Woodley as a Forward Finding Success with Reserves Team

Cruz Woodley always knew he could potentially play as a forward, and now he wants to keep building on that as part of the undefeated Swan Districts Reserves team.

Going back through the majority of his junior and Colts career at Subiaco, and then on joining Swan Districts to play both in the Colts and Reserves in 2024, most of Woodley’s career has seen him play as a defender.

And he’s done it well with his ability to be a creative weapon coming out of the back-line on those teams, but that same creativity also always had the potential to work as a forward and he got the chance to show that  against Peel Thunder at Steel Blue Oval.

However, it all came together in spectacular fashion with Woodley having a day out he’ll always remember kicking five goals in Round 4 as Swans stayed unbeaten in 2025.

Woodley got himself ready for the role in the forward-line but not even he could have imagined it turning out so well.

“I felt pretty good warming up with all the boys and felt good in the changerooms before we ran out. So to end up kicking five was just a great feeling I guess,” Woodley said.

“At training during the week I just worked on one craft because I knew I would be playing forward and I guess it all worked out on Saturday. It just blew my mind how well it went I guess.

“I’ve always wanted to have a good at playing forward and knew I’d be able to do it, I just didn’t know I could do that great where I’m kicking five in a game.”

Even though most of Woodley’s football has seen him not play as a forward, it is something he always felt he could successfully do and was just waiting for the opportunity.

“When I moved to Swans I played a bit all over the place. I played a bit of midfield and a little bit of forward, but it was just back-line mainly,” he said.

“Even before that I just played back-line at my other club too so it’s a bit new but it worked out well in my first time trying it.”

Going back 18 months when Woodley decided to join Swan Districts having played all his football with Subiaco up to that point, a lot of it was just because he had moved closer to Bassendean but he also was looking for a bit of a fresh start.

He couldn’t have hoped to find a better new home than where he is now with Swans.

“Well I moved to this area out at Dayton so I just thought Swans were a bit closer and I wanted to try something a bit new at a different club,” Woodley said.

“I had been at Subi for a while so I wanted to try something new and here I am. All the boys were welcoming right from the first time I came down and they are all good blokes, even the coaches and everybody else around the club. They have all made me feel really welcome and I couldn’t be happier being here.”

Not only did Woodley make the leap to change clubs in 2024, but he also got his first taste of playing senior football in the Reserves at Swan Districts.

Now as a 19-year-old, he’s a permanent member of the senior program with Swans and feels he’s getting used to playing against men on a weekly basis with making a League debut his ultimate goal.

“I’ve worked so hard to try and forget about what it was like playing colts and just learn to be involved with the older bodies and bigger boys now so I hopefully I’m learning and picking it up pretty quick,” he said.

“One big goal I’ve got in my head is to try and make my League debut, and see how it goes from there. It would be a great feeling for me and I know it would be pretty exciting not only for me, but my family as well so I just have to keep working hard to try and make it happen.”

Woodley has had to get used to working for a living when he is away from football too. After working out tiling isn’t for him because of the toll on his body, he’s looking to keep trying things before he knows where he wants to settle.

“I recently was doing tiling but I got out of that because it was just too much on my body and I was having some back problems which was making it hard to play footy,” Woodley said.

“Now I’m waiting for a new interview and I’m hoping to do some work with the Department of Justice so it might be a lot better having a bit of an office job.

“But beyond that, I’m not too sure what I want to do as a career, I wouldn’t mind getting into a bit of mechanical or electrician stuff. Having a trade is always good, but for now this new opportunity seems alright.”