Kangaroos become Swans: Former North Melbourne players Sam Wright, pictured, Jamie Macmillan and Nathan Hrovat will play for Shepparton Swans in 2023. Photo: AAP
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AAP
FAST FACTS
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JOINED LEAGUE: 1946 (AS LEMNOS FOOTBALL CLUB) NICKNAME: SWANS HOMEGROUND: PRINCESS PARK COACH: JEDD WRIGHT PRESIDENT: JARROD SUTHERLAND PREMIERSHIPS: 1959, 1960, 1970, 2014 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: B. TYQUIN (1949), R. ORRMAN (1951, 1954, 1959), N. SMITH (1975), M. LAMBOURN (1996), ALL AS LEMNOS; J. SUTHERLAND (2002), B. DURBRIDGE (2009) AS SHEPPARTON SWANS 2022 FINISH: 8TH (5-13) 2022 BEST-AND-FAIREST: ZAC BANCH 2022 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ZAC BANCH (21)
Shepparton Swans will be hoping to ruffle a few feathers in 2023 as they look to fight their way back into the Goulburn Valley League’s top six.
The Swans haven’t played finals football since 2016, a drought where they have earned three wooden spoons in the process.
There was improvement in 2022, however, as the club enjoyed the highest number of wins in a season in the past five years.
Now, with a new head coach and three former North Melbourne players on their list, the Swans will be aiming to continue their ascendancy up the ladder.
Red and white: Shepparton Swan Bowen Calogero.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Jedd Wright will be the senior coach at the Swans and he said a top six finish was definitely the target for this season.
“That’s obviously our goal. We have a really young list that is super keen to learn and super keen to improve and we are sure if we can start playing our brand of footy we can really take it up to the better teams,” Wright said.
Effort, manic pressure and a run–and–carry style will be the hallmark of Swans footy this season, Wright said.
Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Hrovat and Sam Wright – the brother of Jedd – played 362 AFL games between them and the trio will don the red white in 2023.
“Bringing in players like that, their leadership, their calmness in situations is really what we are looking for from those blokes,” Wright said.
On the run: Tyreece Collison.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Midfield gun BJ Squire has departed the club for Congupna, but the Swans still have all the pieces for what could be a dominant midfield.
Tom Preece and Zac Alderton have returned to the club, with Max Clohesy expected to play for the Swans around his Richmond VFL commitments.
“With Hrovat, Max Clohesy, Zac Alderton and Tom Preece, we think we can make our midfield one of our real weapons,” Wright said.
Last year’s best-and-fairest winner Zac Banch is also set to play a key role for the Swans again this season.
PLAYER CHANGES
Ins: Sam Wright (Katamatite), Jamie Macmillan, Nathan Hrovat, Tom Preece (East Malvern), Zac Alderton (St Joseph’s).
Outs: BJ Squire (Congupna)
FINISHING RANGE: 6TH-9TH
The Swans will be hoping their balance of young talent and AFL experience will be able to carry them into the top six.
Jamie Macmillan (age 31), Nathan Hrovat (28) and Sam Wright (32) should still have plenty to give and with their young players across the park, the Swans could well be one of the most exciting teams in the league.
Finals football is certainly on the cards if the Swans can get their ducks in a row.
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