AFL Capricornia: Yeppoon Swans’ Matt Wallin to play 350th senior game

Another milestone beckons for Yeppoon Swans’ legend Matt Wallin this week. He reveals the one thing that he still suffers from and how having his dad involved has sweetened his success as he ranks his 10 straight flags.

Yeppoon Swans' captain Matt Wallin will play his 350th senior game in the AFL Capricornia competition this week. Photo: George Vartabedian

Matt Wallin has achieved so much in his decorated Aussie rules career but he still suffers from pregame jitters.

He knows they will be peaking on Friday night when he adds another entry to his incredible sporting resume.

The captain of the all-conquering Yeppoon Swans will clock up his 350th senior game in the AFL Capricornia competition in the round 11 fixture against the Rockhampton Panthers.

“That’s a killer; I still get nervous, no matter who we’re playing,” Matt said.

Matt Wallin is one of the competition’s best midfielders. Photo: George Vartabedian

“And this week, it’s going to be a bit more about me, so there’s going to be more pressure around me performing in this game.”

Wallin will, just as he has in his 349 previous outings, be sure to rise to the occasion.

The gifted midfielder played his first senior game as a 15-year-old in 2005 and won the first of his 11 premierships in 2009.

Matt Wallin and the Yeppoon Swans celebrate their grand final win in 2009.

In the ensuing years, he has forged an incredible legacy, viewed as the heart and soul of the club.

Wallin has three times won the Bernie Gottke Medal as the league’s best and fairest, six times been judged the Swans’ best and fairest, and also been awarded life membership with his beloved club.

He has been the inspirational leader of a team that can lay claim to being possibly the most successful in any regional sporting competition.

The Yeppoon Swans won a 10th straight flag in the AFL Capricornia senior men's competition.

The Swans won 128 consecutive games to hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the history of Australian rules football, and have also collected an incredible 10 straight flags.

Wallin appreciates every award and every milestone but it’s those achieved alongside his father and former coach Mark that he holds most dear.

Matt Wallin pictured with his dad Mark after one of the Yeppoon Swans' victories.

For that reason, it’s the 2015 premiership, the one that started the unprecedented run, he rates the highest.

“When people say ‘350 games, did you ever think you’d do that?’ well probably not but I could never have dreamed that I would have seven years of being captain with the old man as coach and we’d win six flags out of it,” he said.

“That first one, though, that’s something I’ll never forget.

“I have a good bond with my dad and it’s definitely something I want to have with my children.”

Junior Swans (from left) Matt Wallin, Ricky Vaughan and Kayne Duncan in 2002.

Wallin said effort and engagement had been the cornerstones of his enduring career and for the success of the Swans.

“A lot of people think it’s just been easy but I’ve played footy for the Swans and it wasn’t easy. We used to be on the other end of it for a long time,” he said.

“I think we buy in and we’ve got a good culture.

“We work hard and we pride ourselves on that. We’re one in, all in with that.

“There’s a friendly rivalry amongst us all - if someone’s doing something well, someone else always wants to do it better.

“One thing that we haven’t had to coach over the journey is the work ethic. That comes naturally, which is helpful.”

Matt Wallin works hard on his fitness. Photo: George Vartabedian

Wallin believes his fitness has also been a major contributor to his longevity.

“I’m 36 now and I think it’s been the one thing that’s allowed me to keep on going,” he said.

“I can’t always keep up with the kids but I can go the journey.”

Wallin is not considering retirement yet but knows the clock is ticking.

“I haven’t put a date on when I’m going to finish but you certainly can appreciate things and be more grateful when you think the end of the year could be it,” he said.

Matt Wallin with wife Elle and daughters Zimi and Navy.

“To play 350 games is a great personal achievement.

“Some people might say it’s only AFL Capricornia but for me, it’s still a competition and it’s still footy.

“I’ve given a fair bit to the Swans but they’ve given so much back to me through the people I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had.”

Matt’s milestone game kicks off at Yeppoon’s Swan Park at 6.45pm Friday.

Matt Wallin ranks his 10 straight flags

10. 2018

Yeppoon Swans players celebrate after winning their 2018 win.

Yeppoon 12.15-87 d Glenmore 5.6-36

“We played Glenmore at Boyne Island. They flew a few players in so it created a bit of an unknown. They were pretty good early but we ran over the top of them in the end. It was a good win - and a good bus trip home.”

9. 2016

2016 AFL A Grade grand final winners - Yeppoon Swans. Photo: Pam McKay / The Morning Bulletin

Yeppoon 16.12-117 d Gladstone 8.3-51

“That was back-to-back premierships for us. On reflection, it rolled straight on from 2015, and I don’t think we were ever going to lose that one.”

8. 2021

Yeppoon beat Glenmore in the 2021 grand final.

Yeppoon 12.5-77 d Glenmore 8.6-54

“We’ve created a pretty good rivalry with Glenmore over the years and that game had some feeling in it. It was pretty close in the end but we managed to get the win.”

7. 2022

Eight straight in 2022.

Yeppoon 10.9-69 d BITS Saints 8.7-55

“This was another cracking game. It was in Rocky. We’d been the best side all year and probably thought we were going to win pretty convincingly but Boyne took it right up to us in that one.”

6. 2023

Yeppoon Swans after their grand final win in 2023. Picture: Supplied

Yeppoon 6.14-50 d BITS Saints 6.8-44

“They were young and ready for us and they were at home. The crowd was hostile up at the bar end. I think we actually got away with one that year.”

5. 2019

Five straight in 2019.

Yeppoon 18.11-119 d Panthers 7.5-47

“That was the five-peat. I feel that any of the grand finals that had a milestone attached to them were always special and we got more of a buy-in from players and supporters throughout the whole year.”

4. 2017

The three-peat.

Yeppoon 19.14-128 d BITS 6.3-34

“That was the three-peat. We never knew when the streak was going to end. Winning three in a row in any competition at that time was a huge effort, and setting our sights on it made for a good year.”

3. 2020

Yeppoon 10.10-70 d BITS 1.3-9

“This was the Covid year and we didn’t know whether we were playing or not. It ended up being a 10-game competition for the year. It was all set up for us - we needed 12 games to get the consecutive winning game record and the 12th fell on grand final day in what was the first-ever grand final at Swan Park. It was perfectly scripted and, as it turned out, it was dad’s last year as senior coach.”

2. 2024

Yeppoon 16.16-112 d Glenmore 4.2-26

“This was 10 in a row - a massive achievement. I haven’t had a chance to really reflect on it yet but it’s probably never going to be achieved again, anywhere. We were able to get on top pretty early and soak it up and really enjoy it. We had a good crowd and it was a special one.”

1. 2015

Yeppoon 22.15-147 d BITS 7.5-47

“The first of the incredible run. We played BITS at Gladstone. We hadn’t won a premiership since 2009 and we’d had some pretty up and down years since. Obviously, dad had taken over coaching (in 2014) and he instilled a fair bit of professionalism into us and he had some good people beside him in the coaching staff. It was amazing to win a flag as captain and with my dad as the coach.”

Originally published as AFL Capricornia: Yeppoon Swans’ Matt Wallin to play 350th senior game