Journey only starting: Swans happy with debut season progress

BALLARAT coach Dean Pidgeon believes the Swans’ first season in BFLW senior ranks is definitely heading in the right direction, despite a ‘reality check’ in their pre-Kings Birthday long weekend bye clash against Redan.

The Swans occupy fourth place on the ladder at 4-4 with seven rounds to play, a more than solid return for a team in its first season in the competition.

Placed two wins behind the top bracket of Bacchus Marsh (6-2), Darley (6-1) and Redan (6-2), but three wins ahead of next opponent Carisbrook in sixth, the Swans are on track to play finals in their debut season.

Admitting that a 45-point loss to Redan was a ‘learning curve’ for his young group, particularly after only one-point separated the teams in a Lions win earlier in the season, Pidgeon back to the Swans to respond positively.

“That was a bit of a reality check for us. We had a bye and a forfeit coming off the East Point win (on 9 May), which probably didn’t help matters, being our first game for three weeks,” he said.

“We certainly started like it was our first game in three weeks and things didn’t improve too much after that.

“Leading up to that, things were okay.

“We find ourselves at 4-4. Where do we sit in the pecking order? Probably right about where we are.

“We have got a bit of work to do to bridge the gap with the top sides and we are middle of the road.

“No one is unhappy. We are under no illusions that it’s a journey and this is just the start of it.

 

“We’re quite comfortable with where we are at and the fact there is still a bit of work to do excites us.”

Heading into winter, Pidgeon warned life would get that much tougher for his young and largely inexperienced teams against the battle-hardened and more experienced bodies in the Cobras, Devils and Lions teams.

“They are all formidable opponents, with an edge in game-sense,” he said.

“We are not quite there, as we found out against Redan, but that’s okay.

“We won’t shy away from the challenge. The girls are always looking to improve and are keen for a challenge.”

Among the many positives, the Swans have been able to give several of their promising under-19s exposure at senior level, through what Pidgeon described as a mix of ‘necessity’ and ‘earned chances’.

Against Redan, the club’s GWV Rebels players Macy Irvin and Sarah Burton both experienced senior BFLW football for the first time and acquitted themselves well.

Irvin booted the Swans’ lone goal and was their standout performer.

Several Swans players have distinguished themselves throughout the first nine rounds, among them Sunday Doddrell, who has appeared in the official best players four times in seven games, on-baller Tilly Ferguson, hard-working ruck Charley Gartlan and Yasmin O’Keeffe.

Chloe Everett, a member of last year’s BFLW under-19 team of the year, has enjoyed some standout moments and was particularly good early in the season as the Swans looked to find their feet.

Undoubtedly the Swans’ most consistent has been co-captain Shellby Lonie, who has set the tone in the absence of fellow leader Imogen O’Brien, who season is over due to a lingering knee injury.

 

“Imogen did her ACL in 2024 and missed all of 2025 and then was cherry ripe to go in 2026 after a strong pre-season, but had a setback where the ligament didn’t knit properly,” Pidgeon said.

“She played two games, but we won’t see her again this year.

“We really feel for her. She’s put a lot of work in, got herself really fit and is a real positive influence around the group on field that we’ll miss.”

The Swans should be strengthened late in the season by the return of speedster Zoe Burke (currently overseas) and key position player Eva Hocking.

This Sunday’s clash against Carisbrook looms as a golden opportunity for the Swans to not put some further space between themselves and the Redbacks in the battle for a finals berth, but to maintain the pressure on the three powerhouses above.

Pidgeon is anticipating a tough battle against a Redbacks team that has shown marked improvement this season and led East Point until midway through the third quarter in a gallant 16-point loss in round 9.

“The last time we played them, the score didn’t indicate what the contest was like; they have some really good players,” he said.

“We’ll need to start better than we did against Redan.”