Swans shell-shocked by barnstorming Burra

A 31-point loss to Sebastopol could come at a huge cost to Ballarat, with the Swans suffering a spate of injuries.

The Swans, who dropped from top spot to third on the ladder after losing to the Burra for the second time this season, ended last Saturday’s clash at Marty Busch Reserve without any fit players on the bench.

Skipper Andrew Hooper was noticeably limping in the rooms after the game with a calf injury, while star forward Biggie Nyuon was troubled by a shin injury.

Nyuon, the league’s leading goalkicker this season, left the field early in the first quarter, but was quick to return.

He finished the game with four goals while still clearly hampered throughout stages.

Brad Crouch was limited late by a bad cork and finished the game on the sidelines, while Lewis Rinaldi (hamstring) and Buay Ruach also did not feature late in proceedings.

The injury toll added to a torrid day for the Swans, who were ruthlessly overrun in the final term by a confident Burra.

 

Having kicked four unanswered goals to end the third quarter to lead by seven points at the final change, the Swans slotted the first two of the final term through Nyuon and Fraser Perkins to set up a handy 20-point buffer.

But just when it looked like the Swans had finally got the game on their terms, the Burra unleashed a stunning eight-goal blitz to put the seal on a barnstorming victory.

Beaten around the contest for much of the day, Baker was disappointed to see his side’s hard work in getting themselves back in the contest come undone.

“We battled away to get ourselves back in a good position; the last 10 minutes of the third quarter and probably that first eight or so in the fourth quarter, we got the game going our way,” he said.

“But we just lapsed for five minutes and they came out from the front of stoppage too easily three times in a row for three goals.

 

“It just took the wind out of our sails a little bit.

“Credit to them, they kept cracking in. They are a damn good side.”

Baker’s quick analysis post-game identified the Burra’s dominance around stoppages and the Swans’ inability to make better use of the wind as key factors in the loss.

The Swans kicked just two goals with the breeze in the opening term, with Sebastopol ending the stanza just one point behind after kicking two of their own.

They kicked five in the third term, four of them coming in the final 10 minutes.

In comparison, the Burra kicked four with the wind in the second and eight in the last as they stormed to victory.

Baker was impressed with the Burra’s ball movement and use.

“Their uncontested mark numbers were up early. Well most of the day really, apart from when the rain hit,” he said.

“But particularly in that first, second and third quarters. We gave them a bit too much space.

“They used it well; they found those people we gave too much space to.

 

“They’re a good side – we need to lock in on them.”

Patrick Graham led the way for the Swans, capping off his stellar tap work and hard work around the ground with two goals.

Luke Gray and Perkins toiled hard all day, while Jack O’Brien and Zak Rinaldi also impressed.

Still in third spot, Baker would not be drawn on the Swans’ premiership hopes, or whether they had been dented by a second loss to the current league leaders.

“There are a lot of good teams in it and there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge,” he said.

“We’ve just got to recover well and keep trying to win games to get us in a reasonable spot come finals.

“That will be the aim.”