CEO Message: Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

To our valued members, supporters and partners,

It’s been an incredibly busy and exciting first three months for me as your new CEO, and I’m honoured to be leading Swan Districts into our next chapter. I officially joined in late August, stepping into the shoes of Jeff Dennis who announced his retirement after almost nine years at the helm. Jeff’s leadership brought stability, growth and strong community engagement and I thank him sincerely for setting a sound foundation. Building on that legacy, I’m excited to share some highlights of 2025 and our vision for the year ahead.

Celebrating 2025 Milestones

This year we celebrated many milestones on and off the field. We farewelled two Club greats: Tony Notte and Aidan Clarke. Tony’s 2025 season was historic; he surpassed Bill Walker to become Swan Districts’ all-time games record holder and played his 323rd and final WAFL match. We thank Tony for his loyalty and commitment over 17 seasons and congratulate him on a legendary career. Likewise, Aidan Clarke reached the special milestone of 100 games for Swans in 2025. After seven seasons with the black-and-white, Aidan has decided to move on from league football, and we salute his toughness and skill during a tough year on and off the field. Both Tony and Aidan exemplify our Club’s spirit, and we wish them well in the next chapter of their lives.

Off field, we were incredibly proud to see Club Icon Bill Walker elevated to Legend status in the Western Australian Hall of Champions. Bill’s four Sandover Medals and leadership of three premiership teams make him a truly worthy legend of our sport, and this honour underscores the proud history of Swan Districts. His recognition reminds us of our heritage as we build toward the future.

It was also fantastic to see two of our own realise their AFL dreams. Swan Districts small forward Tylah Williams was selected at pick No.39 in the National Draft by the West Coast Eagles, and young forward Leon Kickett was taken at pick No.8 in the Rookie Draft by the Fremantle Dockers. We congratulate Tylah and Leon on this wonderful achievement and look forward to celebrating their success as they embark on this exciting new chapter.

We also wish our WAFLW players the very best in the upcoming AFLW draft, taking place on Monday 15 December.

New Faces on the Horizon in our WAFL team

The 2026 squad is already looking strong. We have secured several exciting recruits to bolster our WAFL program. These talented additions bring youth, versatility and experience to key positions and include Jovan Petric: A 21-year-old 197cm key forward from Williamstown (VFL). Lucas Impey: A 19-year-old ruckman (200 cm) also from Williamstown (VFL) with excellent mobility and ruck craft. Jez Rigoni: A 19-year-old utility from the Sandringham Zebras (VFL). Kade Chalcraft: A skilled midfielder who formerly played at Geelong (VFL). His brother goes alright too! Caleb Ernst: An athletic key defender who returns to the black-and-white from Coburg (VFL). Zach Provest: A 21-year-old dynamic, high-half-forward with great vision from Williamstown. Clint Hinchliffe: A 29-year-old former Big Bash and Sheffield Shield cricketer and ex-West Perth Falcons Colts star. Clint’s journey from state cricket back to football is inspiring.

These signings, along with our existing squad, provide us with real optimism about our competitiveness next season (with many League stars returning from long-term injuries, which wiped out the majority of their 2025 campaign).

Equally important is our coaching stability. I’m pleased to confirm that WAFL League Coach Andrew Pruyn has re-signed with the Swans, extending his tenure through to, at least the end of 2028. Andrew has done a terrific job building a high-performance culture since 2022 and his contract extension means we can continue the progress he has already driven. Our WAFLW League Coach from 2025 has also extended his tenure into 2026. Jason Burton led our women’s team to the GF this year and is bullish about going one better in 2026 – especially with the talent we’ve brought in which includes former McSherry Medallist, Jess Cox, Chloe Reilly – former premiership player and State Representative at East Fremantle Football Club and Shaya Yarran, joining her sister from South Fremantle Football Club.

Their vision, along with Phil Smart (GM of Football Operations), Tayah Reed (Rogers), Scott Faulkner (Colts) and John Armstrong (Reserves) for developing local talent and fostering leadership among senior and emerging players will continue to shape our football program moving forward.

Strengthening Our Operations and Membership

Supporting our on-field ambitions, the Board has approved an increased budget for our football programs. This additional investment covers player recruiting, coaching, equipment, facilities and match-day support – all aimed at giving our athletes the resources and best platform to perform. It’s an important vote of confidence in our coaching staff and players, and a sign of our commitment to success on the field.

Equally important is our community of members and supporters. We are immensely grateful for our 2,000+ members and the tens of thousands of Swans fans across WA. Your support at games, in the community and via membership makes our programs both enjoyable and sustainable. I’m pleased to report that membership increased by 8% in 2025, reflecting both new members and enthusiastic renewals (a special shout out to our Membership and Events Manager, Mitchell Eastman). If you haven’t yet renewed or joined, I encourage you to do so via Membership – Swan Districts FC – it’s the best way to be part of our family and support the Club you love.

Looking ahead, keep an eye out for the release of our 2026 Swans calendar. We’re just waiting on the final WAFL and WAFLW fixtures, but we expect to have the calendar out in the new year. It’s a great way to celebrate the Club through the year and we’ll make sure the 2026 edition is special with plenty of new initiatives.

Beyond the boundary line, our commitment to community continues to shine. Swan Districts delivers one of the most impactful community programs in Australian football, supporting education, wellbeing, leadership and inclusion across diverse groups. In 2025, our programs reached thousands of participants through school visits, mentoring, youth leadership pathways, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement, women’s empowerment initiatives and all-abilities activities. They reflect our deep connection to the Swan community and our belief that football can change lives, both on and off the field (here and up north in the Pilbara).

Strategic Vision and Facilities Redevelopment

Our on-field ambitions are supported by clear off-field plans. We have been working on a new Strategic Plan (2026 – 2028) that will guide our vision, focusing on our football programs, sustainability and community impact. As we roll out this next chapter of our plan, the guiding principles remain the same: build financial sustainability, deepen community engagement and ensure enduring success in football. We will share more details on that strategy early in the new year.

One of the most exciting projects ahead is Stage 2 of the Steel Blue Oval redevelopment. This phase is supported by a $500,000 grant from the State Government to undertake a review of the operational framework, develop design schematics and prepare a Treasury Business Case for the proposed development. The successful consultancy group will be announced shortly, following a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the tenders received.

Thank You, Our Partners and Board

None of this progress would be possible without the generosity of our wonderful supportive partners. On behalf of everyone at the Club, I extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our corporate partners and sponsors. Your financial support and shared passion are vital to our operations. A special shout-out goes to our major sponsors: Steel Blue, Midway Ford, Pilbara Motor Group, Swan Towing, Meta Maya and Iron Mine Contracting – your commitment continues to strengthen the foundations of Swan Districts. We will work hard to ensure we honour that support with strong performances, community engagement, business to business networking opportunities and brand alignment.

I also want to acknowledge SDFC’s Board of Directors. Their guidance and backing have been tremendous as I’ve settled into my role. The Board’s strategic oversight on financial management, facilities and Club governance gives me confidence that we’re set up to thrive both on and off the field. I’m grateful to Peter Hodyl (Club President) and every Board member for their belief in our direction. An extended thank you goes to our Coterie Groups, the Swansmen and the Past Players & Officials Association, for their continued support and hard work behind the scenes.

Exciting Times Ahead

With these developments, I truly believe 2026 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Swan Districts. We have strengthened our playing list, invested in our programs and have a clear vision to build on our proud traditions. Whether you’re cheering us on at Steel Blue Oval or supporting from afar, your Club is in a strong position. On behalf of the entire staff and team, thank you for your unwavering support and passion – it motivates us every day.

Finally, as the year draws to a close, I’d like to wish every member of the Swans family a wonderful holiday season. May your Christmas be merry, your New Year be happy and your summer break be safe and restorative. We look forward to reuniting in 2026 for another great season of football.

Thank you again for being the lifeblood of this Club and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via jwright@swandistrictsfc.com.

Kind regards,