Swans upset minor premiers to set up Grand Final rematch

SOUTH Barwon will get its rematch with Leopold in this year’s Geelong Football League Grand Final after upsetting minor premiers St Joseph’s today (Saturday, September 21) at West Oval.

Inaccurate kicking played a factor in Joeys’ loss, going down to the Swans by five goals, 4.12 (36) to 9.12 (66) as St Joseph’s fell out of the finals race after back-to-back defeats.

South Barwon broke out of the gates early with three first quarter goals to St Joseph’s none, leading 21-1 at quarter time.

Joeys outscored the Swans in the second, reducing the deficit down to 11 points on the back of back-to-back goals from Paddy De Grandi and Oscar Morrison.

Now only leading 30-19 at half-time, Mark Neeld’s men held firm in defence, while Jonty Broughton was the game’s only goal-getter in third quarter to put South Barwon up 40-21 with half an hour to go.

The Swans saved their biggest quarter for last, kicking four majors to run away with the 30-point win and earning another chance to win its first senior premiership since 2013, a task they couldn’t do against Leopold a year ago.

St Joseph’s exit from the finals race is especially disappointing for the club after going unbeaten during the home and away season, a feat only achieved once before in the competition’s history; by North Shore in 1998.

South Barwon’s goal-kicking was spread out across the group, with its nine goals coming from nine different players.

Ethan Borys, Jonty Broughton, Matthew Caldow, Harry Cunningham, Fraser Fort, Chris Hughes, Patrick Kelly, Lachlan Middleton and Lachlan Noble all hit the scoreboard for the Swans.

De Grandi, Morrison and Luke Webb made up the entirety of Joeys’ goal scorers.

South Barwon and Leopold meet at GMHBA Stadium next Friday to determine this year’s GFL premiers.

The decider, the first time the GFL Grand Final will be held at Kardinia Park in five years, begins at 2.10pm.

It will be preceded by the Reserves Grand Final at 11.30am between St Mary’s and South Barwon.