THE BURNING QUESTION
How much will losing Matthew Wade and Xavier Moloney hurt the Swans?
You can’t take out any team’s two best players and it not have an impact, let alone two players of the class and calibre of Wade and Moloney. For so long they have been the glue that not only made Swan Hill competitive, but won them countless games. With five Jack Betts Medals between them, it’s little wonder questions are being asked as to how sorely they’ll be missed. But it’s not just Swan Hill who will be worse off in their absence, but the wider Central Murray competition as well, as there were no better players to watch and admire when at the peak of their game than Matthew Wade and Xavier Moloney.
SWAN HILL PREDICTED BEST 22
B. Matthew Battenally – Anthony Lewin – Tom Corridan
HB. Luke Phelan – Jarvis Keogh – Tom Holdstock
C. Nyawi Moore – Brandon Houlihan – Adam Manning
HF. Cooper Angus – Ned McKeown – Jose Miliado
F. Tom Isma – Kallen Heslop – Sonny Beasy
R. Toby Thoolen – Jimmy Toumpas – Michael Herlihy
INT. Elijah Miliado – Bodhi Kelly – Lachlan Vrolijks – Matthew Pearse
