A lot is happening at Nangwarry Football Club. They have new clubrooms, a win under their belt, and now they have Dane Swan.
The 258-gamer for Collingwood has signed on for the Nangwarry Saints season opener on April 15, after a chance encounter between his manager and a player for Nangwarry.
The 505-person town on South Australia’s Limestone Coast has endured a lot in recent years, losing its main employer, the timber mill, just before Christmas in 2018.
A year later, their social hub — the football club — was destroyed in a suspicious fire.
In the midst of it all, the club finally broke an eight-year win drought in June 2022.
Securing premiership midfielder Swan is, as club president Shane Ploenges put it, icing on the cake.
“We’ve had plenty of local legends through the club but no-one of that calibre, that’s for sure,” Mr Ploenges said.
“It’s really exciting. That first game of the year is the 30-year reunion of our first premiership, too. That will be a special day for those guys.”
Nangwarry has manager Ricky Nixon to thank for the unexpected recruit.
“[He’d] set up an Airbnb in Mount Gambier last year and it was a couple of houses down from one of our players. And they got chatting and Ricky enquired whether we’d be interested in having Dane Swan come out for a game,” Mr Ploenges said.
“It’s a very chance meeting, it’s come out of nowhere.”
Where the Brownlow and Anzac Day medallist will play against the Mount Burr Mozzies is still up in the air.
“I’m sure [coach] Shane Raymond will find a suitable spot for him. I think sometimes he’ll play a bit of halfback to get a feel of the team, and a bit of a stint in the middle and up forward,” Mr Ploenges said.
“So you’ll probably see him in a few positions I would imagine.”
Mr Plonges said last year’s win has boosted recruitment for 2023.
“They can see that we’re heading in the right direction and want to jump onboard and help out,” Mr Ploenges said.
“Everyone’s pretty excited for what this year holds. And that was even before the signing of Dane. So that just adds the icing to the cake.”
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