Swans Integrated Footy Takes Another Step Forward

Last Thursday afternoon we hosted our first come and try session as part of our application to the Perth Football League to field a Swans team in their Integrated competition for 2022. 14 male and female players, many playing football for the first time, had the thrill of running out onto Steel Blue Oval in front of their families and support workers and were put through their paces by our All Abilities and Wheelchair Football Coordinator Toby Anscombe, WAFL players Chris Jones and Jesse Palmer, and WAFLW players Jess Cox and Amber Ugle-Hayward.

Integrated football provides all the same physical, mental and social benefits that non-disabled athletes gain from playing footy. The proposed team would primarily train and play at Steel Blue Oval, but through a new partnership with the Midvale Junior Football Club, would also spend time at Ron Jose Oval in Midvale. They will wear the traditional Swans jumper and be managed by the Swans Community team.

Swans President Peter Hodyl told the players that if we were successful in our application, that their names would also become synonymous with the Swan Districts Football Club in the very same way that the names of our first team in 1934 did, and that he was excited by the prospect of having our very own team after watching other teams as part of Swans annual “Count Me In” road each year.

For the last 4 years we have had the pleasure of hosting integrated football games at Steel Blue Oval as curtain raisers to our WAFL and WAFLW games which has been championed by the Chair of our Disability, Advocacy and Inclusion Committee, Eliza Outred, and committee member, Maurice Embley. Fielding a Swans team in the Integrated Competition would be the culmination of many years of hard work, and an exciting beginning. Eliza Outred said that she was “excited to see how the next thread of community building and social connection is woven into the rich tapestry that Swans is creating. I am truly humbled to be a part of this narrative. “

If you would like to be involved in our new team, either as a player, volunteer or sponsor, please register your details with Swans GM People & Community, Matt Hewitson on mhewitson@swandistrictsfc.com so that we can be in touch with updates regarding our application.