In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', this week he talks to former Swans forward, Craig Braddy...

Craig Braddy
Born: April 12, 1959
Played: 1982-85
Games: 56
Goals: 83

It is incredible that former Swan Craig Braddy played even one game of football - at any level - let alone top the club goalkicking with 48 goals in 1983.

Braddy played his entire career missing two fingers on his left hand and had just one kidney.

Braddy, a superb aerialist who alternated between the top key forward positions, explained: “I lost the ring and forefinger on my left hand when I was 18 months of age.

“My mother had turned off a bar radiator when she left me in a room with my brother but, when she left, my brother turned it back on and apparently I was attracted to it.

“I grabbed the red-hot bar and was severely burned. Gangrene set in and I had to have two fingers amputated.

“As for having just one kidney, I was born with this condition, but did not know about it until I was bowled over in a match late in my career and taken to hospital.

“I have no doubt my mother would have banned me from playing football at all if she knew of my condition.”

Braddy played junior football with the Olympic Youth Club in the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston and was tied residentially to Fitzroy.

He worked his way through the ranks to play eight games with the Lions over the 1980-81 seasons but, despite his undoubted potential, was seen as surplus to requirements.

“I had offers from Hawthorn, Collingwood and the Swans,” Braddy recalled.

“Hawthorn seemed a good option, but coach Allan Jeans told me he saw me more as a forward pocket than as a key position player.

“On the other hand, the move to the Swans sounded exciting as they played their first home games in Sydney in 1982 and moved there entirely the next season.

“They were interesting times and although I would not have missed it for all the world, it was pretty tough being a Swan in those early years in Sydney.

“We trained at parks all around Sydney and I remember the club using trees at Centennial Park as goal-posts. We also pumped up our own balls before training.”

Braddy established himself as one of the Swans’ best key forwards for many years but decided before the 1985 season to move to South Australia to play with Central District.

He represented SA in his four years with Centrals before moving back to Victoria to be assistant coach to former Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood rover Tony Elshaug with VFA club Dandenong.

Braddy then coached Eastern District Football League club Mitcham and was so outspoken about the running of the competition that he was offered the job of being CEO of the EFL.

“I spent 11 years with the league and saw it grow enormously,” he said. “This was very fulfilling, but I then sought new challenges.”

Braddy now runs his own thriving hospitality and gaming business, including an involvement with the Melbourne Football Club, while also running a farm at Tooberac in the Victorian countryside.

However, he remains dedicated to the Swans and follows their fortunes with a passion.

“I went to Sydney for the 30th anniversary of the move from South Melbourne to Sydney and caught up with a lot of old teammates at the function at Darren McAsey’s pub. I had a great time and it was terrific to catch up with former players like Arthur Chilcott and others.”

Braddy won a 30th anniversary Swans’ guernsey, complete with player signatures, at the function and is hoping the red and white can land the premiership to send its value soaring.

“It might be a little bit of gold,” he joked. “But it would be fantastic to see the Swans win the flag anyway.”