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They continued on their smart work in the final term, adding two goals while keeping the injury-hit Dragons goalless to cap a crucial win.<\/p>\n
Their third win catapulted the Swans into third spot on the ladder behind Redan and Darley at the end of round 6.<\/p>\n
Lonie, one of the chief architects of the comeback with her powerful midfield performance, paid full credit to the Dragons for being switched on from the start and her own players for rebounding from the shock of finding themselves three goals down late in the opening term.<\/p>\n
“We were just reluctant and we were quiet. We had come off a couple of good wins and were worried we were going to get a bit complacent, and we played their game in the first quarter,” she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We didn’t play to our strengths, but we picked up the pace a bit after they’d kick three goals and held them down tight in the last few minutes.<\/p>\n “Those last few minutes set us up a bit; we switched on and our pressure was tight and we worked more as a team and felt more accountable for each other.”<\/p>\n Much like the Dragons early in the game, the Swans found themselves switched on from the opening bounce in the final term to seal the win.<\/p>\n Ballarat was brilliantly led by ruck Charley Gartlan, who continually gave her teammates first use of the ball in an imposing display.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sunday Doddrell continued her amazing early season form; Alexandria Gladman, Olivia Kennedy (up from the under-19s) and Aleyna Tuncay all played key roles; while Remy Callender chimed in with two goals.<\/p>\n Lonie said she could feel something special building among the playing group<\/p>\n “Our first two games against Darley and Bacchus Marsh tested the waters for us, but things switched on in our 1-point loss to Redan,” she said.<\/p>\n “Upward trajectory against Lakers and Carisbrook and another win today.<\/p>\n “We are going into a bye, but we can feel it building and it’s only upwards from here.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n East Point coach Jeromy Jones could not have been happier with his team’s bright start, especially given the unknowns posed by the Swans in their first season.<\/p>\n “While we haven’t seen them, we keep an eye on their results and they are a strong team, so it was a real danger game for us, not knowing where we sit or where they sit,” he said.<\/p>\n “We had a good plan, good structure and we executed and followed through on what we discussed pre-game.<\/p>\n “We played some pretty good football and kept the ball in our hands, which is the hardest thing to do.<\/p>\n “But we expected them to respond and they did.<\/p>\n “They are young and full of dash and that obviously showed in the end.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We had one girl left on the bench in the end, but that’s no excuse. The Swans played really great footy. We just didn’t hold our game plan long enough.<\/p>\n “Taking a loss like that at this time of year is fine. It’s a big learning curve.<\/p>\n “Watching their run and watching them play a really strong link-up type of football, we expected it and they showed it to us.”<\/p>\n Full back Jaslyn Skilbeck was the Dragons’ best and most consistent player across four quarters, while centre half forward Anna van Rooden and Abbey Bertram set the tone with their determination and attack on the ball.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/05\/DSC_0227_69049.jpg\")
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