IT’S all about the development of the club, Swifts volunteer Jordan Ralph says.
Ralph has been involved with the Stawell-based club for eight years and has provided assistance in an abundance of ways.
He has dabbled in several assistant coaching roles including stints with the under-14 football team and the reserves football team. He also helped out on the bench for the senior football team.
Ralph has served on the club committee for several years and is on the social committee.
“I just help out where I can,” Ralph said.
“I also spent some pre-seasons helping recruitment for the netballers and footballers. We have a little recruitment committee, which is good.
“I like to help out in junior training whenever possible.”
Ralph played his junior football with Mininera and District league team Navarre before opting to move to his hometown club, the Swifts.
“I had never really played footy with a lot of my best mates so I thought I would go where they were,” he said.
“It’s closer to home. I haven’t wanted to leave since.”
Ralph described the Swifts as a welcoming club.
“The atmosphere (is what I love the most),” he said. “There are no little cliques, everyone talks to everyone and people are always welcome.”
He said the club, as a whole, was productive and proactive.
“They are always trying to move forward,” Ralph said.
“In the years previous to this year, it was a bit dull for senior football.
“This year Scott Carey has done an amazing job.
“He’s put down a plan and it’s coming together.
“He has respect from all the blokes.
“It’s the same with what Naomi Hoffmann is doing with the netball.”
If the Swifts A Grade team wins one more game it will be the best it has performed since it joined the league, Ralph said.
“The people at the netball are always trying to help out,” he said.
Ralph plays as a midfielder and occasional forward in the reserves.
He said the club was a massive part of his life.
“I spend more time at the footy club than with my fiancee some weeks,” he said.
“I am generally seeing them four to five times a week.
“We also have regular committee meetings so that would add another night at the club.
“As part of the committee we are currently trying to get a new function room happening.”
All Ralph wants is for his hometown club to be successful in every aspect.
Ralph is eager to see how the Swifts fare in finals.
“The way Scott has the team set up, I think we have the chance to go deep in the finals,” he said. “Clark has done a good job with reserves, too. We’re still getting well over 30 blokes to training a night. That’s the same for netty. It will be massive for us to get a bit of success in netball.”
I spend more time at the footy club than with my fiancee some weeks.
- Jordan Ralph
Ralph said one of his best memories was when the Swifts won the 2014 Horsham District league senior premiership.
“That whole thing was amazing,” he said.
“We had the centenary game that year, too.
“Something I am proud of is getting together with Taylors Lake to do the Indigenous round. It’s going to be an annual thing now... It’s a pretty amazing feeling to put on that jumper.”
