Proud moment for Notte to join Walker on 305

There has long been a number of seemingly untouchable Swan Districts records with Bill Walker's 305 games one of those that has stood now for 48 years.

That will all change this Saturday afternoon at Steel Blue Oval when Tony Notte runs out for the 305th time with Swan Districts to equal that record, and all things going well surpass it in two weeks' time on the road to South Fremantle.

For anyone to get to that 305-game mark that Walker set to conclude his legendary career with Swan Districts which included him winning four Sandover Medals, five Swan Medals and playing in three premierships was going to take something special.

That's exactly what the achievement of Notte is to get to the mark having made his debut back in 2008 as a promising key forward before having since turned himself into one of the best centre half-backs the WAFL has ever seen.

Not only is Notte about to play his 305th game, but he's won three Swan Medals along the way, had to overcome a late career knee reconstruction, continues to play while living and working with his young family in Busselton, and has had to battle through some tough times.

While Walker enjoyed being part of that hat-trick of premierships in his career, that same success has eluded Notte. He did get to play in a Grand Final as an 18-year-old in 2008 before missing selection in 2010, and then it's been tough going since. 

Since that 2010 premiership, Notte has only played in another seven finals with Swan Districts and only one victory which was the elimination final of 2017 against West Perth.

Swans did again reach finals in 2021 but lost an elimination final in what is still the last final that Swans and Notte have taken part in.

That makes it all the more remarkable that Notte has continued to have faith that success could still eventuate before he does decide to retire. Now not only does he reach a remarkable personal mark on Saturday, this team of 2024 is what makes it more exciting.

Reaching the games record

When Notte first started playing at Steel Blue Oval and even in his early years of league football starting in 2008, he never fully appreciated the history of the football club.

However, the longer he has been around the club and met a lot of the former legends, he has a great understanding of that and is fully aware that there is no bigger figure in the history of Swan Districts than Bill Walker.

Nobody will ever match the feats of Walker as a player with the games record just the final piece of what he did with the boots on in the black-and-white jumper, but Notte couldn't be prouder to now join him on 305 games.

"I suppose when I was a little young fella walking into the club I wasn't that aware of the history of the club and it wasn't until later on when you go through the years that you really start to understand the people that have played for the club, and given back so much," Notte said.

"It probably wasn't until a few years into playing senior footy that you start to learn the guys who have contributed, but obviously I'm super proud now to stand alongside Bill.

"It's not about comparing, but it's more so the fact that I understand the commitment that he would have had to put in over the time of his career to get to where he did. To share that and stand alongside his name, I'm super proud of that."

Interactions over time with Bill

Even since Walker's playing days with Swans ended in 1976, he was a remarkably important and powerful figure at the club including a 12-year term as president up until the end of 1995.

His son, Greg, also was an outstanding player who not only played in the 1990 premiership but won the Simpson Medal so the legacy of Walker is a remarkable one as one of just three Immortals in the Hall of Fame alongside the late great John Todd and John Cooper.

Walker has remained a regular at home games for Swans at Steel Blue Oval even while now in his 80s. Notte has enjoyed every chance to interact with him, and hopes to do so again on Saturday.

"It's more the fact that he gave so much not only as a player but everything he has been able to do for the club since he stopped playing, and he's done a whole lot," Notte said.

"He has still been around the club quite a bit since I've been playing and he pops into the changerooms especially for home games.

"That's probably where I've had my chance to speak to him and he has always been very nice and respectful, and given as much help as he can to me with little bits of advice here and there. I'm so grateful to have people like that still around the club."

Big day also for new wear of No. 29

Fate can often work in mysterious ways too and Jesse Turner is the only player since Bill Walker to wear the No. 29 with Swan Districts to reach 100 games.

The co-captain and two-time Swan Medal winner now gets to his 150-game milestone on Saturday as well and it just happens to be the same day that Notte equals the record set by Walker.

"It's good for Jesse to reach this milestone too. In each footy club you want you home grown talented kids to hang around for as long as possible, and it's something that we probably don't see as much as these days," Notte said.

"But for Jesse to reach this milestone now and become a life member, he's had to work really hard to get there. It's a privilege for him to get there too and everyone is very proud of what he's been able to do, and where he is now.

"To fall on the same day makes it a big occasion for the footy club and hopefully we can do the club proud and have a win, and put in a really good effort on the day."

This team firing in 2024

Coming into 2024 and the prospect was there for Notte to firstly become just the second player in the 90-year history of the Swan Districts Football Club to reach 300 games, and then potentially equal and then break the games record of Walker.

While they are achievements he is honoured to reach, it's by no means the reason that Notte is playing on with the one and only focus to try and achieve success with Swan Districts.

There have been more tough years than good ones especially over the last decade, but Notte has hung in there and right now in 2024 things might be coming together.

Swans have currently won six straight matches coming into Saturday's game against Claremont at Steel Blue Oval to be in third position, and Notte is embracing the journey as much as anybody.

"When you're not winning and are struggling to play finals it can be quite tough when you keep battling away each week not knowing if success is going to come, but it's no different now," Notte said.

"You have to keep working hard to be near the top as well and that's what we are finding each week. We're having to put out some really good performance to beat any of the teams, but it is just really nice to be in this spot with the club and how good the culture is.

"With Pruey doing the work that he has done the last couple of years, I think we're now starting to see that kind of reward and it's just a good spot to be at.

"We obviously have a mountain of work still to do to finish off this year to make sure we are in a spot to play finals. But it's just a really exciting place to be and hopefully finals do come and we can play some really good footy towards that end of the year still."

Hanging in there wanting success

Considering over the last 245 games of his career that only seven of those matches have been finals for just one victory and for Notte's loyalty and faith in Swan Districts to never diminish or falter speaks an enormous amount for his character.

He is now doing it all while married to Jess, as a father to Alaska and continuing to play while living and working in Busselton.

But what Notte has hung in there for is that desire to be part of success.

"It's the rollercoaster that we ride and we push through the tough times a lot at this footy club, and you do really appreciate just winning," Notte said.

"A lot of other clubs the last 10 or 20 years have had quite a bit of success, on the other hand we probably haven't been. At the moment for us just being able to win is nice and that's obviously the goal to play finals and win them.

"I don't think anyone is taking that for granted at all because we know how tough it is to get that chance."