It was Cooper Kelly's party and he had reason to cry.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Kelly was a very early casualty in the Swans' 48-point win over the Kangaroos at No.1 Oval on Saturday - a blow to the groin sending him to hospital.
And it was there that he remained for a number of hours, as the party to celebrate his 18th birthday started without him.
The party had been going a couple of hours by the time he arrived, said the teen's father, Swans coach Paul Kelly.
READ ALSO:
But if the youngster had felt like shedding a tear over what had transpired, it sounds like his spirits would have have been instantly lifted by what greeted him at the gathering.
For not only had the Swans men won a key match as they look to gain momentum ahead of the finals, but the Swans women won their first ever match.
In their debut season in the competition, they beat the Kangaroos 7.8-50 to 2.3-15.
The men watched the conclusion of the women's clash, before preparing for their game - which they won 16.12-108 to 9.6-60. It was their second victory of the season.
Kelly said a positive feeling was permeating throughout the club after years of struggle.
"Saturday night was really big," he said. "All the girls were at the party, too ... it was a real good feeling." He added: "The club's really going well at the moment - a big turnaround."
The Swans men remain in fourth place, while the fifth-placed Kangaroos are still searching for win No.1 this season.
