Every Saturday the side comprising 12 and 13-year olds fronted up to square off with rivals two years their senior.

It’s fitting therefore that coach Jason Gray dedicated an award to his plucky young team last Wednesday.

Gray was declared AFL Canberra’s Junior Volunteer of the Year, a move that attracted widespread support.

His budding footballers conceded 892 points in 12 matches this season – hardly surprising given their physical and mental disadvantage.

In four of their 12 games, they failed to kick a goal.

Even so, the Swans competed enthusiastically throughout and are well positioned to field a reasonable side in 2014.

Much of that turnaround is attributable to Gray, who takes the team through its paces twice a week at Carr Confoy Park and maintains a working level of enthusiasm despite the hidings.

“They’re all very positive,” he said.

“They turned up week after week and kept working hard.

Every team has commented to me on how they keep fighting until the end.

“We improved a lot during the year.”

The scoreboard backs Gray’s claim.

Goulburn kicked a seasonhigh score of 44 points against Ainslie at Kenmore Oval on August 17, their last match of the year.

The Junior Swans’ resilience is crucial to the game’s progress in Goulburn – a city fonder of alternative football codes.

The club’s senior team scored the AFL Canberra Division Three minor premiership and fell one match shy of a grand final place.

Twenty-six juniors took part in the AusKick program this year.

Across the board, the game’s faring well.

“It’s all starting to slot into place,” Gray continued.

“We’ve had a tough year, but next year will be better. And so will the one after that.”

A bit of encouragement goes a long way, even for a coach who’s spent much of his life involved with the game.

Gray was taken aback by last Wednesday’s accolade.

“It’s a really big honour, very humbling,” he said.

“I do it for the kids. We didn’t win one game this year – our last match was the closest. But they kept working hard. They amaze me.”