Swans push another powerhouse, slip from top six

BALLARAT co-coach Lisa Palmer says her side is fully aware of the challenge that remains to play BFNL netball finals in 2026, with their next three games going a long way to deciding their fate.

For the second week in a row, a young and fearless Swans pushed a top two team to the brink against North Ballarat at Alfredton Recreation Reserve last Saturday, but were left without any points to show for it.

While the final margin was nine goals against the unbeaten Roosters, the Swans, who worked their way back into the contest after trailing by eight goals at quarter time, were within two goals of the lead with just over four minutes to play.

While the cooler and more experienced heads of the Roosters prevailed, the Swans – coming off a winless season in 2025 – lost no admirers for their brave effort.

The obvious downside though was that a second straight loss to a premiership contender sent the Swans packing from the top six, as Bacchus Marsh regained a spot following a close-call against bottom side Melton.

After 10 rounds, Ballarat sits a win and a half behind fifth-placed Sebastopol and half a win behind the sixth-placed Cobras.

Those two teams just happen to be the Swans’ next two opponents, starting with Bacchus Marsh this Saturday.

A third crucial game will follow against Lake Wendouree, which moved back into third spot with a 32-goal win over Redan.

“We’re up there … we’ve shown we can be competitive against the strong sides,” Palmer said.

 

“The sad thing for us now is that we are competitive against the strong sides, but we are sitting seventh.

“We’d like to think we’re better than seventh, but that’s the reality.

“It gives you a bit of a pep in your step to play well against North Ballarat, Darley and Sunbury, but now we need to be back it up against other teams.

“That’s our challenge.”

Palmer could find only one, albeit slight, negative in the performance against the Roosters.

“It was disappointing to fall away at the end, but on the whole we were pretty happy with the girls and we are coming together nicely,” she said.

“Talking to the girls after the match, it was all positive. We were right in it until the last four or so minutes.

“It meant a lot to us that (North Ballarat coach) Maddie Fitzpatrick came over to tell us how impressed she was with us. It meant a lot.

“Even though were eight down at quarter time, we were confident we could match it with them, it was just about converting a couple of turnovers here and there and winning a quarter, which we were able to do.

“We were rapt to win the second and third quarters.

“But our starts seem to be our Achilles heel … letting teams get the jump on us.”

The Swans were without centre Xara Burge after sustaining a hand injury on Tuesday night while playing for Melbourne University Lightning.

 

They were however bolstered by the inclusions of Melton Centrals pair Imogen Sexton at goal attack and Manon Muir (goal defence/centre).

It was Sexton’s second game in red and white this season, after playing a big role in the Swans’ upset victory over Sunbury in round 8.

Muir, a member of the First Nations Black Swans team and co-captain of the Victorian 17-and-under team this year, teamed brilliantly deep in defence with Eliza Burge against North’s rotating cast of goalers, including Maddy Selmon, Poppy Douglass, Georgia Bodey and Maggie Smith.

While there has been plenty of moving parts within the Swans line-up through the first 11 games, Burge has been one of the constants, rock-like in defence and ever-consistent.

Goal shooter Dakota Blade was again a big threat, finish with 29 goals from just 31 attempts in the icy conditions, while Bree Lane was prominent in centre.

Palmer, in his first season at the helm alongside co-coach Jane Keating, paid full credit to a polished North Ballarat.

“They don’t have any weaknesses and that’s challenge for all teams,” she said.

“To be competitive against, you have to be competitive all over the court.

“Some teams are strong defensively, or in attack – they are everywhere.

“I thought we matched them for most of it, which is pleasing.”