Pine Rivers Swans AFC rides rollercoaster season with heartbreaking loss and stunning form
A southeast Queensland Australian football club is tipped for season glory with a whiplash turnaround in form in a year of terrible lows and fantastic highs.
Moreton
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A football club long marred by challenging seasons has risen from the ashes in a year of tumult and high success.
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As if COVID-plagued 2020 couldn’t provide more upset the Pine Rivers Swans AFC lost its patron and club stalwart Allan Williams to poor health recently yet the deeply upsetting loss has come with a stratospheric turnaround in form for the club, which also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
Club president Mitchell Clemett couldn’t hide the emotion when recounting Williams’ passing.
“It was a huge honour for him to be nominated as club patron this year and he loved every minute of it,” Clemett said.
“He was a massive figure at the club and dedicated his life to it.
“The passion at the footy club is showing and we are doing everything we can to do him proud.”
And do him proud the club has with a seeming storybook reversal in form grounded by fresh talent welcomed pre-season.
From last on the ladder last year with nary a win, the senior boys have fought their way through a near blemish-free season – seven wins and one loss – and now find themselves top of the ladder minor premiers with a real shot at the grand final.
Benefitting from some “class players” brought in during the off-season the lads are enjoying a surging momentum and, with a week off, next take on the winner of tomorrow’s match between Kedron Lions AFC and Alexandra Hills AFC.
“The team morale is really high and they are playing a really good brand of footy,” Clemett said.
Not to be outdone the senior women have been pure class themselves.
The women put boot to ball tomorrow in an elimination final at 4.45pm at Ipswich against Ipswich Eagles AFC.
The Swans enter the match bolstered by a win over the Eagles three weeks ago and Clemett said they are confident they can replicate the success.
And it to think it all could have been for naught with a season start plagued by COVID interruptions.
Luckily the drama continues.
“It is a proud moment; it has been a tough few years,” Clemett said.
“The effort the committee has put in has paid dividends and it is good for the loyal players who have stuck through the tough times; they are really seeing the results and enjoying their footy now.
“And it helps us grow even further – success breeds success.”