Fitzgerald focuses on growing further in 2026

There was a lot for Brodyn Fitzgerald to embrace about 2025 with Swan Districts where he got to play the first eight league games of his career and to be part of the reserves finals run, and he is only looking to build on it in 2026.

The entire Fitzgerald family has a strong connection to Swan Districts so the 21-year-old couldn’t think of anywhere he’d rather be playing and his career continues to be heading on an upward trajectory.

Having come through the Futures program, he first played colts with Swan Districts in 2022 along with in the reserves for the first time before then being part of the reserves premiership triumph in 2023.

He has now played 26 more reserves matches the past two years and also the first eight games of his league career in 2025 having been in the team to start the season.

Getting to play in the league team was a dream come true for Fitzgerald and he now hopes it’s just the start of things to come for him.

“Making my league debut this year was one of my goals and I got there in Round 1 and also played Round 2,” Fitzgerald said.

“It was definitely a big change from playing ressies and a lot harder to play and it took me quite a few games to get my confidence up especially playing in a new team that I haven’t played much in only trained with.

“I ended up going back to the reserves and got my confidence back up and worked on what I needed to from the help of Pruey (Andrew Pruyn) our league coach and I ended up playing the last end of the season and started to play my game.

“I definitely had my confidence back up and the boys got around me and could see and got around me throughout the games which helped a lot as well.”

After being part of the reserves premiership in 2023, Swan Districts had plenty of momentum again in the back end of 2025 at that level under the coaching of Dave McKay.

They went on to beat South Fremantle in a qualifying final before a loss to Claremont and then falling heartbreakingly short of eventual premiers East Perth by two points in the preliminary final.

While it was a tough loss to take in that preliminary final, Fitzgerald couldn’t be more proud of the way the group pulled together to get so close to what would have been another grand final at Optus Stadium.

“I look back on our finals run and I am very proud of the boys on how far we got this year,” Fitzgerald said.

“We had a lot of young blokes come into the side from colts last year and they fitted into the team very well, it is heart breaking and devastating losing a prelim by such a small margin when we had plenty of chances to win that game.

“The feeling from winning the premiership two years ago is a big highlight of my career and there is no better feeling than winning a grand final, and I had no doubt from how close the ressies boys are as a group that we could make it and get the job done again but unfortunately we didn’t make it.

“I believe if the boys stay close as they have been they will go far next year again and hopefully make it all the way.”

Fitzgerald is now already looking forward to building on what he did in 2025 next season and even though he’s heard some talk that he might be looking elsewhere, he wanted to quickly put it to bed.

He couldn’t think of wanting play elsewhere than Swan Districts not only because of how connected he feels to the club, but also with his sister Tyla a key player in the women’s team and with his parents proud sponsors through Cellarbrations Maida Vale.

“I definitely will be having a big off season and pre-season to cement my spot next year, I have a few goals that I will be working towards and I had a good chat to Pruey and where he wants me to be at next year and he gave me some confidence and motivation to get to work which really helps,” Fitzgerald said.

“Our family has a really good connection with the club through our sponsorship and myself and sister playing for quite a few years now and can definitely feel the love from a lot of staff and members through the club it’s a really good feeling.

“Swans means a lot to me there was a few rumours going around that I was leaving etc but that’s not happening. I have been around the club since futures and this club feels like where I’m supposed to be, the love, support and culture of this club is amazing and very warming.

“I get along very well with all the boys and have created some sort of relationship with most of the boys and it’s just such a good feeling coming into the club and knowing you’re going to have a good time.”