In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', on great players from the past, this week he talks to John Heriot...
Born: January 6, 1940
Played: 1958-68
Games: 153
Goals: 39

Swans Team of the Century full-back John Heriot vows he would “do anything” for the club.

“I love following the Swans and I am extremely proud of having played for the club,” he said last Sunday at half-time during the Round One MCG match against Melbourne.

The 70-year-old Heriot has been president of the Swans’ Past Players and Officials Association since 1999 and has seen it develop into one of the strongest bodies of its type in the AFL.

“From very humble beginnings, we have grown to 180 members and have many functions,” Heriot said.

Until Heriot’s involvement, the Swans had only a rump of past player support, with a loosely-organised body involving less than 20 members, mainly from the 1940s and ‘50s.

Heriot explained: “I took a call from (then Swan CEO) Kelvin Templeton in 1999 asking if I would have a coffee with him to seek my involvement in a delicate matter.

“The Swans wanted their past players to be more involved with the club and felt that the existing body should be revamped and expanded.

“I agreed with him and took up the task of meeting with the old group and telling it of our plans. I didn’t want to walk in and tell them we were taking over or anything like that and, instead, arranged to meet members of the old group to discuss matters.

“We organised a meeting in Middle Park and I went along with another former player in Bob Giles (67 games from 1949-55 until business commitments temporarily saw him move to the United States) and we held very productive talks.

“A couple of the old group were anti-Sydney, but soon realised that the club’s relocation was not all doom and gloom and that we could all pull together for the Swans’ benefit. And that’s how we started afresh.

“But I get a lot of help from a lot of people and, in particular, Tony Morwood, who combines working with the association with his duties as the club’s Melbourne manager. Tony is a tower of strength and helps enormously.”

Heriot himself is as tireless in his work for the Swans as he was on the last line of defence during his playing career. Recruited from Spotswood, he barracked for Footscray as a boy, but was residentially tied to the Swans and made his senior debut in a match against Melbourne in 1958 - on a half-forward flank.

He was shifted to full-back six games later to allow Brownlow Medal winner Fred Goldsmith to play close to goal. The move unearthed yet another champion Swans full-back.

Regarded as the best full-back of his era and a regular Victorian representative, Heriot also could successfully hold down a key forward position when the Swans needed a goal boost.

South lost Heriot’s services when he was just 28 years of age as he was appointed captain-coach of VFA club Yarraville. “The money was too good to knock back as I had a wife (Val) and five children to support,” he said.

Heriot coached the South Melbourne Under 19s from 1975-78 and has been a regular at Swans matches ever since.

He ran a seafood business for many years, but retired when he turned 70 last January. “I want to spend more time with my family - and with the Swans,” he winked.