Impey on board to lead Swans in the ruck

Lucas Impey was one of the most sought after young rucks in the country but the chance to come take on that role in the middle with Swan Districts got the exciting 19-year-old big man over the line.

Impey made the decision to focus on football having played a lot of basketball growing up, which is no surprise given he stands at 200cm, but now his development has continued both at home in Bendigo and in the VFL over the past two years.

With the height, mobility and ruck presence he is capable of bringing, he has now signed on with Swan Districts as another significant addition for 2026 as the black-and-whites look to quickly rise back up the WAFL ladder after a preliminary final appearance in 2024.

Nathan Blakely has done a power of work as an undersized ruckman holding down the fort for Swans over the past couple of years, but with him likely unavailable for most, if not all, of 2026, a new ruckman was high on the shopping list and Impey was soon at the top of it.

While Impey did have interest from other clubs around the country, once he spoke with both Phil Smart and Andrew Pruyn, what sort of a role they saw him playing with Swan Districts just proved too hard to say no to.

“I had interest from a few clubs, which was really flattering, but Swans stood out straight away,” Impey said.

“The conversations I had with the coaches were really genuine — they were clear about how they saw me fitting into their system and how they could help me keep growing as a ruck.”

For such a young man, Impey had a big decision to make on what he wanted to do with his football in 2026 knowing that he both wanted to play somewhere he enjoyed himself, but that also gave him the best chance to chase his AFL dream.

That meant he felt that playing in the WAFL could be the best thing for him but he still wasn’t sure exactly which way he was leaning until what Swans were able to offer in terms of the role as the lead ruckman got him over the line.

“It was a bit of both,” Impey said.

“I was open to the idea of coming to WA because of the quality of the competition and the opportunities it can create, but once Swans reached out it became pretty clear that it was the best fit.

“They were really proactive and showed a lot of confidence in me, and the role they pitched suited what I want to achieve. In the end it was an easy decision.”

Playing on the big grounds in WA and the playing style of the WAFL which will allow Impey to use his athleticism for someone his size perhaps better than the VFL on their smaller grounds was another reason he was excited to make the move.

“The WAFL style really complements the way I like to play,” Impey said.

“The bigger grounds give me more space to use my athleticism around the ground, get involved in transition, and still impose myself in the ruck.

“I think the tempo and openness of the WAFL will allow me to showcase more of my strengths.”

While Impey is still only 19 years of age as he makes the move west, he has played 10 VFL matches over the past two seasons with Williamstown including being part of their finals campaign back in 2024.

He has no doubt that has only helped hasten his development and prepare him to now play in the WAFL for 2026 and beyond.

“Playing VFL has been massive for my development. The standard is high, every week you’re up against mature bodies, and you learn quickly how to adapt,” Impey said.

“I’ve improved my ruck craft, my running capacity, and just my understanding of the game. It taught me consistency and professionalism, which I think has prepared me well for the next step.”

Not only did Impey play six VFL matches in 2025 at Williamstown, but he was also instrumental in the Darley Devils winning a Ballarat Football Netball League premiership when he was playing there as well.

“It meant a lot,” Impey said.

“That group has a special bond and we worked incredibly hard all year, so to finish with a premiership was something I’ll never forget.

“It’s one thing to win a flag, but to do it with people you respect and enjoy playing with makes it even more significant. It really reminded me why I love footy.”

Considering Impey’s size and athleticism, and how rare it is to find a ruckman of his skill set and youth, it would be a surprise if he isn’t already on the radar of AFL clubs.

He hopes that the move to Swan Districts and to play in the WAFL can help him get closer to that dream.

“Absolutely — playing AFL has always been a goal of mine. I know it’s a long road, but I believe this move puts me in the best possible environment to keep developing and to show what I can do at a high level,” Impey said.

“The WAFL is a proven pathway, and I’m committed to working as hard as I can to give myself every chance.”