After all, it takes a patient first lady to allow a devotee like Manley to dedicate so much of his time to the football club loves.

Manley has stepped down from his post as president after 12 years at the helm of  the red and white, in what can only be described as a colourful period as the head Swan.

His resignation at Wednesday night’s annual general meeting comes with a sense of relief.

After all, Manley is the first to admit he has been searching for a successor for a few years.

“It should be Denise, my wife, who gets the reward, she has had to put up with it the whole time,” he said.

“But at the same time, our whole family has come through the club and that’s where we’ve all made so many friends.”

He will be replaced by property developer Darren Fisher who, like Manley, has played a key role in the development of the juniors at the club.

“I’ve been asking people for several years to take over now because I believe that change and fresh ideas are crucial for a club,” Manley said.

“Darren is a great operator and I know he will do a great job.”

One of the more outspoken presidents in the Ballarat Football League in his time, Manley has never been afraid to have his feelings known on behalf of the Swans.

He was never short of a word in the days when North Ballarat City was pushing to enter the BFL; one of the strongest advocates campaigning against North’s place in the league.

Although he never got his wish, Manley said he would take the same approach if he had his time again, even if he is not quite as vocal on the subject nowadays.

“When you see things that are happening and it is impacting your club and you can see it is going to hurt your club, you have to stand up and make a bit of noise,” he said. “When you are representing so many people from your club, then you have a duty to speak for them.”

For those who have been around the BFL in the modern era, it is hard to imagine Ballarat without Manley as president.

In fact, he is the third-longest serving president in the club’s history, behind Matt Glover (1948-1968) and Thomas Bath (1878-1879, 1881-1896).

However, there was a time when his presidency looked over, well before it even began.

“I’d been president at South Warrnambool for five years before moving to Ballarat and I swore I would never be a football club president again,” Manley said.

“But once the kids started playing I just wanted to be involved and make the club as successful as possible for them to enjoy.”

To put it simply, the Manley children had Ballarat Swans blood pumping through their veins from the outset, be it on the football ground or the netball court.

Jed, Isaac and Nick Manley all pulled on the boots for the red and white, while daughter Holly continues to play netball at Alfredton Oval.

Jed is still heavily involved at Alfredton Oval, acting as runner for the senior team and also co-ordinating much of the club’s video footage.

There are now five grandchildren to add to the family and although none is old enough to pull on the Ballarat colours, one gets the feeling the Manley name will appear in BFL record books again in the years to come. 

“To have the whole family involved is special and what makes all footy clubs, not just Ballarat, so great,” Manley said.

Looking back on the extended stint as chief, Manley unquestionably puts the 2008 premiership (when current coach Ash Baker kicked the match winning goal after the siren) as the best moment in his time.

However, the premiership triumph has its fair share of challengers as key highlights.

“Getting John Northey as coach absolutely changed the club. He completely changed the culture and the professionalism,” Manley said.

“Opening the function centre about 10 years ago was also huge for us.

“There were times after games where presentations were over and we would have half a dozen people left almost straight away, it was impacting big time.

“It has made a huge difference, bringing in a strong social scene 

to a club makes so much difference on the field (Ballarat has made finals the last nine years in a row).

“Obviously you need good players but I think a lot of our success at Ballarat stems from what I call a premiership off-field team. I’ve always had that around me and that makes more of a difference than a lot of people think.”

Although Manley has hung up his president’s cap, he will certainly have a presence at Alfredton Oval.

He is still the head of the Alfredton Sport and Community Hub, which houses the football club and Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowls Club.

But now he can finally look forward to Ballarat match day while enjoying a beer.

“Denise said I can just sit in the car now with a thermos and a mug and watch. I don’t know if I can see that happening though.”

patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au