Northern NSW sports club commit to get back on paddock after historic floods

Sports clubs have been scrambling to field players in the wake of the devastating 2022 floods. But the Lismore Swans are determined to make it happen.

The Lismore Swans take on Grafton Tigers. Picture: Adrian Etherson

When historic floods smashed the North Coast in February and March last year, many sports club members were displaced in the fallout.

The Lismore Swans failed to field teams in the 2022 competition for the first time in the club’s history.

Some players have moved on to rival clubs, but Lismore Swans acting president Austin Curtin wants to stem the losses.

He said he was committed to getting the Swans back on the paddock in 2023.

“Last year was hard on so many fronts including – for those of us that love the Swans – not being able to field teams,” he said.

Many sports club members were impacted by the historic 2022 floods, which captured attention across the nation. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

“There’s still a lot of work to be done around the district and a part of that is getting services like footy clubs back up and running so that people have a place to connect and bond with others around shared passions and interests.

“Our focus on restarting the club isn’t on winning matches or premierships, its purely on getting a men’s and a women’s team on the park and giving people the chance to get back to doing something they love.”

Curtin said there was a “positive turnout” at the club’s Christmas party in December and the club would be “launching from that when the pre-season training starts later this month”.

The Lismore Swans pre-season training starts at Hepburn Park, Goonellabah on Monday, January 29 at 5:30pm,

The training is open to senior and junior players of all ability levels.

Meanwhile, the Byron Magpies men will also return to the AFL North Coast competition.

While the powerhouse club’s women’s team took home the 2022 premiership cup with the help of imports from the Lismore Swans, the men’s side did not field any teams for the season.

AFL North Coast 2022 premiership winners Byron Magpies.

Byron Magpies president Nick Rojo said the club was excited to be joining AFL North Coast with a clear vision under a new leadership committee.

“The club is extremely proud of what our women’s team achieved last year, but that has led to a number of players considering their options ahead of 2023,” he said.

“Combine this with not being able to field men’s teams last year and we’re virtually rebuilding from scratch.

“While that poses challenges, it’s a great chance to focus on uniting the two halves of the club as the AFL North Coast competition will allow our men’s and women’s teams to play in the same location each week.”

Byron will join the Swans, Grafton Tigers, Northern Beaches Blues (Woolgoolga), Coffs Harbour Breakers, Sawtell Toormina Saints, and Port Macquarie Magpies in the North Coast competition.

Community football and competition manager AFL North Coast Paul Taylor said the league was pleased to have Byron in the fold.

Community football and competition manager AFL North Coast Paul Taylor. Picture: Tim Jarrett

“It’s great to see Byron getting back on track with both men’s and women’s teams and we’re excited that we can offer them a place to play that fits with the club’s vision,” he said.

“The fact that the club wants to join our league is a positive reflection of the way that the code has grown across the North Coast region and continues to go from strength to strength.

“Byron’s inclusion further expands the League’s footprint, posing the potential for significant away trips.”

AFL North Coast has been working to reduce travel time for players across the season.

Proposals include having clubs like Byron and Port Macquarie playing their matches at a halfway point, possibly as part of a double-header with other clubs.

“Similarly, we’re looking at ways that both clubs can maintain their identity as Magpies as each club has 40 years of history invested in that brand,” Taylor said.

The pre-season is already underway for Byron.