Swans means everything to 100-gamer Cipro

Josh Cipro grew up dreaming of playing for Swan Districts and can’t wait to celebrate reaching his 100-game milestone this Saturday with his family, teammates and everyone else who has been there for the journey with him.

The Cipro family have been lifelong Swan Districts supporters and still hold a close connection to the club with Josh’s father, Ralph, the Principal Dealer of Major Partner Midway Ford where Josh also works.

He also has fond memories of being there to cheer on Swans winning that memorable 2010 premiership triumph and has come all through the development squads, played colts and is about to become a 100-game league player with the black-and-whites.

Feeling of reaching 100 games 

While nothing will trump the ultimate desire Cipro has for wanting team success, reaching 100 games with a club that he’s dedicated his life to and to earn a spot under 2010 premiership player Ryan Davis on that No. 17 locker means the world to him.

“That’s one of the things that actually has only just started to sink in the last week or so is that I’m going to have my name on the locker,” Cipro said.

“You see all these other names on the lockers and there are so many legends of the club up there, and how famous some of those names are for Swan Districts.

“Obviously I’m not at their level, but just to have my name on the locker just like people on the ones near me like Ryan Davis and Brayden Noble, they are pretty special players for this football club.

“There are premiership players, Sandover Medallists and everything else so it’s a little bit surreal knowing I’ll have my name up there, but it’s something I’m honoured about and pretty excited to have happen too.”

Untimely injury on 99 games

Cipro played the 99th game of his WAFL career back in Round 4 of this season but that was when he injured a hamstring and it’s been a long wait since to try and return to celebrate his 100-game milestone.

The bye last weekend gave him the chance to tick off his return this Saturday when Swans play host to Perth at Steel Blue Oval, but in a lot of ways for Cipro it’s fitting because nothing has ever come easily.

He made his league debut back in 2016 and played just six games in those first three seasons, but from the back end of 2019 onwards, he has been a cornerstone of the Swans midfield and is richly deserving of his 100-game milestone.

“I was just trying to build up a bit of suspense just so everyone had six weeks to prepare for it. It’s almost a little bit fitting, though, because I have had so many injuries and setbacks especially early in my career,” Cipro said.

“There was one season where I missed half a year when I kept doing my hammy and I might have cursed myself when I was joking about getting injured the closer I got to the 100.

“But it has been a long wait and I haven’t played in either of the wins we’ve had this year, but I’ve tried to stay involved on game day just trying to help out by being in the line meetings with the midfield group, and also being out there in the warm ups on the oval.

“I obviously still get pretty heated even watching, but nothing beats playing and it has been tough watching from the sidelines.”

Family’s connection to Swans

What makes the milestone extra special to Cipro is not only because the Swan Districts Football Club is so important to his entire family, but because Swans are basically his second home.

It’s the only place he has ever played his football, it’s the only club he will ever play for in the WAFL and it means so much to him to know that his name will now forever be on that No. 17 locker at Steel Blue Oval.

“Obviously there’s a heavy involvement in my day to day life with the club through my family and work as well and I would say the thing I’m most proud of with having that connection to the club for such a long time is that I’ve gone through all the development squads and been there since I was 13,” Cipro said.

“There’s only a handful of people who are even still at the club from the colts program who are still there so I really hold value that I always have been and always will be a Swan Districts player.

“I’m very proud that it’s where I started playing and that it’s where I will finish my journey. I always remember how excited I was to get invited to the development squads and I’ve always been proud to be a Swan Districts player, and that feeling is still as strong as ever.”

Memories of watching 2010 premiership

Even before Cipro started playing in the development squads with Swan Districts, he has memories of being at Subiaco Oval to cheer on the 2010 premiership victory.

Ever since, he has dreamed of being able to be a player out on the field achieving what those players got to celebrate that day, and have just had a 15-year reunion to continue celebrating.

“I do still remember being there. I went with my dad and a close friend who I’m still friends with, Mitch, and we went to the game,” Cipro said.

“I don’t remember too much other than screaming and shouting at the end, but it’s another thing to have a cool memory of knowing I was there for the club’s last real big moment.

“It would be awesome if someone else one day could be in those shoes watching us win a flag because it’s a pretty cool memory to have for me and to have been there on that day.”

Desire to become a premiership player

While Cipro is rightfully proud to become a 100-game player with Swan Districts and it’s something he’ll forever cherish, it pales in comparison to his desire to want to be part of the next premiership team for Swans.

“Getting to 100 games is definitely a cool personal achievement and a great milestone to reach but we’d all obviously rather be celebrating as a team and a club together like a premiership with the whole Swans family,” Cipro said.

“It’s completely about team success for me and I think that’s what everyone else is focused on trying to achieve.

“Obviously you have people at different parts of their career where they might be just trying to crack the league team, or some guys might be trying to get drafted or whatever it is.

“But for me, it’s all about whatever I can do to help the team get to that next level and have that team success. That’s all I’m worried about.”

Sharing milestone with family and friends

The added bonus for Cipro with his 100th game this Saturday is that it will be on home turf against Perth at Steel Blue Oval. He can’t wait to celebrate the milestone with so many people that have been there for the whole journey with him.

“What I want more than anything is for us to win the game so that it’s a nice memorable day. I think it will be anyway, but the cherry on top would be if we can walk off having won the game,” Cipro said.

“The other thing is just being able to embrace this small individual achievement with guys who have been with me through so many different steps on the field, but also then all the coaches, support staff, the fans and definitely my family for what they’ve sacrificed over 10 years.

“They’ve seen what it’s taken me to get to this point and I don’t think I would have played or committed my life this long to the football club if it weren’t for my family and some of the guys in the team who have been with me along the way.”