IT’S NOT often that a trade provides immediate rewards for both club and the player, but that’s exactly what happened when Darren Jolly moved to the Sydney Swans.

After 48 games in four years at Melbourne, Jolly was desperate for greater opportunities after playing back-up to now-retired Demons ruckman Jeff White.

He was traded to the Swans for pick No.15 at the end of the 2004 season; and what followed was the stuff of boyhood dreams.

Jolly played 24 of a possible 26 games in 2005, racking up career-best stats as the Swans marched to a thrilling premiership win against West Coast.

“I always had the belief in myself that I could cut it as an AFL player and I suppose at Melbourne, my chances were limited. I really couldn’t get much of a go,” he said.

“To their credit, Melbourne were great in organising a move and I was lucky enough to come up here and have a red-hot go at it.

“To play in a grand final and win one in my first year was just… words can’t describe that.”

Recruited from North Ballarat in country Victoria, Jolly said the harbour city now felt like home for his young family, despite his family connections in Melbourne.

There was speculation at the end of 2007 that the ruckman would return to his home state, but that proved unfounded, and Jolly will make his 100th appearance for the club when he runs through the banner on Saturday afternoon to take on Carlton.

He has thoroughly enjoyed his time with the Swans, and said he would more than happy to remain in the red and white.

“The footy club’s been fantastic to me and my family. I’m only 27, so I’ve got three years to go on my contract. If the club want me, I’d be more than happy to stay, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said.

In a city where the sporting media spotlight is shared across four football codes, Jolly said it was easier to maintain a balanced lifestyle than it would be south of the border.

“It’s a huge difference. There’s a lot of people watching you in Melbourne and every move you make,” he said.

“To come up here and have the balance between footy and away from footy life is great,” he said.

“You can be a footballer on the weekend and through the week, you can go about training and go about your own life without the scrutiny on you. We’ve been quite fortunate up here with the way it is and I think it’s great.”

Jolly’s form early in 2009 reflects the mindset of a player enjoying his football and he said that remained his key motivation.

“I’ve worked hard through the week and over the pre-season to get as fit as I can. I enjoy running out there playing footy and I think that’s the biggest thing for me, to enjoy it,” he said.

The Swans have recruited ruck talent from unorthodox sources in recent years - neither Canadian rugby player Mike Pyke or athletic Queenslander Jake Orreal had ever been registered as Australian football players before gaining contracts.

But Jolly said that was no reflection on the relative importance of the position in the modern game.

“Everyone’s got a different opinion on different positions on the ground, but I think you’ve only got to look at Sandilands and Cox and how important they are to their teams,” he said.

“It’s a really good challenge to be the senior ruckman in the side.

“I’ve got a couple of young kids under me, so it’s a fantastic challenge for me to teach them everything I’ve learned over the years and I’m relishing it each week.”