Roberts looks to premiership reunion ahead of Hall of Fame induction

Josh Roberts is already etched into Swan Districts’ history as the most recent premiership captain but now is about to enter the club’s Hall of Fame while also looking forward to the 15-year celebration of that 2010 triumph.

There might never have been a tougher or more courageous player to ever pull on a Swan Districts jump than Roberts who put together a tremendous 175-game playing career between 2002-2012.

The highlight of that was captaining Swans to the 2010 premiership in one of the most remarkable WAFL grand finals in history, but along the way he represented Western Australia three times, won two Swan Medals as fairest and best and was universally admired.

Not only was Roberts renowned for how courageous he was and his toughness on the field, but he was also a prolific ball winner for Swan Districts in the midfield with a best of 40 possessions against East Fremantle in 2009 while he had 30 or more touches in 32 of his 175 appearances.

When Roberts retired at the end of the 2012 season, he did so as one of the club’s most respected players. While that 2010 premiership is special, there was a lot more he accomplished that will see him inducted into the Swan Districts Hall of Fame in 2025.

Ultimately though, what you play for is premierships and given the hard times Roberts was part of at Swans in the early years of his career, he was fully appreciative of what an accomplishment it was for that breakthrough win in 2010.

“There’s lots of moments you remember in your career, but what you play for is that ultimate success and when you achieve that you have a lifelong bond with all those people involved in it,” Roberts told 91.3 SportFM.

“So to be part of Swan Districts’ history and knowing flags and premierships haven’t come easy, every time we get that opportunity it needs to be cherished. Although there’s lots of other things you look back fondly on, there’s nothing that beats the premiership that’s for sure.”

Roberts has been instrumental in making sure that 2010 premiership team regularly still catches up with one another, but he can’t wait for the official reunion this Saturday at Steel Blue Oval with Swan Districts playing Claremont.

There is going to be mixed emotions following the passing of 2010 Sandover and Simpson Medallist Andrew Krakouer, but at the same time Roberts sees it as even more important to make sure his legacy carries on.

“It’s going to be bittersweet that’s for sure. The reality is that we’re definitely not a premiership team without Andy but more than that he was more than a great footballer,” Roberts said.

“He was a beautiful man and a great human being, and every time myself and our team were able to get together with Andy part of it, it was a special time.

“Most of us got to see him for the last time late in 2024 when we caught up for our annual catch up, and he’d just relocated back to Perth and was in a great space.

“Then a few months later he’s no longer with us and it’s extremely sad so it will be bitter sweet without him, but these days have become more important now in terms of honouring him and his legacy as a footballer and a human being.”

The memories of that remarkable one-point grand final triumph in 2010 for Swan Districts against Claremont is fresh in Roberts’ memory right now too thanks to a recent catch up with the premiership coach Brian Dawson.

It will forever be remembered as one of the most remarkable WAFL grand finals ever and one of only two decided by a solitary point when Swans ended up prevailing at Subiaco Oval with the heroics of Krakouer and a 16-year-old Stephen Coniglio locked into history.

“I actually just watched the game this week with Brian because he’s putting together a book on the Swan Districts’ eight premierships,” Roberts said.

“As part of that he has sat down with the coaches and captains from the premierships so I sat down with him and reviewed the game. I think it’s the first time I’ve sat down and watched the game in full properly, and looking back at it for a large portion of it Claremont were in control.

“They did a lot right and were probably a bit unlucky not to win and I suppose when it’s a one-point game it can go either way. It was an amazing game with a lot of momentum shifts throughout and the class of a few of our players was the difference in the end.

“But it’s more than just the game, it’s what it means to the club and we’ve been around for nearly 90 years and have only won eight flags so each one is special. Saturday will be a great opportunity to celebrate that.”

As the captain of that premiership team in 2010, Roberts has taken it upon himself to ensure that as many of the players involved continue to catch up on a yearly basis to ensure that special achievement remains part of their lives forever.

“We’ve got a WhatsApp group which is pretty active and there’s always something going on in there between the guys all over the country now,” Roberts said.

“We all catch up at least once a year too with the guys who are able to make it to celebrate that team. We always get a pretty good turnout but not quite everyone obviously and we try to make sure we catch up once a year.

“There’s then also times throughout the year at the footy club where we can connect. Although everyone is living their own life and has gone off to do other things, there’s still a pretty tight bond amongst the players and the club itself from that team.”

By Chris Pike