In a challenging 2021 season, Sydney Swans defender Colin O’Riordan takes plenty of confidence and excitement from the Swans campaign.
The season ended for Sydney following a one-point defeat to the GWS Giants in an Elimination Final, but O’Riordan says that the resilience shown will be what lingers with him during the off-season.
Forced to face life on the road for the second season in a row, the Swans improved on their five wins in 2020, to finish the year in sixth position with 15 wins following the regular home and away season.
In his fourth season with the club, O’Riordan featured in six games this season, including the Elimination Final, to bring his career tally to 29 games.
He also played a key role in the Swans young and developing VFL side.
“2021 was pretty challenging for a lot of people, no more so than our group as a whole,” O’Riordan said when reflecting on 2021.
“Leaving Sydney midway through the year, and probably only thinking we were gone for a few weeks, but having to leave for 11-12 weeks was a bit of a challenge. But the group handled it really well, and looking back on 2020, it was an improvement from last year so hopefully it is onwards and upwards for next year again.”
The side was faced with plenty of challenges off the field, and also on the field throughout the season, and O’Riordan is excited about the side ‘embracing the challenges’ they faced this season.
“What excites me most is the fact that we embrace the challenge every time something is put up against us,” O’Riordan said.
“That is probably the biggest thing we learnt from this year, that we are a very resilient bunch and whatever is thrown in front of us, we feel like we can conquer.
“It’s a matter of battening down the hatches now, getting back into work when the pre-season starts and getting back into it for next year.”
The last 12 months has seen plenty of action for O’Riordan.
The defender returned to Ireland in November of 2020 to play for Tipperary in the 2020 Munster Final, leading the side to a 0-17 to 0-14 victory over Cork for their first Munster title in 85 years.
Returning for pre-season training in early 2021, O’Riordan played 6 games in the AFL this season and was a real stand-out and leader in the side’s young VFL outfit.
O’Riordan played a key role this season, finishing runner-up in the VFL Player of the Year.
He knows his family, who he would have loved to see this off-season, would be proud of watching his journey unfold this year.
“I think it gives them [my family] a bit of a lift. Obviously the last two years, when they were in lockdown for a lot longer than we were, the matches on the weekend gave them a massive lift being able to watching the boys run out,” O’Riordan said.
“I am sure it gave mum, dad and my brothers a lift when they saw me running out as well so it was nice to be able to put that smile on their face during tough times.”
An exceptional person and teammate who is always caring of players and staff, O’Riordan’s character off-the field has been highly recognised by his teammates and the Club.
He was awarded the 2021 Barry Round Best Clubman Award this season with Ben Mathews having nothing but praise for O’Riordan.
“His last 12 months have been quite a journey. From hub life in 2020, to Ireland, to quarantine post-Christmas, back to Sydney and then hub life again in 2021,” Mathews said when presenting the award.
“The winner of this award is a great person and a great teammate. His great care for the club, his teammates and all staff is tremendous.”
His character and traits are something O’Riordan has great pride and belief in.
“I think it’s just the club, whether it’s staff members, players, supporters or whoever it is, you just have to enjoy what the club stands for and what it represents. That for me is the biggest thing,” O’Riordan said.
“I like to think I stand for something and I think this club just sums ups the belief of what I stand for as well.”
