Simpson credits Davis, Riggio, Harding for Swans' resurgenceSaturday, June 28, 2014 - 10:01 AM - by Chris Pike

JUSTIN Simpson has stepped up as a leader in the back-line for Swan Districts this season, but credits the emergence of Ryan Davis and Matt Riggio, and the work of coach Greg Harding as the driving forces behind Swan Districts' stunning form so far in 2014.

Much of the focus on Swan Districts coming into the season was surrounding the departure of senior players Wayde Twomey, Brett Robinson, Kyle Hams, Shaun Hildebrandt and Tom Roach, but the result has been the remaining players pulling together and playing with huge passion and spirit.

That now sees Swans sit just percentage off top spot with 10 wins from 12 matches this season following last Saturday's remarkable comeback win over South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval with the black-and-whites to regain top spot with a win over Claremont at Steel Blue Oval this Saturday.

Simpson has been tremendous all season long in defence for Swans with the 26-year-old 129-game veteran noticing the difference in the passion that every player has for playing with Swan Districts this year.

"With the off-field stuff we have just said that all we can control is on the field, and we want to play for the footy club and play for our brand. If you aren’t here for that reason then we don’t want guys like that anymore. It's been an amazing turnaround in regards to that," Simpson said.

"All the boys are playing for each other and the feeling between the young guys and the older guys has had a big gap in the past, but we all get along so well now and we've done a lot of work on bridging that gap. That's really been down to 'Stiffy' as well. He has driven that and it has been a good turnaround."

Last Saturday, Swan Districts barely fired a shot for three and-a-half quarters against South Fremantle kicking just four goals up until midway through the last quarter.

However, best afield Kirk Ugle then kicked two quick goals, Matt Rogers and Matthew Jukes added one each and then heading towards the 30-minute mark Ryan Davis marked strongly and kicked the match-winner.

Obviously Simpson would have preferred to not have to come back from trailing by 32 points at three quarter-time, but knows it takes enormous spirit to be able to pull it off.

"It's an amazing feeling after that game. Even in the last quarter I didn’t see it coming. They are the sort of wins you can remember and fall back on later in the season if you are in a game and needing to come back," he said.

"We were terrible for three quarters and we know that, but every time we've been challenged this year bar the Subi game a couple of weeks ago, we've responded really well. Sometimes in a way it seems like we need to be set that challenge, which isn’t good for 'Stiffy' but we are finding ways to respond. The young guys are stepping up with the older guys leading the way."

Simpson did kick the first goal of the last quarter as he drifted forward but it took another 10 minutes before Swans' really got a sniff of a comeback when Ugle got the first of his two successive final term goals.

Then when Davis marked strongly and was going to kick from just on 50 with the game on line, Simpson and the rest of the Swans' team knew that the ball was in good hands.

"When I kicked mine I still didn’t think we were much of a chance, but by the time Kirk kicked his second the boys were really lifted and we thought we could win it from there," he said.

"He (Davis) is one of the first guys I would pick to take a shot for goal to win the game. He also kicked the winning goal against Perth this year and his nickname is 'Clutch' around the club and he loves it. His work rate was one of the reasons we got back into the game as well."

Davis has now played 106 games with Swan Districts and the 25-year-old is a premiership player from 2010, but up until this season he has enjoyed his larrikin status around the club.

However, Simpson has clearly noticed that he has stepped up his professionalism and leadership last season to now be one player setting a strong example for the young group along with his good mate Matt Riggio who has become Swans' on-ball leader this year too.

"His (Davis) leadership around the club compared to a couple of years ago has gone to another level and he is one of our leaders. He is a guy when we need something that he always finds something to have an influence on the game. He would be in the top two or three most influential players in the WAFL," he said.

"It's just their preparation and professionalism that has risen to another level. I think the blokes actually love the footy club now and we had a real focus with us older blokes who stayed that we are only here if we love the footy club.

"I don’t think those two would want to play footy anywhere else now and they love the club, and there is a good feeling now with them and the young kids. They are helping the young players too to go on the right path."

Simpson has now cemented himself as one of the best defenders in the competition despite being a centre half-forward in the 2010 premiership which including a match-winning five goals in the preliminary final win over East Perth that year.

However, he is proving a natural defender with his ability to read the ball coming in and taking intercepting marks, and then setting up play out of the back-line making him a standout performer in that role in the competition.

He is enjoying that role as well and especially likes the defensive unit he is part of alongside captain Tallan Ames and 97-game veteran Graham Jetta with support from youngsters like Brent Latch and Alex Howard with Ugle at their feet.

"I do feel like one of the older boys now and a leader. I actually do feel old even though I'm only 26 just being around such a young squad. I actually didn’t think I would end up playing this long in my career but playing with so many younger guys rejuvenated me and it's been good," Simpson said.

"It has been great playing the role that I have been this year and it's something that 'Stiffy' has been wanting to try for a while, but we haven’t had the big guys to allow me to do it. We've had Howard and Latch working away in the reserves and now they are coming good, it has freed me up a bit and that's been good.

"It's good helping the young kids down back and I'm not playing on the monsters as much this year so that has been good too. Kirk Ugle and Graham Jetta are two of my better mates along with Amesy and I just love playing down back with them. Then Alex Howard and Latchy have bright futures and I'm happy to help them out as much as I can.

"I think it's the perfect blend with three older guys and three younger guys. Especially Kirk Ugle is having a sensational year. He very rarely has a bad game and when he does get the ball, he uses it so well and this week again I thought he was best on ground. He turned the game with two goals when he went forward and he was unstoppable."