Stan Swan might be one of the smallest men when he runs onto a Group 4 rugby league ground but he casts a large and determined shadow.
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On and off the field.
He polled 15 points throughout the aborted 2021 season to pip Werris Creek co-coach Cody Tickle by a point with Kootingal's Ryley Mackay and North Tamworth prop Tim Woolaston another two points adrift in equal third.
Boars club president Todd Mitchell was rapt for Swan and said the hooker "leads by example".
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Not only is he good for the team but for the community as well, Mitchell reckoned.
"He's a hard worker, on and off the field," Mitchell told G4 Media.
"He does a lot of great work in the community."
Swan is humble about that.
In the footy season he goes to work at the Moree Plains Shire Council (where he has worked the past nine years) then goes to training.
In the off-season he often does charity work for a local mental health group while also doing a bit of gym work.
Before this just completed season he "put in a lot of hard yards" in the gym and on the training track to be ready for the 2021 season.
He was, and showed it by his form and the B&F points he garnered but he is even more determined to make 2022 even better.
"I'll go back to the gym and build up a bit," Swan said.
"Put in the hard yards again."
Not just for his own fitness but also helping the local mental health group.
He sees good times ahead too.
"We had a good year under Ben (Williams)," he said of rookie coach Ben Williams.
"He's only young but he did a good job. We were in the top four for most of the season.
"And we have some talented young blokes too. Alex Lawrence is only 18 and was outstanding for us.
"Joe Wade is a very strong player too," he said of the talented centre.
"Then we had experienced players like Brenton (Cochrane), Mick (Watton) and Marshall (Barker)."
He believes the Boars can only improve.
They finished fourth on the ladder behind Narrabri, Kootingal and North Tamworth with seven wins and were readying to play in the semi-finals when COVID struck a deciding blow.
WEG GROUP 4 FIRST GRADE MEN'S BEST & FAIREST AWARD
15: Stan Swan (Moree).
14: Cody Tickle (Werris Creek).
12: Ryley Mackay (Kootingal), Tom Woolaston (North Tamworth).
11: Dennis Gordon, Sam Saddler (Narrabri).
8: Harlee Millgate (WC), Jake Rumsby (Narr), Nic Millar (Boggabri).
7: Bailey Taylor (North Tamworth), Cody Byrne (Dungowan).
6: Isaiah Adams (Bogg), Kurt Hartmann, Ben Williams (Koot), Shaun Ferguson, Brett Jarrett (Dun), Jackson Brookman (Gunnedah).
5: Jacob Nichols (Narr), Brent McDonald, Hayden Wiblen, Ben Williams (Mor), Matt Gillham (Bogg), Aiden Davis, Zak Turnbull (Gunn).
4: Matt Avendano (Bogg), Nathan McGuire (Dun), Daniel Kelly, Ryan Ingram (NT), Reece Jaeger (Gunn), Kaylan Murray (Bogg), Jordan Sharpe (Koot).
3: Kyle Cochrane, Sam Taylor, Chris Vidler, Nic Zahra (Koot), Toby Howarth, Daniel Jobson, Todd Nichols (Narr), Josh Schmiedel, Livianai Tuicakau (North Tamworth), Marcus Doran (WC), Alex Lawrence (Mor).
2: Isaah Millgate, Zac Leonard, Charlie Parsons (Werris Creek), Lincon Smith, Nick White (Gunnedah), Mitch Sheridan, Mark Simon (NT), Liam Hatch, Josh Kevill (Koot), Kieren Croft (Dun), Jarvis Watton (Mor).
1: Nic Altmann, Aaron Donnelly, KC Edmonds, Ben Gardner, Dylan Lake (Gunn), Scott Blanch, James Cooper, Jeremy York (NT), Eden Blewitt, Bailey Lennox, Jay Urquhart (Bogg), Clay Frendin, Liam Mack (Dun), Bryce Daniels (WC), Michael Watton, Brett Wright (Mor), Mark Patterson (Narr).
