Collins embracing winning culture at Swans

Winning hasn’t been something Will Collins has done a lot of before this current nine-game undefeated streak with Swan Districts and he's playing the best football of his life too as a key cog in the defensive brigade.

Collins lost nine of the first 13 games he played in the WAFL and even going back further winning wasn’t something he had become accustomed to, but now that he is getting to enjoy that feeling more with Swan Districts in 2024, he doesn’t want it to go away.

Swans now have gone undefeated in their last nine WAFL games heading into Saturday's match up at Joondalup with East Fremantle to be sitting in third position and Collins has been instrumental in the impressive form.

The 22-year-old is finding his feet as one of the standout defenders in the competition where he's equally capable of stopping a key forward, taking intercept marks and then setting up play going the other way.

Embracing being on a winning team

Having not experienced too much winning so far in his career, Collins is sure enjoying what it feels like to be part of the winning feeling with Swan Districts this year and the natural positive culture that creates.

"Winning isn’t something that I've done a lot of growing up through the teams I played for, but the kind of environment that winning creates is a good one to be around," Collins said on 91.3 SportFM.

"But also, just the connection that we have between the boys is really enjoyable and makes it fun to come to training throughout the week, and playing with each other.

"Then having the coaching staff back the decisions that you make and being right in your corner to let you take the game on has been freeing to be able to play like that."

Nine-game undefeated streak

Collins feels three things have been key to Swan Districts having now not lost since Round 7 and winning eight games along with a draw with South Fremantle in the matches since comes down to three things – playing fun, brave and controlled football.

"I think we've been playing really well as a collective group and as the season has progressed the guys have been understanding each other's strengths, and what the best ways are that I can come out on a Saturday to come together and help us win of that connection we have," Collins said.

"I'm having a lot of fun playing in this team at the moment and that's a big part of what we're doing. We're trying to have fun and playing brave footy in the way we want to play for each other, and play to a system that can look probably at times a bit hectic.

"But out on the ground, it feels like we're under control and playing fun, brave and controlled is what we're trying to play like."

Outstanding recent personal form

Collins is now 39 games into his WAFL career and has had a tough couple of years having been taken in the AFL mid-season draft by West Coast back in 2021, and then having a solid season back with Swan Districts in 2022.

A nasty concussion then limited him to just four games in 2023, but he has been back in 2024 and now playing the best football of his career as part of a standout defensive group alongside the likes of Tony Notte, Bryce Watson, Jake Pasini, Brenton Hilton and Lewis Tester.

He has become not only impressive in locking down opponents, but also in taking intercept marks and also setting up play coming out of the back-line.

Collins even kicked a stunning running goal against Claremont three weeks ago and then took 15 marks last week against Subiaco, but he's always trying to find ways to improve.

"I always watch back my games and even when I find I have some really good patches, I always find things I would like to improve upon too," Collins said.

"One thing I find is that I think I can get stuck in looking too quickly for that next option to get the ball moving really fast, and sometimes that might be too fast.

"Sometimes it might be best to take an extra second to assess and make the best decision, then it would give me the best chance to be a confident to use my skills to take the right option and find a target. Sometimes it might be better to take the kicking option instead of a quick handball."

Having a brilliant midfield

While Collins is a key component of the standout back-line unit with Swan Districts this year, he is enjoying watching the midfield consisting of Jesse Turner, Aidan Clarke, Josh Cipro and gun recruits Nik Rokahr and Jye Chalcraft going to work.

However, he sees how much ruckman Nathan Blakely goes through each week too and can't help but admire him.

"All those guys in the midfield are fantastic players and my locker is close to Doc Blakely's and I've really appreciated the chance to get to know him more over the year," he said.

"He goes through all his battles on the weekend and cops it all, and then it takes him almost the full week to get back being ready to play, but he's so good for us to lead our midfield. They are all fantastic players but I think what they bring the most is experience.

"Jesse has now played a lot of WAFL footy and understands teams and what it's like to being a Swans boy growing up and coming through the system.

"Then blokes like Nik and Jye from playing in other leagues bring all that experience with them, and they can provide a lot of guidance and teaching particularly to the guys coming through. That's invaluable to be able to pick their brains and watch guys go about it who have done so well at this level."

Taking on the Sharks at Joondalup

Collins is now looking forward to the challenge up against East Fremantle this Saturday at Joondalup and for him it means a likely match up a dangerous Sharks forward line Dillon O'Reilly or Jono Marsh.

It will be his fifth career game against the Sharks and his fifth time playing against Joondalup, and he's looking for a second win on both fronts come Saturday.

"It's another big game but we've been saying that every week for the last couple of months with the way the ladder and everything is going," Collins said.

"But you just have to keep winning and hope that you sort out your end, and everyone else will do their bit to help you out.

"It's a massive game and we did lose after the siren against them last time so this is a big game for us to try and knock off the team who are there or there abouts again, and going up to Joondalup to try and get the job done.

"We'll just focus on how we can be the best version of ourselves come Saturday and focus on trying to beat East Freo."