Huonville pull off recruitment coup for round one blockbuster against New Norfolk

Huonville will begin their road to redemption with arguably one of the biggest named AFL players of the modern era when they take on New Norfolk in round 1.

Huonville will begin their road to redemption with arguably one of the biggest named AFL players of the modern era when they take on New Norfolk in round 1.

Collingwood premiership star and Brownlow Medallist, Dane Swan will lace up for the Lions on April 12.

Swan, who was pick 58 in the 2001 National Draft, played 258 games across 14 years which included the 2010 premiership, the 2011 Brownlow Medal, two Anzac Day Medals and three Copeland Trophy (Collingwood’s Best and Fairest).

Lions coach Callen Daly said it is something to really look forward to for the club.

Teege Westbury Lindisfarne and Tom Wright Huonville Lions. SFL preliminary final - Lindisfarne V Huonville Lions. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Dane Swan runs forward during the 2nd quarter of the Carlton v Collingwood match at the MCG. Friday July 5, 2013.

“The club wanted to do a big function this year and tried to think of what they could do and made contact with someone over on the mainland they suggested to get a player down to play a game and do a sportsmans night,” Daly said.

“He was available for round one and to start off the season with a big crowd at Huonville will start off our season really well.

“Our average age of our club is mid 20s which is really good for us but we do have some young talent coming through, we had 12 colts players play senior footy last year.

“Just to talk to him not just run around with him will be a great experience for everyone involved, not just the young players.

“Just getting his insight on that one day, everyone will remember that forever, it is a great opportunity that the club has given us and everyone is thrilled about it.”

It’s going to be the road of redemption for the Huonville as they look to claim their first flag since 2020.

The Lions were knocked out of the 2024 finals series by nine points thanks to Lindisfarne in the preliminary final.

But the feeling of a finals loss is all too real for the Lions club as they have lost four out of the past seven grand finals.

Daly said there is plenty of hungry talent amongst the group.

“Huonville has been up for a long time and I think getting some fresh faces in that are around mid 20s, that can really drive the club forward,” Daly said.

“Pre season has been really good so far, we have got three or four new recruits, a couple from Uni and Clarence that have really given us the spark that we needed.

“The first thing we have identified is that we need to get fitter, so we’ve really bought into the working hard aspect.

“When we look back last year the first half of last season wasn’t the best and we weren’t fit enough, we ramped it up in the back end and we finished the season really strong.

“So we have basically just carried it on since there but bringing these guys in, they’ve got a lot of experience as well, they have really helped drive that.

“Pretty much they have taken us to a new level on how to prepare, how to be fit in all aspects of that really.”

Only twice have the Lions not made the grand final.

In 2022 they were knocked out in the preliminary final this time by a 57 point loss to Cygnet who went onto lose the grand final to Lindisfarne.

In the covid riddle 2020, the Lions were too strong for Cygnet, breaking a 13 year drought to claim the clubs second SFL flag.

Originally published as Huonville pull off recruitment coup for round one blockbuster against New Norfolk