The Swans are marching into September.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton Swans have locked in their place for Goulburn Valley League finals action for the first time in nearly a decade, but the year continues to reach new lows for Tatura.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Bulldogs were sent back to the kennel with their tail between their legs after being held to a season-lowest score of 1.2 (8) as a wet July afternoon set the tempo for football action across the competition.
The Swans came in with a plan to establish a dominant forward half presence and did exactly that in the first quarter.
While the Swans were largely unrewarded on the scoreboard, their control of territory saw them score three goals from nine scoring shots, but critically held the Bulldogs scoreless.
“For us it was just locking the ball in the forward line until we got a scoring opportunity,” Shepparton Swans coach Jedd Wright said of his side’s approach in the wet.
The Bulldogs bit back defensively in the second term, restricting the Swans to nine further points, yet Tatura still struggled to find any attacking rhythm of its own, notching a behind in the first half.
The Swans emerged from the change rooms with a new found vibrancy despite the glum day and suddenly shots on goal were converting through the big sticks.
Compounding the defensive breakdown for the Dogs was the fact that yet again they failed to find enough opportunity inside 50 and as Tatura entered the three-quarter time huddle its score still stood with a singular point.
Reward at last came for the trying Bulldogs, as Thomas Corso bobbed up to break the goalless drought a few minutes into the final term.
However, the Swans continued to rise as James Auld and Nathan Rachele tallied late goals to push the final margin out to 89 points.
“We were really happy with our defensive efforts,” Wright said.
“I thought our back six or seven did a really great job without Zac Clohesy.
“By halfway through the second quarter their goal was not to concede a goal and they came pretty close to that.”
An “even contribution” across the board, Wright lauded a young Swans outfit with two debutants, Jake Cirillo and Kade Thomas, for its maturity in the conditions.
With finals a certainty for the first time since 2016, the Swans have lapped up the drought-breaking success, but will quickly turn their attention to a huge top-six clash against Rochester this weekend, aiming to not be the side that limps into September.
“It’s really exciting (that we’re playing finals footy), but we don’t just want to roll in and finish sixth,” Wright said.
“It’s a wide open competition this year and if you play your best footy on the right day anyone can beat anyone.”
10°C