In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', this week he talks to former Swans back pocket, Brian Woodman...
Brian Woodman
Born: October 10, 1950
Played: 1972-80
Games: 104
Goals: 46
Although Brian Woodman played 104 games with the Swans, he was desperately unlucky not to have played many more as he had a belated start to his senior career.
Woodman started his football career in the Under 17s with VFA club Springvale (now VFL club Casey Scorpions) and, after two years, graduated to the senior side in 1969.
He played the first five games of the 1969 season in the reserves, but then was so impressive in the senior ranks that he won the club best and fairest.
Woodman recalled: “I was just 17 at the time, but thought I would like to have a crack in the VFL. I knew I was tied residentially to South Melbourne but, when no one from the Swans contacted me, I rang to invite myself to training.
“It took a while for me to convince them to give me a run and, even then, I played in Under 19s practice matches. Then, when the list was posted on the club noticeboard, my name was not there.
“I therefore took myself back to Springvale but, halfway through the season, the Swans realised they did not have enough players and an assistant coach (Brian Leahy) tracked me down to my workplace and asked me if I would play in the reserves the following Saturday against Essendon at Waverley.
“I played nine games in the reserves and thought that if I prepared myself properly I would have a chance to getting a senior game the following season.
“Unfortunately, however, my name got called up in the National Service raffle and I spent two years in the army. I finished ‘nasho’ in 1972 and rang the Swans from the Broadmeadows army camp saying I would like to play in the reserves.
“From there I played five senior games, making my debut against Hawthorn, on David Parkin.”
Although Woodman started his senior career on a wing, he was moved to a back pocket when former star Swan centre half-forward Graeme John was appointed coach in 1973 and made the position his own.
In fact, Woodman was so impressive on the last line of defence that he was considered unlucky not have won Victorian honours.
Then, when triple Brownlow Medal winner Ian Stewart was appointed Swan coach in 1979, he moved Woodman onto the ball, again with impressive results.
Woodman was one of the Swans’ most reliable players over his seven senior seasons with the Swans, but eventually found it difficult to combine playing duties with family responsibilities and a promotion to sales manager with a major food company.
He therefore pulled the plug on his playing at the end of 1977, only to see him play one more game the following season in most unusual circumstances.
Woodman had been appointed captain-coach of the reserves for 1978 but was asked to play in the opening round match against Essendon because the Swans did not want to push star recruit Bernie Evans into the deep end on debut.
Woodman therefore played the first half, with Evans taking the field for the second half. It was Woodman’s last senior game and, at season’s end, he joined VFA Dandenong.
The 1980 season saw him return to his Springvale roots and he has been with the Scorpions ever since, a tribute to his remarkable loyalty.
Woodman was captain in 1980-01 when the club played in the old Federal League and played in the club’s inaugural VFA season of 1982. He played in the Scorpions’ Division Two premiership side of 1983 and retired halfway through the following season because of recurring knee problems.
He since has served the Scorpions as a director, as juniors coach for five seasons and, from 1996, as general manager - a super record of more than 40 years’ service with just two clubs.
Woodman, despite his Scorpion duties, is a proud past Swan and loves to catch up with former teammates, including Greg Millera and Greg Lambert.
His four grown-up children - Justin, Elise, Kynan and Ainslee - also follow the Swans, but wife Lynette was a Cat when she met Woodman and remains loyal to Geelong.
It seems loyalty is a huge Woodman trait.
