In 2019, the Swifts Football Club reserves side was sitting pretty in second on the ladder, after losing just one match in the home and away season, but in the finals nothing went to plan.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They were bounced out of the finals in straight sets and, forced to stew on the results until 2020.
However, the 2020 season never arrived and now the club setting its sights on taking making up for the disappointing end to that 2019 season.
The club has announced Nick Clarke and Adam Leslie will be co-coaches for the 2021 reserves season, with both men determined to help the club improve.
READ MORE:
"In 2019 we finished in the top two and went out in straight sets so it was a disappointing end to it (the season)," Clarke said.
"But the boys will have learnt a lot from it and I think we have the majority of the same group again this season so we should be able to have a fair crack at it and go right into the point end of the season.
"When you come so close it's hard to let go and we came very close. With us adding a bit of experience this year, with a few older blokes returning and some kids stepping we should have what we need to go those last few steps."
Clarke said he loved coaching at the club and it was clear he had high expectations for the side this season.
"I enjoy the development side of things, especially with the younger guys and we have a handful of those in the reserves at the moment, so I am looking forward to working with them and down the track who knows, I won't say no to anything," he said.
"There's a few little things from 2019, our delivery going forward was a problem so we will be placing a fair emphasis on that and hopefully go that last step.
"This season we should be able to have a fair crack at it and go right into the point end of the season"
- Nick Clarke
"When it comes to coaching, it is always something I wanted to do and there is just that last box I want to tick, so I am enjoying it and looking forward to the season."
After experiencing the 2019 disappointment as a player , Adam Leslie was also determined to help use his experience to guide the side to greater heights.
"I have been here for four or five years now as a player and I just love the club, it is very family orientated and close to home so I wanted to be here," he said.
"I think it was about five years ago when I retired and I have been retiring every year since, but at the moment I am getting through preseason each year and after I eventually finish, that's what I want to do, I want to coach.
"People miss it and I missed it and with new clubrooms, and with the new faces at the club and the commitment we are gauging off all the players, I think it is going be a huge year.
"The players we have got and the players we have got back will make a huge difference to those particular areas where we let ourselves down down those finals and that will be a huge difference."
The Swifts have also confirmed their under-17 football coach with Josh Davis stepping up into the role to help develop the next generation of Swifts senior stars.
Davis has been with the Swifts for six years and was hoping to give back to the club through helping to coach the under-17 side.
"It's my first year so I am very excited," he said.
"I always liked having a leadership role within the club, I have captained in different teams before and I thought coaching a junior club would be a good step.
OTHER NEWS:
"We have a really good bunch, with a lot of respect, skill and a lot of potential, so hopefully I can help develop them into senior players.
"As a coach I'd love to play deep into finals and improve the junior players to their best ability and hopefully get them playing a few senior games and help improve their footy."
Davis said the side currently has around 20 players and encouraged anyone interested in joining to come down to their Monday and Wednesday night trainings at North Park from 4:30pm.
Finally, the under-14 side will be coached by premiership winning leader Corey Fox, who will be returning to the role in 2021 with Jayson Smith as his assistant.
2021 will be Fox's second year in the role and his fourth year involved with coaching the Swifts' youngest team.
After winning the premiership a season ago, Fox said many of those kids have moved to older age groups, but he was hopeful he could use his football experience to help develop the Swifts' next generation.
"We had a good year in 2019, we won the premiership and we have 3, maybe 4 kids from that team so it is a whole new bunch and a whole new team, but all the kids are good mates which really helps," he said.
"I just want to teach the basics and the skills firstly, but also to enjoy the game and I always say that if you try your hardest and if you get the skills right then the scoreboard will take care of itself.
"I love just seeing a kid who hasn't kicked a drop punt before and working with him and when he does, getting to see the big smile on his face that's pretty good.
"We are sitting about 14-15, we could do with a few more but we have a good bunch and they are training really well and enjoying it.
"We just want to be competitive each week and then if we can start improving and the skills go well then you can start aiming to make finals and go from there."
If you can see this message, you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Stawell Times-News, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and for allowing us to continue telling Stawell's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great town.