In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', on great players from the past, this week he talks to Swans Hall of Fame inductee Steve Wright...
Steve Wright
Born: March 6, 1961
Played: 1979-92
Games: 246
Goals: 247
The football wheel has turned full circle for former Swans champion Steve Wright.
Recruited from Melbourne suburban club Oakleigh Districts, he is back with his original club as an assistant coach.
It has been an amazing journey for Wright as he has been involved in football at one level or another for almost his entire life.
After a stellar career with the Swans, he was captain-coach of Tasmanian club Clarence and then was non-playing coach of SANFL club Central District before being coach of the NSW/ACT Rams.
From there, he was an assistant coach of ACT club Queanbeyan and then senior coach of another ACT club, Weston Creek. He also coached VFL club North Ballarat, Victorian amateur club Old Caulfield Grammarians and then Melbourne suburban club Highett before returning to Oakleigh Districts.
Some CV! But, despite moving up and down the eastern seaboard, Wright has always maintained his love of the Swans, going to as many games as his other football duties allow and following their fortunes through thick and thin.
“I spent 14 seasons with the Swans, so they represent a large chunk of my life,” he said.”I had wonderful times and played with many great players.”
Although Wright played in sides included such luminaries as Gerard Healy, Greg Williams, David Murphy and Warwick Capper, he was as important to the team structure as any of them.
A hard-working rover who never shirked an issue and hit the packs with tremendous ferocity, he was a superb link player and also was extremely dangerous close to goal.
Yet, despite his many accolades (including club best and fairest awards in 1985 and 1990), he was shocked with his recent induction into the Swans’ Hall of Fame.
He even used the word “embarrassed” to describe how he felt when honoured with his listing among the club’s elite.
Wright explained: “I use the word ‘embarrassed’ because I never saw myself as a star player. Short (171cm) and light (73kg), I was more a battler than anything else. Besides, I didn’t have fantastic skills.”
Wright was selling himself short as he was what now is known as a ball magnet. He had plenty of pace early in his career and, even in his twilight years with the Swans was able to win the ball and scoot away from pursuers almost at will.
The cheeky red-headed rover represented both Victoria and New South Wales and, because of his ability to think through on-field situations, was always likely to turn to coaching.
Over the 1979-80 seasons played at South Melbourne, Wright played alongside taller brother Michael, who, after 40 games in the red and white, also moved to Central Districts.
Michael Wright had already moved to South Australia when the Swans relocated to Sydney for the start of the 1982 season, but the trauma of that move certainly took its toll on kid brother Steve.
Television cameras caught Steve crying outside the Lake Oval when he believed at one stage that his beloved club would fold.
Wright also had to overcome knee reconstruction surgery in 1984 and therefore never took his football career for granted.
Wright now works for Albury-based transport company Border Express, with another former Swan in Rod Coelli (three games in 1975) also on the payroll.
“Rod works in Albury so I don’t get to see him, but he is quite a character and it is good to know that there are Swans all over the place.”
The modest Stevie Wright might now be living, coaching and working in Melbourne, but his heart will always be with Sydney.
