Swans soar to first senior women’s win

BALLARAT has secured an historic first BFLW senior women’s win, toppling Lake Wendouree by 139 points at Alfredton Recreation Reserve on Anzac Day.

The Swans – newcomers to the competition in 2026 – broke through for their maiden victory in game number four with a memorable 21.19 (145) to 1.0 (6) victory.

Reward for their effort through the early part of the season, the Swans showed a win was not far away last round when they came within one point of upsetting powerhouse Redan.

Their first win was never in doubt after the Swans skipped to a 38-point lead at quarter time and extended the margin to 85 points at half-time.

Remy Callender led the way on the scoreboard with five goals on a day when 11 players contributed majors.

Swans coach Dean Pidgeon said a remarkable day for the Swans girls had started by attending the morning Anzac ceremony at the Arch of Victory.

“There was a sea of red there in the morning and from there it was up to the oval to take care of business,” he said.

“It was a good win and a solid team effort.

“There was a couple of girls each quarter who represented Lakers, who only had 12 players, with two of them featuring in a passage of play that gave them a goal in the third quarter.

“We were pretty keen for those girls to not take their foot off the pedal against their teammates.

“The girls have been good. We were building up to it (a win), edging closer and closer.

“It’s nice to finally get that reward for effort and to have that little celebration at the end.”

 

A full team effort was for the second week in a row highlighted by a standout performance across half back from Sunday Doddrell, who was one of seven multiple goal scorers with two.

Callender was a handful up forward, also spending time in defence, while ruck Charley Gartlan, Chloe Everett in defence and on-ball and skipper Shelby Lonie all excelled.

Lonie was one of several Swans players to play a quarter for the Lakers.

Newcomers to the Swans this season, Sarah Lynch and Yasmin O’Keefe continued their impressive starts to the season.

Pidgeon had only admiration for Lake Wendouree’s perseverance and grit in the face of low player numbers.

The Swans will look to back-up their first win against Carisbrook this Sunday before a Mother’s Day showdown against East Point on 10 May.

“Once we’ve played East Point, we will have had exposure to every team, so we’ll have an idea of where we sit in the pecking order at this early stage,” Pidgeon said.

“It’s shaping up to be a pretty competitive season, hopefully we’re thereabouts and not far off the best in the competition, if our effort against Redan is an indication.”

Elsewhere, Darley stamped itself as the only undefeated team after four rounds with a 22-point victory over Redan on Anzac Day eve.

The reigning premiers, led by standout performances from Ruby Thomas (three goals), Charlotte Hill, Tahlia Sciarra, Trinity Skenderis, Taylah Markham, won 11.6 (72) to 8.2 (50) in the first clash between the teams since last year’s grand final.

Chantelle Whiting, Madison Hayes, Nicola Clark, Laura Fitzgibbon, Rose Russell and Georgie Hassell led the charge for the Lions.

On Sunday, Bacchus Marsh moved to 2-1 with a 129-point win over Carisbrook. The Cobras prevailed 20.11 (131) to 0.2 (2).