Good early signs for Swans

BALLARAT coach Ash Baker believes the Swans still have plenty of upside despite their ultra-encouraging start to the 2025 BFNL season.

The young Swans set up an intriguing round four clash against Sunbury by notching up their second win of the season with a hard-fought 38-point victory over Lake Wendouree in a rain-marred Anzac Day clash at C.E. Brown Reserve last Friday.

They are unbeaten after three rounds, with wins over Lake Wendouree and Sebastopol coming on the back of a thrilling draw against North Ballarat in round one.

The Swans set up the win with an impressive four-goals-to-nil second quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a 28-point lead as they held the Lakers scoreless.

Despite Lake Wendouree mounting a strong challenge early in the third quarter, Ballarat held firm to quickly get the match back on its terms.

Baker, who is back at the helm at Ballarat following a previous four-year stint from 2013-16, praised his side’s pressure and intensity in the wet conditions.

“It was more a game of territory, but the boys really did well,” he said.

“There were a fair few stoppages throughout the course of the game, and we just tried to be as organised as possible around the stoppages and keep moving forward.

“While I thought we were good in the first quarter, we were really good after quarter-time.

“We really hit our straps in that second quarter and put a bit of a margin on the board at half-time, which was always going to be hard to peg back in those conditions.”

The Swans got great contributions in and around the ball from Lewis and Zac Rinaldi, Harry Butler and Fraser Perkins, while Bailey Fraser was the standout in defence.

Baker said there were still plenty of things for the Swans to work on, in particular their work at the fall of the ball.

They will be bolstered by the return of recruit Biggie Nyuon for this Saturday’s clash against Sunbury, after he missed the win over Lake Wendouree due to a previous engagement. Baker said the former Richmond and North Melbourne AFL player would likely have revelled in the soggy conditions against the Lakers.

The Swans will sweat on the fitness of Jack Harwood, who struggled with hamstring tightness and cramping late in the game.

At 2-1 following a big win over North Ballarat last Saturday, Sunbury looms as a stern test for the Swans.

The Lions will be coming off a 34-point win over North Ballarat, highlighted by a best-on-ground performance from Jake Egan (three goals), and a suffocating defensive effort that rendered the Roosters goalless in the first half.

While they will embrace the challenge, Baker insists the Swans’ best is still yet to come.

“It’s been a good start, but hopefully we can keep rolling through and take the opposition each week as they come,” he said.

“We’re ticking along all right, but it’s a funny game football – things can change in a heartbeat.

“We’ll keep moving forward and see where it leads.”

Baker strongly endorsed the concept of an Anzac Day clash and said the club had fully embraced the spirit of the day.

“A number of us got to the 8am service at the Arch of Victory in Alfredton, not far from our ground,” he said.

“We started the day there and tried to take in everything the day had to offer.

“It’s a great concept.”

In other round four games, Redan (0-3) hosts Sebastopol (0-3) at City Oval; Lake Wendouree will look to rebound against Darley (2-1); and undefeated Melton (3-0) clashes with North Ballarat (0-2-1) at MacPherson Park.

Round three results:

Lake Wendouree 6.7 (43) lost to Ballarat 11.15 (81); East Point 16.9 (105) defeated Redan 8.13 (61); Bacchus Marsh 10.8 (68) lost to Darley 15.7 (97); Sebastopol 10.8 (68) lost to Melton 11.18 (84); Sunbury 14.9 (93) defeated North Ballarat 6.9 (45).