WHILE he fully expects Ballarat’s young list to have its ups and downs this season, new Swans coach Ash Baker could not have been prouder of their first-up effort against North Ballarat in round one of BFNL football.<\/p>\n
He is hoping they can replicate the appetite and intensity shown against the Swans in this weekend’s clash against expected improvers Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
While the Swans had to be content to share the points with the more experienced Roosters following a thrilling draw, Baker was pleased with their competitive spirit and never-say-die attitude.<\/p>\n
“The boys cracked in really well. It was a close game, but I was pretty happy with how we played,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I thought the boys just brought the effort all day in and around the contest. Our tackle pressure was good.<\/p>\n
“As I said to the boys after the game, you do want to walk away with some reward for your effort.<\/p>\n
“While it’s not the four points, at least we get two points. You go down by a point, you get nothing and you feel a bit hard done by.”<\/p>\n
A major positive for Baker was some of the side’s up-and-coming players making their mark.<\/p>\n
The Swans fielded a team with an average age of about 22, with only four players above 27 and one above 30.<\/p>\n
More than half of the team had played fewer than 30 games.<\/p>\n
“There were lots of boys in only their second or third year of footy, so for them to get the exposure against a quality opposition and play well, it was pleasing,” he said.<\/p>\n
Equally encouraging was the form of gun recruit, former Richmond and North Melbourne key position player Biggie Nyuon, who was the Swans’ best.<\/p>\n
Other impressive round one performers for the Swans included Wyatt Squires, Andrew Hooper, Fraser Perkins and Jack O’Brien (three goals).<\/p>\n
Baker, who is in his second stint as the Swans coach after previously leading the club from 2013-16, is clear on what he wants to see in this weekend’s clash against Sebastopol.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully we bring that effort and intensity again,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But we are a young side, so we are going to be up and we are going to be down at different times.<\/p>\n
“There’s definitely a few areas we need to work on, which we will.”<\/p>\n
On Sebastopol: “We don’t really get as good lay of the land until a few rounds in, but they look like they could be back to their best and pretty handy,” Baker said.<\/p>\n
The Burra were made to pay for a sluggish start against East Point, finding themselves 30 points down at quarter-time in an eventual 16-point loss to the Kangaroos.<\/p>\n
Honours were shared in the middle two quarters before the Burra piled on six goals to four in the final term to finish the contest full of running.<\/p>\n
Back from a 12-month stint with his former club Horsham Demons, Hugo Papst shone for Sebastopol with six goals.<\/p>\n
In other round two contests, Redan and Sunbury play their first games of the season against impressive round one winners Bacchus Marsh and Darley respectively; North Ballarat and East Point clash at MARS Stadium; and Lake Wendouree hosts Melton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHILE he fully expects Ballarat’s young list to have its ups and downs this season, new Swans coach Ash Baker could not have been prouder of their first-up effort against North Ballarat in round one of BFNL football. He is hoping they can replicate the appetite and intensity shown against the Swans in this weekend’s […]<\/p>\n