90-year Anniversary Celebration

Swan Districts will be celebrating the 90-year anniversary of its first ever WAFL game in 1934 on Sunday at Steel Blue Oval with a special occasion planned to remember that history against East Fremantle.

The first ever game Swan Districts played was back on April 28, 1934, and now exactly 90 years later that anniversary will be celebrated against the same opponent, East Fremantle, this Sunday afternoon.

Swan Districts will celebrate the club's 90-year anniversary this Sunday afternoon at Steel Blue Oval with the team to wear playing jumpers commemorating the occasion that will later be auctioned off.

There are plenty more celebrations planned for the anniversary occasion to commemorate that fateful day 90 years ago where Swan Districts played in the WAFL for the very first time against East Fremantle.

It was a struggle of a number of years to form a team to enter the 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 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.

The next week saw Swans play their first ever home game and beat Subiaco so this Sunday is a signification occasion and one that President Peter Hodyl can't wait for on a number of fronts.

"It's huge and to have 90 years of history in the WAFL is significant. I know there are other clubs with longer histories, but from our club and at the time that we were out in the eastern suburbs and a big part of the massive community out this way," Hodyl said.

"Our club became something everyone could get behind within this region and now we've been around for 90 years and I'm sure everyone is looking forward to this game.

"The bonus is that we played East Fremantle deliberately because our first ever game in 1934 was against East Fremantle and they beat us pretty much in the last couple of minutes of the game, and the previous season they were premiers.

"So hopefully we can turn the tables on them 90 years down the track on Sunday."

Hodyl can't wait for everything that is to come on Sunday both in terms of acknowledging and celebrating the history over the past 90 years, but also welcoming back plenty of familiar faces, and remembering those no longer with us.

"It's a really important occasion and you have to acknowledge your history, and all the people who have contributed to your football club and your community over that amount of time," he said.

"That's what we will be trying to do on Sunday and it's going to be a pretty big day I can tell you. Seeing some of the old faces and we have to make the most of those who are still around, and we also remember those who are no longer with us by involving their friends and families in the celebration.

"It's going to be a very, very big luncheon and it's booked out and we have a long reserve list of people who want a spot. I'm obviously looking forward to the game and falling on Anzac Round as well only adds to it. The weather's going to be good so it's going to be quite a spectacular day."

The history of Swan Districts is more than just about success on the field even though the two premiership hat-tricks of 1961-62-63 and 1982-83-84 along with the last two premiership triumphs in 1990 and 2010 are well worth celebrating.

But what Swans provide is something for the entire region and community to embrace and be part of, and Hodyl wants everyone to realise just what a special place the club is.

"It's more about being able to reflect on the past which is important, but then also really appreciating all the work that went into creating the footy club," Hodyl said.

"It gives us something where in the modern day we tend to take a lot of things for granted, and our players and society in general can take things for granted.

"But for the opportunity to think back and appreciate all the hard work that has been put in by lots of generations before us, then I think what I'm most looking forward to the most."

As a former player of the club who was part of the 1990 premiership and continuing his commitment to Swan Districts now as president, Hodyl is proud of the role Swans plays in the community and hopes it long continues.

"I've spent my whole life around the footy club. I remember as a kid I was up in the McDonald Stand as a six or seven-year-old pressed up against the fence and watching my heroes being a local Basso boy," he said.

"There were opportunities to be involved as a young fella coming through the development program and the colts, and then my involvement now is about acknowledging all the people that came before me.

"The reason I do what I do is because someone did it for me and it's my turn so if I've created the opportunity for other young men and women to play the game, and represent Swans, then I think I've done my job. I'll then leave it in someone else's hands to keep passing that on."

On top of his own 80-game playing career that started in 1982 up until 1991 and including him playing in the 1990 premiership, Hodyl has been a lifelong supporter of Swan Districts and now his commitment continues as president.

He has fond memories of cheering on Swans from the McDonald Stand as a youngster and can't wait to see it filled again on Sunday to cheer on the team of 2024.

"I was born in '62 so I wasn’t part of that initial triple premiership but I was around the club as a young up and coming player for the next week, and I played a few league games in 1983 and 84," Hodyl said.

"I wasn’t quite good enough to get a spot in either premiership team, but then I had some enjoyment in the success of 1990 and being around the club in those successful times is special.

"But I also remember through the 1970s when we were OK but we weren’t overly successful so growing up in the McDonald Stand with the thousands of stamping feet is a memory I hold dearly. Hopefully this weekend we'll get the same thing happening again."