In Jim Main's Swans Song series, this week he speaks to former Swans centreman Steve Hoffman about assuming roving duties from none other than Bob Skilton...

Steve Hoffman
Born: September 21, 1951
Played: 1969-78
Games: 149
Goals: 187

As a teenager, speedster Steve Hoffman believed that if he wanted to play at the elite level it would be with Carlton.

From southern New South Wales club Pyramid Hill, Hoffman was tied to the Blues through country zoning and, along with two other local youngsters, was invited to train at Princes Park.

However, Carlton coach Ron Barassi took one look at the pint-sized Hoffman and declared him too small to play in the VFL.

Big mistake! The VFL soon after made several zoning changes, with Hoffman becoming tied to South Melbourne.

Hoffman by then had switched to Bendigo Football League club Eaglehawk and impressed in a pre-season practice match against VFA (now VFL) premier Preston.

The Swans instantly were alerted to the fact that they had a ready-made centreman/rover and invited Hoffman to the Lake Oval the following day.

Hoffman recalled: “I just wanted to play League football and I was rapt that the Swans had taken note of me. I didn’t have to be convinced to sign for the Swans and, in fact, I rang my parents that day to tell them I had joined South.”

Hoffman was an instant hit with Swan fans because of his pace and ability to kick opportunist goals and, in fact, kicked 24 goals in his 12 games in his debut season of 1969.

He then played in South’s first finals match for 25 years, in the losing 1970 first semi-final against St Kilda.

“That was a fantastic experience,” he said. “I regard it as an honour to have played in the same side as Bob Skilton in his only finals match.

“I was a bit luckier as I also played a second finals match (in the 1977 elimination final loss to Richmond) and all Swans fans know that until the modern era club finals appearances were quite rare.”

Hoffman took over first rover duties following Skilton’s retirement at the end of the 1971 season and seemed destined to play out his career in the red and white - until he took an unexpected telephone call before the 1979 season.

He explained: “It was from Melbourne telling me it had permission to interview me. I was stunned, so I told them ‘I don’t think so’ and hung up.

“Then, a few minutes later, there was another call and it was Footscray telling me it also had permission to interview me. I contacted the Swans and they told me they had money pressures and they were releasing myself and Stewart Gull.”

The bitterly disappointed Hoffman therefore played 11 games with the Bulldogs in 1979 before pulling the pin on his VFL career.

He then spent three seasons with South Australian club Norwood before coaching VFA club Mordialloc and ending his career playing a few games with Mt Eliza, coached by his good South mate and former star winger Greg Lambert.

Hoffman now is secretary of the Past Players’ Association and gets to as many Swans games in Melbourne as possible.

“There are not too many of them, so I have to make the most of every opportunity as it is always great to catch up with former teammates and others who have given service to the Swans over the years.”

And Hoffman likes what he has seen of the Swans over recent seasons. “Gee they have some good young talent,” he enthused. “And I reckon that if we had not lost Craig Bolton and Daniel Bradshaw this year we might have been a real challenger.”

Hoffman, who also retains a soft spot for the Bulldogs, is the only Swan in his family as wife Carol, son Matthew and daughter Sarah follow the Bulldogs.

But, as he tells them by way of having the last laugh, if they had followed the Swans they would have seen their side win a premiership by now.