What’s on at the Swans?

Bolton still wanted

THE SYDNEY Swans believe Jude Bolton will play on in 2013 but the club is still waiting for an official decision from the dual premiership player.

Bolton, 32, has been offered a spot on the list “if he wants it”, and has been given time to think about whether he wants to play into a 15th season.

Sydney CEO Andrew Ireland said on Monday morning the club, without yet hearing from Bolton, was confident none of their more experienced players would hang up their boots just yet.

“We’ve got a number of players who are over 30, none of them who we think will retire next year, but we are going to be a position in the next few years to have some more space in our cap as older players retire,” Ireland said, on day one of the Gillette AFL Trade Period at Etihad Stadium.

Swans who fit into that category include Bolton, Adam Goodes, Martin Mattner, Ryan O’Keefe and Rhyce Shaw, while Ted Richards and Lewis Roberts-Thomson turn 30 next year.

Johnson on the rise

In just two short years, young defender Alex Johnson has established himself as a key cog in the Swans defensive unit.

Add to his resume a premiership medallion and now the Sydney Swans 2012 Rising Star award, and the 20-year-old’s future is looking very bright in the Harbour City.

Johnson arrived at the Swans in 2011 after being picked up at a modest number 57 in the 2010 AFL Draft.

Upon his arrival, his size and athleticism lent him to both ends of the ground, but Johnson had little experience as a back man after spending the majority of his junior days up forward.

After a gruelling first pre-season with an AFL club, Johnson said he was offered an opportunity to test out his defensive talents in the early rounds of 2011.

“(I became a defender) last year when I got here,” Johnson told SwansTV.

“Throughout pre-season I was still asking Horse (coach John Longmire) ‘What do you think about whether I’m a forward or a back?’ and he (said) ‘We’re still not sure’.”

“I then got my opportunity down back against West Coast in round three last year and I’ve never looked back since – I’m a defender.”

After missing just two games since his debut in the 2011 season, Johnson backed up an impressive first year with a consistent 2012, in which Johnson played every game.

Johnson developed in a role as the club’s third tall defender, and has provided strong contested play within the Swans defensive arc this season.

Skilton honoured

Among the many memorable moments of the Swans 2012 Grand Final win, one moment captured on camera, stood out in the minds and hearts of many at the club.

As the 22 Swans players celebrated with the Premiership Cup atop the podium at the MCG on Grand Final day, one image captured three-time Brownlow Medallist and club legend Bob Skilton looking on just metres away, brimming with pride.

This photo was presented to the Skilton by co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Adam Goodes at last Friday’s Club Champion Dinner, where the Sydney Swans’ highest individual honour, the Bob Skilton Medal, is presented each year.

McVeigh, who was one of many Swans to become a premiership player for the first time this year, presented Skilton with the photo on behalf of the Swans playing group.

“To see Bob Skilton in the rooms after every Melbourne game win or loss, we all get a little bit nervous when he comes up to shake our hand,” McVeigh said in his presentation to Skilton.

“It’s a testament for what you’ve done for this footy club that tonight is named after you out of respect for what you’ve done for the club.

“Tonight we’re going present you with an award which was an amazing moment for us and it is an unbelievable photo we’d like to present to you.”

History unearthed

SYDNEY Swans fans whose thirst for glory is yet to be quenched can now take in the Swans’ first premiership triumph by watching Australian football’s oldest surviving moving picture.

The National Film and Sound Archive has released treasured footage from the 1909 VFL Grand Final between the then South Melbourne and Carlton before 37,759 at the MCG.

The film lasts for 10 minutes and features storied champions such as South Melbourne ruck pair Vic Belcher and Bert Franks and Carlton’s on-ball dynamos Alex ‘Bongo’ Lang and Rod ‘Wee’ McGregor.

The captains are Charlie Ricketts from South Melbourne and Fred ‘Pompey’ Elliott from Carlton, who later earned fame as a World War II hero.

To watch the video check out www.sydneyswans.com.au