Twomey Retires as Three Time WAFL Premiership Player

Popular Subiaco clubman Wayde Twomey has officially called time on a decorated playing career after 174 WAFL games, the past 76 games played with Subiaco after playing 98 games with Swan Districts.

 

After joining Subiaco ahead of the 2014 season, Twomey would go on to win premierships with the Lions in his first two seasons, playing key roles in both the 2014 and 2015 Grand Final victories.

 

This added to his 2010 premiership with Swan Districts making him one of the very select few triple premiership players in the WAFL competition.

Success followed Twomey throughout his 10 year career at both AFL and WAFL level. Every year he was at Carlton, Swan Districts and Subiaco, his team made the finals with Twomey winning three premierships and playing in six Grand Finals in nine WAFL seasons.  

 

After a promising junior career, Twomey was a member of the Western Jets in the TAC Cup in 2003 and 2004 before playing with Werribee in the VFL.

 

In 2008 Twomey made the decision to embark on a new football journey, one that was initially planned to see him play a year of footy in all of the major state leagues in Australia. However, Perth made an impact and Twomey instead decided to settle in Perth.

 

“At the time, I moved over with Brett Robinson and we did not know what to expect,” Twomey said.

 

“Robo and I went to Swan Districts who had an influx of recruits that year and everybody got on like a house on fire, I was living with great people and having a great amount of fun. We made a Grand Final in 2008 and Preliminary Final in 2009, so success makes everything a lot easier and we both were playing good football.

 

“During that time I met Nicole and she locked me down quick realising she hit the jackpot. She is clever like that,” Twomey said with a laugh.  

 

After three seasons of impressive play in the midfield and down back with Swan Districts, Twomey was recruited to the AFL, with Carlton offering him a Rookie List spot in 2011. Having first nominated for the draft in 2004, this was an opportunity seven years in the making and one that Twomey was keen to make the most of.

 

Twomey’s outstanding play in the WAFL translated to the VFL where he had a strong 2011 season playing for Carlton’s affiliate the Northern Bullants. His consistent form saw him win an upgrade to the senior list and he made his debut in round 17.

 

“The week before I debuted I actually walked into Justin Cordy, the high-performance coach’s office, and was about to tell him I can’t play this week cause my knee is buggered,” Twomey said.

 

“Justin said he had heard I was a good chance to play that week and I was stunned. When he asked me what I wanted to talk about I just said that I wanted to tell you I was fresh and good to go.”

 

“Later that day I got the phone call from the coach to say you’re in the team, I was having lunch with my Dad which was great timing because he had put so much into me playing football and it was nice to share that feeling and moment with him,” Twomey said.

 

That debut was one of the more memorable in AFL history, as Twomey debuted in front of 85,000 fans at the MCG in a top four battle between traditional rivals Carlton and Collingwood. Far from overawed, Twomey kicked a first quarter goal, collected nine possessions and laid four tackles in an impressive AFL debut match.

 

“Getting to the game before anyone was there and having a kick with the team was a great memory for me, sort of a calm before the storm, then when you run out with the crowd roaring, you can’t compare it to anything you have experienced, it was something else,” Twomey said.

 

A week later Twomey played in front of near 75,000 fans as Carlton defeated Essendon, ensuring that Twomey tasted victory in his short AFL stint with the Blues. A knee injury saw Twomey dropped out of the team the following week, and that injury cut short his season and ultimately his AFL career.

  

Twomey returned to Perth in 2012 playing another two seasons with Swan Districts. This included a memorable state game appearance in 2013 where Twomey kicked five goals and won the Simpson medal while spearheading the WAFL to an upset over the VFL.

 

Looking for a new football challenge, Twomey made the decision in 2014 to move to Subiaco. This was a bold choice at the time, as Twomey had played finals with Swan Districts in all five of his years with the club, while Subiaco had won just 6 games in 2013 and finished second last.

 

“It was a tough choice but I made the decision to move on from Swans because I was starting to get a bit stale and needed a change with my footy,” Twomey said.

 

“I spoke with Jarrad Schofield and he told me about all the recruits Subiaco had signed, explained his direction for the club and the club culture and it really appealed to me. There was a lot of 2008 Swans about it, new recruits coming in and adding a new angle with some great energy and it was a decision I was glad to have made.”

 

That bold decision paid immediate dividends for Subiaco and Twomey, as the Lions, buoyed by second year coach Jarrad Schofield rose to second after the home and away season. Given little chance in the 2014 Grand Final, Subiaco pulled off one the great Premiership wins with a stunning upset over East Perth.

 

“There were some amazing games in the 2014 Finals Series, I remember the prelim being a great game where we just pipped East Fremantle and I played a blinder,” Twomey said.

 

“The 2014 Grand Final was a special one, as anytime you win as an underdog it’s fantastic. Everyone played their part on that day, but there were a few boys who stood up huge and probably don’t get the accolades they deserve. Big Frank Stockley, Joel Latham tagging, Scott Worthington and Daniel Leishman down back and the Deluca boys with all their tackling, it was a great team effort and memorable day.”

 

A year later, Twomey made it two flags from two seasons with Subiaco, as the Lions swept to victory against West Perth following a dominant season where they lost just three games.

 

2016 and 2017 saw Subiaco win the minor premiership in both years, yet were beaten by Peel in each year’s Grand Final.

 

While Twomey finishes an outstanding football career with no regrets, he remains disappointed that his career did end with a Grand Final loss.

 

“It hurts to not go out on the winning side of things, but the time was right for me and I reckon the boys will bounce back better than ever,” Twomey said.  

 

As for the future, Twomey who is a qualified electrician, is enjoying a new challenge in his professional career and is looking forward to some overseas travel with wife Nicole.

 

As for his next football challenge, Twomey is still weighing up opportunities to play amateurs in 2018.

 

Twomey’s importance to Subiaco was evident at his final official club function, the 2017 Outridge Medal night, where he received the City of Subiaco Medallion as the best clubmen. It was a fitting end to a four year stint at Subiaco which saw Twomey win two premierships, play in Grand Finals every year and saw him make another group of lifelong mates.

 

“I was a little taken aback when I got the best clubman because we have so many legends down at the club and I didn’t really think I deserved it,” Twomey said.

 

“I think I was also in denial about retiring because you never want to walk away, but at some stage you have to. Jarrad was great for me, a really smart coach and someone who gets the most out of players to give them successful careers.”

 

In Twomey’s time at the club there were a number of people who had an impact and it is those friendships that he will treasure most.

 

“Everyone at Subi has been the best for the last four years, all very welcoming and loyal people,” Twomey said.

 

“Alby, Mick and the boys are always smiling and that is a nice way to start every training session. Wayne Orsi and I had a great connection and he was someone who I appreciated a lot. Wayne and Jarrad are as crazy as each other I reckon. Nigel Hamilton down back let me have a lot of input with the guys, which in hindsight maybe wasn’t wise seeing most my advice was give me the football. Todd Holmes was apparently the mastermind about my move to Subi, so a special thanks to Holmesy.”

 

Subiaco will be recognising the career and achievements of Twomey when Subiaco take on Swan Districts in round 3, at Leederville Oval on Saturday April 14th.