Clinton Wells a Swans Legend
By Josh Barnes
As South Barwon’s longest serving and most decorated player, Clinton Wells deserves every accolade he receives as he hangs up his boots, but it’s the people off the field who he says deserves praise.
Clinton Wells sits in front of the trophy cabinet at South Barwon after another training session. His steak sandwich is rapidly going cold, yet he doesn’t stop to eat because he has too many people to thank.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the South Barwon footy club,” Wells says, as he looks around the room.
“A lot of great people allow us to go out there and play the game every week and I’ll be forever thankful for the work that they do.”
It would be easy for a player to think only of themselves as they near the end of their career. Yet Wells goes out of his way to thank those who have been with him on his journey, a journey that has included eight premierships, 325 games and more than 650 goals.
“Obviously I love this club and it takes many good people to run a footy club and I think this footy club has always had great people,” Wells says, with the trophy cabinet glowing behind him.
“It’s all well and good getting all these pats on the back and the accolades for my career, but it all comes down to the people and the support and the volunteers and everyone who has had some sort of involvement over the years.”
The aforementioned cabinet was almost bare when Wells played his first senior game in 1998. The Swans were struggling on the field as well as off it, yet a strong core was developing that would carry them into a golden age.
Wells was at the forefront of that golden era, and even as he sits amongst the crowd he remains a presence, as his deep voice carries across the room.
With a persistent knee injury forcing him towards retirement, Wells reminisces fondly over a period where his side went from strength to strength at the turn of the century, in no small part due to his strong presence leading out of the forward line.
“A lot of the players I grew up playing with in my earlier days set that scene (for success) when the club was potentially on their knees,” Wells says.
“They came back to the club or continued playing at the club (even though) they had big offers to go elsewhere. That loyalty eventually shone though.”
It shone through in a big way for the South Barwon Football Club, winning a maiden flag in 2001 before winning seven more in nine years from 2005.
It was a golden era that can only be matched in the GFL by the dominant performances of North Shore in the decades before.
Wells was a presence in every win, with his outstretched hands as reliable as taxes and leading to many goals for the number 18. It was a great time to play football, with the culture around the club pushing each player to greater heights.
“It was great, a lot of fun. A lot of hard work but we were all on the same page. We knew what it would take. That hunger to win never went away, I think it was because we were addicted to it,” Wells says.
“We just wanted to do whatever it took and that’s why we had a great culture at the footy club and we were successful.”
With that era closing and its most recognisable player calling it a day, the Swans have jumped into a rebuild. There are so many fresh faces that Wells jokes that a few of them “were barely even born when I first started playing”.
Wells is buoyant about the chances of his club returning to the top of the ladder soon, so they can enjoy the success he has enjoyed.
“I think the future is looking really good for the club,” Wells says.
“You don’t need many recruits, maybe just one or two but mainly just keep blooding these kids. I’m positive they’re going to be a great footy team in a few years’ time.”
While Wells’ knee injury is bringing an end to his career, he still loves playing football and wants to be involved with the club in the future, but he is looking forward to enjoying more time with his family.
“I don’t know whether my wife will get sick of me being home too much,” Wells chuckles.
“I’ll still be involved in some capacity so hopefully that can fill in my time and hopefully (I can) spend more time with the family.”
At the very least Wells will be a presence around the club, with his son set to join the AusKick program in upcoming years.
With his dinner positively cold and all the interview questions answered, Wells goes out of his way to thank more people.
“Around the footy club you can’t thank one person in particular because there’s too many,” Wells says.
“To my family as well for their support over their years. To Mum and Dad and my sisters and their husbands… my wife has been phenomenal with footy over the years… she’s always supported me.”
For an eight-time premiership player to ignore his dinner so he can thank those who have helped him speaks highly enough of Wells’ character. It is no wonder South Barwon experienced so much success with the number 18 leading the way.
When asked if he has any regrets from his career Wells pauses and considers the question.
“I’ve given this game pretty much everything I have and I don’t think I have any regrets,” he says with a smile coming across his face.
The South Barwon Football and Netball Club invites all past players, team mates and friends of Clinton Wells to help celebrate his career in the clubrooms at McDonald Reserve following his final game on August 29 at Kardinia Park against St Marys.
Last Modified on 19/08/2015 12:45