Dane Swan praises Western Rams as Melton Centals wins RDFNL season-opener

Collingwood great Dane Swan couldn’t help Western Rams end its long losing streak as Melton Centrals crashed the party in the Riddell District season opener.

Dane Swan in action for Western Rams. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I love doing it, I love footy people, that’s all I’ve ever known.”

Collingwood great Dane Swan had plenty of praise for his new Western Rams teammates as he helped launch the Riddell District league season on Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Rams, Swan’s presence couldn’t stop the club’s losing streak reaching 53 games as Melton Centrals claimed a 56-point win at Ian Cowie Reserve.

The Brownlow Medallist showed off his poise and class off in the one-off appearance and hoped his appearance helped the club on and off-field.

“Every club I go to – they’re all the same – they’ve got great people in them, work really hard and love the club whether they haven’t won a game in four years or won four flags in a row,” Swan said.

Dane Swan tackles Kyle Rodgers at Ian Cowie Reserve. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Dane Swan listens to the Western Rams backline coach. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I enjoy coming out to footy clubs and having a laugh, trying to get a kick and try to build success back into the place.

“Hopefully they learn a bit, but more importantly, we raise some money for the footy club and that helps them get a player or two or build towards some success.

“It was basically my first run since I had ankle surgery in September, so it was nice to get one under the belt.

“It was good to run around and know that my foot still kind of works, I got a couple of kicks but didn’t doing anything flashy.”

Swan and Ricky Nixon hosted a soldout sportsman’s night after the game, which will help Western Rams solidify off-field and build for the future.

The Rams made a strong start to the game, controlling large parts of the first quarter but couldn’t find the finishing touch.

Jake Charge kicked the first goal of the game and Hayden Sproule slotted a nice goal with the wind to give Melton Centrals a 10-point lead at quarter-time.

Anthony Bowyer got the Rams on the board in the second term but it was the Blues that kicked away to a 33-point margin at half-time.

Dane Swan gets a shepherd in heavy traffic. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Dylan Jobson impressed in his Centrals debut, booting three goals, while Sam Apineru also impressed in attack.

Peter Boyd kicked Rams’ second goal of the game in the third term but it was all Centrals in the final term – with the match comfortable in hand a goal-saving tackle from Benn Tyson would perhaps most please coach Matt Sproule.

The match was Sproule’s first game back in charge after stepping away in 2022, he was confident there was a lot of improvement in his team.

“We’re starting a journey that I think will be pretty good, we’ll improve every week, we’re a very young group,” Sproule said.

“It was a bit clunky, the wind made it hard – blowing to the far side – but I reckon we went well.

“We’ll kick enough scores, we’ve just got to make sure we get the ball down there enough and our defence was really good today.”

Ruckman Evan Donoghue was the dominant force on the ground, while

“Evan was super, he’s a 19-year-old kid,” Sproule said.

“We didn’t want to play him in the ruck but we haven’t got one and he dominated last week in the practice match so we thought we’d stick with him.

RDFNL: CAN AFL GREAT HELP END RAMS’ LOSING STREAK?

LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTY NEWS HERE

TALENT: YOUNG GUNS TO WATCH IN LOCAL FOOTY IN 2023

“He loves it, plays as an extra mid, which is what he wants.”

Laughlan Orr was Western Rams’ best, battling manfully in defence, while prized recruit Fitzroy Greenwool started slowly but impressed when moved into defence with his run-and-carry.

Rams and Centrals will have to wait until April 22 for their next game, against Riddell and Wallan respectively.

Woodend-Hesket and Riddell will clash in a standalone Good Friday match at Gilbert Gordon Oval on April 7.