Sport
20 June, 2025
Baggies claim season-defining win
The Swifts senior footballers defeated Kaniva Leeor by nine points in a season-defining win at North Park in round nine of the Horsham District Football Netball League.
With injured players Ryan Folkes, Chris Freeman, Scott Carey, and Brodie Kindred on the sidelines, and both teams sitting in equal fifth with four wins apiece, the equation was simple for the Baggies. Win and keep the season alive. Lose and face a struggle to make the finals.
It was the Cougars that tasted first blood with the aid of a small breeze, kicking three goals to two to lead by nine points at quarter-time.
The Baggies played better football in the second quarter and used the conditions to their advantage to kick four goals to two to lead by five points at half-time.
The Cougars regained the lead in the third quarter and led by 13 at three-quarter time.
At the 15-minute mark of the last quarter, the scores were tied at 71 apiece until the Cougars kicked a goal to take a six-point lead.
The Baggies had two shots on goal, for two behinds, and it wasn’t until Jordon Motton snapped from 30 metres out that the Baggies took a slender two-point lead with approximately five minutes to go.
The Baggies had their chances, kicking another behind before Cam Wickham kicked a goal to give them a nine-point lead.
Despite the Cougars trying to move forward, the Baggies' defence stood tall and held on to win 13.8.86 to 11.11.77.
Jordon Motton kicked four goals with Aiden Graveson, Angus Murray and Cameron Wickham kicking two. Brett Hargreaves, Kobe Lowe and Sean Mantell also kicked majors.
Angus Murray was best on the ground with Sean Mantell, Brett Hargreaves, Todd Matthews, Martin Carey and Jordon Motton listed among the best.
Baggies coach Brett Hargreaves said it was an elimination final.
“They [Cougars] have a really good run home and will win a lot of their games, whereas we have to face more of the top teams, so it was an eight-point game and an elimination final for us, especially with the outs we had.” Hargreaves said.
“To win a close game like this has been a long time coming. We have had a lot of close games this season and haven’t won any and to now do that and kick the goals when we needed them and to slow it down when we needed to, was huge.
“The boys will take massive confidence from this moving forward. We can now say we have won a close game so at least now the pressure isn’t building,” Hargreaves said.
“We can now take it into other games and it’s something you can learn from experiencing it as you can’t do that at training.”
Aiden Graveson was sensational for the Baggies on loan from the Stawell Warriors for the week.
“He was good and got down on himself at times, but the way we could structure up with him in the team was different,” Hargreaves said.
“He is a gun ruckman so it meant that I could have a rest in the ruck, and he also gave us presence around the ground and also kicked some important goals.”
The Cougars had ex-AFL player Josh Clayton and Tyler Roos, son of Paul Roos playing, and despite being high-calibre players, Brett Hargreaves was thrilled his midfielders stood tall and beat them at the contest.
“I thought we beat them over the four quarters,” Hargreaves said.
“Angus Murray played the best game he has ever played, and Sean Mantell was unreal.
“Also, the back six were incredible. Mack Padley did a sensational job on Jacob Eats and when he came off for a cramp in the final quarter, Todd Matthews went on him and did a brilliant job considering he is two feet shorter than him.”
The Baggies now travel to Quantong Recreation Reserve to take on premiership favourites and unbeaten Noradjuha Quantong.
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