Mitchell Swain is the rabbits foot of New England sport: where he goes premierships flow.
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It's no wonder the Bulldogs look as good as Scarlett Johansson to win this year's AFL North West title: Swain is back playing for them.
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After claiming the 2017 title with the Bulldogs, the centre-half forward followed mates to Manilla last year to be part of their rebirth after sitting out the previous season.
Manilla won the reserve-grade premiership - the sight of the lanky Swain streaking down the field on a long break a highlight of the Tigers' 22-18 grand final defeat of Kootingal-Moonbi.
He then segued to Old Boys and won back-to-back premierships, and a sixth title in seven seasons. Old Boys also won the one-day and the Twenty20 titles last season.
With the 2020 Group 4 season cancelled due to COVID-19, Swain, who turns 29 on Saturday, returned to the Bulldogs and became a cog in Doug Meagher's turbo-charged machine - the latest victims a depleted Moree at Wolseley Oval on Saturday: 39.31 (265) to 1.4 (10).
Swain was voted the home side's best player. While the Bulldogs' gun new signing, Victorian Jaydon Stiles, booted 12 goals. A number of Dogs played for Moree for the day.
Swain also led Gunnedah to the 2018-19 War Veterans Cup, ending a long title drought in the competition.
He considers himself very fortunate to have won so many premierships, and has an enhanced appreciation of them because he has experienced struggles at the Red Devils, the Bulldogs and Albion.
"I'm certainly enjoying these years at the moment, winning a few premierships ... A lot of people don't get the same opportunities that I've had.
"Again, to be playing with not only good cricketers but some good football players ... Yeah, I'm very lucky."
Swain is cognizant of his standing in the teams he plays for, and his off-season movements have been governed by what his good mates were playing.
"I'm not ever gonna be a superstar of any sport, so you may as well enjoy it while you're playing it," he said.
