Swans reap rewards with drought-breaking win

BALLARAT co-coach Lisa Palmer hopes last Saturday’s drought-breaking win over Redan might be the launch pad for even brighter times ahead.

A rejuvenated Swans snapped a long run of losses by defeating Redan 44-36 in round 4 of BFNL A-grade netball.

It was their first win since June of 2024 when they defeated Sebastopol by one goal at Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

The breakthrough came off the back of a pair of ultra-competitive performances in a draw against premiership contender Lake Wendouree in round 3 and a loss the previous week against Sebastopol.

Boosted by the inclusion of VNL players Dakota Blade, Finn Mckeagney-Stubbs and Eliza and Xara Burge, as well as midcourter Sam Bakes, Ballarat has stamped itself as one of the big early improvers this season.

A win was reward for the effort of players and coaches alike, who worked hard over the pre-season to turn the program’s fortunes around.

Palmer, who in partnership with Jane Keating, have taken over the reins as A-grade mentors this season, said last Saturday could not have been more exciting, with the Swans clawing their way back from a six-goal deficit at quarter time to be in front by two at half-time and 10 at the final change, before the expected Lions fightback.

“Across the board our starts haven’t been great, but we’ve been finishing our games quite strong, so that’s a real positive,” she said.

“We’ve been down in every game at quarter time, so it’s a matter of finding the right combinations for us as coaches and making sure the match-ups are right out on the court, so those leads don’t blow out.

“That’s a real focus for us at the moment.

“Ideally, we don’t want to be in a position where we are having to chase deficits.

 

 

“As pleasing as any fact last Saturday was that we were able to take a lead into the last quarter and then to finish off pretty well.”

Blade, a star with VNL club Hawks and their 23-and-under club MVP last season, shone for the Swans, leading all shooters on court with 33 goals in a dominant and accurate performance.

An undoubted difference-maker, her absence two weeks earlier against Sebastopol proved telling.

“Defensively, I’ve felt we’ve been pretty good in all of our games, so it’s about getting a flow into attack for us, and it’s starting to get a lot more consistent,” Palmer said.

“There’s no doubt Dakota’s effort was strong.

“But what was also strong was, there was a period when she had to come off and tape her ankle, and we were able to put Famke McCallum in at goals and we were still able to convert our centre passes.

“So we do have some depth in that circle and across the court everyone did the job they were supposed to do.

“The connections are starting to build.”

Eliza Burge and McKeagney-Stubbs led a stellar defensive effort, while centre Xara Burge, Bakes at wing attack and versatile youngster Ava Richardson, when moved into goals, were all prominent, in a sign of growing depth at Ballarat.

There was no underestimating the part their supporters played in the Swans’ win, according to Palmer, with netballers from lower grades joined by plenty of reserves footballers and others to cheer them home.

“The girls themselves commented after the game that it was almost like having an eighth player on the court,” she said.

“The excitement was building and it became known the A-graders were on the verge of winning, so people came over to the courts.

“It was a really great moment.”

The Swans will now look to carry their momentum into this Saturday’s clash against East Point, which is coming off a bye, having played its round 4 game as a standalone fixture on Good Friday, and still searching for its first win of the season.

Palmer was confident backing up from such an obvious high would present no issues.

“We’ve got a good blend of girls that are returning and girls that are new, so the new girls haven’t gone through it and had to ride all of the losses,” she said

“It’s not something they think about.

“But we’re realistic; we’re still building and it will take some time. We’ve got talent, but everyone does.

“We just need to keep working on our connections in order to see growth.”