Home

Former West Coast Eagles midfielder Tom Swift opens up about career on the Hard Ball Gets podcast

Headshot of Chris Robinson
Chris RobinsonThe West Australian
CommentsComments
Tom Swift played 34 games for the Eagles.
Camera IconTom Swift played 34 games for the Eagles. Credit: The Slattery Media Group/The Slattery Media Group

Former West Coast midfielder Tom Swift has opened up about the challenges and impact of being “the absolute whipping boy” at times during his four-year Eagles career.

Swift played 34 games at AFL level between 2009 and 2012 before a premature retirement, initially to study medicine and then moving into the finance industry.

Speaking on The Hard Ball Gets podcast, Swift revealed it had been taxing to be the target of vitriol as a young man in the early stages of his career before learning how to handle it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

“I’m not naive to think that I didn’t absolutely cop it during my time,” he said.

The Game AFL 2024

“I was the absolute whipping boy for a few years there.

“At the time, it was extremely difficult to cop, because you’re just a kid putting your trade forward and trying to do the best you can.

“Through no fault of effort, you’re sort of being dragged from pillar to post by people you don’t even know.

MORE AFL:

“That took a couple of years to really comprehend and understand. But it’s one of those things that once you do understand where these people are coming from and why their emotions are why they are... it’s not necessarily directed at you as an individual, it’s more just their way of expressing their emotion and their passion towards the team.

“It was genuinely a positive for me that I got out of my time. I was able to flip it that way rather than getting too caught up and worrying too much about myself and the old classic what other people think about you.”

Tom Swift in 2010.
Camera IconTom Swift in 2010. Credit: SMG/The Slattery Media Group

Swift, who now works for Essendon as the club’s head of strategy and investments, said today’s players faced a tougher social media landscape - but said it simply needed to be handled in a smart manner.

“It’s an extremely powerful and valuable tool that you can use if you use it in the right way,” Swift said of social media.

“There’s genuine value in a lot of those platforms in terms of the utility you can get from them.

“It’s just there’s an addictive component to it as well. There’s some dark corners of the web that you don’t want to venture into.”

Swift also addressed how his relationship with John Worsfold led him to Essendon, his career recollections, the reasons for his decision to end his AFL stint early, and more.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails