Improving the list: Shepparton Swans have looked to premiership winners from elsewhere to rejuvenate their side.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
Shepparton Swans are busy assembling faces old and new in their quest to climb back up the Goulburn Valley League.
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Season 2024 will feature a couple more new boys on the field, both of whom bring premiership-winning pedigree from around the traps.
First off the ranks is full-forward Matt Perry, who moves to country football out of the Eastern Football League.
Representing Waverley as captain for the past two seasons Perry skipped his Blues to premiership success in 2022.
Perry wasted no time getting down to business in his new colours, becoming involved in the Swans’ junior pre-season training immediately following his arrival.
At the weekend, the Swans announced a second acquisition used to success, but this time bearing a more local flavour.
Lancaster key defender Luke Davies joins Perry in the red and white, though he’ll line up at the opposite end.
Currently in the Northern Territory finishing up a summer football season with St Mary’s in the NTFL, Davies has shared back-to-back premiership campaigns with the Wombats in Kyabram District League.
Swans boss Jedd Wright is thrilled to bring winners into a side chasing the pack.
“We’re really happy with who we’re bringing into the football club,” Wright said.
“Last year, we lacked a bit of height and we’ve addressed that with our recruiting for this year.
“Matt’s a really successful full-forward and, of course, we’re looking for him to kick goals, but it’s also his leadership qualities.”
According to Wright, an extra factor that lured Perry from metropolitan football to the GVL was the “small grounds” in Melbourne, as opposed to the more expansive spaces offered at Princess Park.
New digs: Luke Davies (left), seen here in Lancaster colours during the 2022 finals, knows a thing or two about winning.
Photo by
Aydin Payne
“We’ve been nagging Luke to come over for a few years, but he’s been tied up with Lancaster,” Wright said.
“He’s been very successful there too and we think he’ll add a bit of versatility to our backline.”
Davies’ brother Tom played for the Swans during the mid-2010s, adding to the familiarity and pull Wright’s team had to bring him in.
Additionally the Swans have confirmed the recommitment of marquee defender Jamie Macmillan.
The ex-North Melbourne rebounder played 167 games across 11 seasons in the top flight and represented Katamatite in 2021 after exiting the AFL system.
Macmillan only added seven GVL outings to his tally in a 2023 campaign hampered by injury.
The Swans finished well off the pace on both fronts last season, with the netball contingent mustering a 6-12 record for eighth in the league, while the senior footballers fell to 4-14 and a ninth-placed finish.
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