100-gamer leads Swans to finals win over Colac

SOUTH Barwon Football Club is into the Second Qualifying Final of the Geelong Football League (GFL) Finals Series for the first time since 2013 after defeating Colac (Saturday, September 2) yesterday afternoon at West Oval, 8.18.66 to 16.12.108.

It was the second time in as many weeks the Swans have defeated the Tigers, and the third of three times Mark Neeld’s South Barwon side has gotten the better of Colac in 2023.

The GFL’s First Qualifying Final began evenly, with the two sides splitting the first six goals of the contest, South Barwon taking a narrow 19-23 lead at the opening break.

The Swans outkicked the Tigers three goals to one in a relatively quiet second term, but the 30-43 buffer was all South Barwon needed to motivate itself in the second half.

South Barwon exploded for six goals in the third term to build a 26-point lead heading into the final break, leading 55-81, while wayward kicking continued to plague Colac’s comeback efforts.

The Swans put the cherry on top of a four-quarter performance at the defensive end, limiting the Tigers to one goal in the final term, while adding four more of its own to convincingly topple Colac by 42 points.

Jonty Broughton nabbed a game-high four goals in his 100^th game for South Barwon, while Jack Driver added three majors. Andrew Boseley, Fraser Duryea, and Sam James each piled on two goals each.

Adam Garner and Darcy Lang kicked two goals each, with Luke Hillman, Bailey Scott, Kody Spokes and Dustin Walters adding lone goals.

Broughton deservedly secured best-on-ground honours while Driver, Doyle Madigan, Kelly O’Neil, Rowan Gough, and Ben Kellett were listed among the best for the Swans.

Colac’s Spokes, Scott, Walters, Garner, Jarrod Walters, and Zachary Zdybel received similar praise for the Tigers.

South Barwon has now won its past eight games and Colac now finds itself on the precipice of going out in straight sets in back-to-back years.

South Barwon will face two-time reigning premiers and minor premiers St Mary’s in next week’s Second Qualifying Final at West Oval on Saturday, September 9.

Colac, who will play in next Sunday’s (September 10) Semi Final, await the winner of today’s Elimination Final between Leopold and Newtown & Chilwell.