Next Iconic Moment added to Hall of Fame

Not only is the history of the Swan Districts Football Club littered by historical figures who continue to be honoured in the Hall of Fame, over the past 89 years there have also been countless Iconic Moments which are also being recognised.

While anyone associated with the Swan Districts Football Club over history will be able to pinpoint the legends that have made the club what it is, their fondest memories are going to come from the moments they witness, were part of or have since heard about.

That's where the Hall of Fame includes an Iconic Moments section with the first being the breakthrough 1961 premiership victory which was the first of the moments included into the Swan Districts Football Club Hall of Fame.

That then leads into what the next induction will be for Iconic Moments and there is no other option needed to be considered other than the club's first ever game and win in 1934.

The first Iconic Moment inducted into the Swan Districts Hall of Fame naturally was the 1961 Grand Final victory.

Having had a bit of a tough time in the opening 26 years in the competition including winning just two games in 1960, Haydn Bunton Jr arrived as captain-coach for 1961 and the rest is history.

Swan Districts went on to win the 1961 premiership and then backed it up the next two years, but that first Grand Final victory against East Perth at Subiaco Oval was the natural choice as the inaugural Iconic Moment to go into the club's Hall of Fame.

That then leads into what the next Iconic Moment is and the induction for 2023 will be the first ever game Swan Districts played in 1934 which led into the first victory a week later.

After a struggle of a number of years to form a team to enter the WANFL competition representing the area. Eventually Swan Districts was granted entry in October 1933 to begin competing in 1934.

That all set up the historic first game for Swan Districts on April 28, 1934 against East Fremantle at Fremantle Oval, but it had been quite the journey to get to that point.

The Swan Districts team that was formed included players from Midland Junction such as George Krepp, Johnny Park, Keith McInnerney, Snapper Clarke, Clem Buckley, Andy Zilko, Mick Jamieson, Clive Hellmrich, George McRae, Fred Hall, Ted Holdsworth, Tom Moiler and Max Chester.

There were then Bassendean Perth Suburban Association players George (Judda) Bee, Fred Woolcock, Nigel Gorn, Russell Grieve, Lal Mosey, Jack Zilko, Clive Perham, Dinty Ford, Shinney Dawes, Robert Millwood, Jack Reilly, Jack Dickson and George Fitzgerald.

From these players formed the team that took the field at Fremantle Oval in Round 1, 1934 to play Swan Districts' first ever game in the WANFL competition against East Fremantle carrying with them the unified support of a proud district.

Richard (RA) McDonald was the inaugural president at Swan Districts as the architect and founder of the club while Bee was also made the inaugural coach having initially moved from East Fremantle to join Bassendean in 1933.

So McDonald was overseeing the club, Bee was the playing-coach and Swan Districts ran out onto Fremantle Oval to take on Old Easts on that fateful day in April 1934.

While East Fremantle won the game 16.23 (119) to 16.6 (102) that's the type of attacking football and high-scoring affair you could only dream of seeing in modern football.

There was a lot to be encouraged about in that performance from Swans with Gorn and Dawes kicking four goals apiece, Bee three and Fred Sweetapple two.

That all led into the next week with the first ever home game for Swan Districts against Subiaco at Bassendean Oval on May 5. What was to come was the first ever victory for Swans as they defeated Subiaco 19.9 (123) to 12.11 (83).

Backing up kicking 16 goals with another 19 was an exciting performance from Swan Districts with Ben Cook kicking four goals with Gorn adding another four, Dawes three and Hellmrich two.

Since those first two rounds of 1934, Swans have gone on to play a further 1,830 games in the WANFL/WAFL competition and recorded 759 victories, but there'll only ever be one first.

Together with the 2 immortals and 6 new Hall of Fame Inductees, will be officially recognised at the Hall of Fame Induction evening held at the club on Saturday 1^st July 2023. It’s an opportunity for supporters to meet the Swans royalty.  

Tickets cost $100 and includes complimentary drinks on arrival and dinner.

Tickets can be purchased here - https://www.trybooking.com/CGDXB