Sport
22 March, 2025
Swifts hoping to put late season struggle behind them
THE Stawell Swifts had a strong year in the 2024 Horsham and District Football and Netball League, but came undone at the eleventh hour.
Stawell’s Swifts had a strong year in the 2024 Horsham and District Football and Netball League, but came undone at the eleventh hour.
Led by 100-goal hero Paul Summers, the Baggies finished the regular HDFNL season in second place on the ladder, but were left winless in finals and were quickly ejected from the competition.
In 2025, star on-baller Ryan Folkes joins ruckman Brett Hargreaves as co-coaches.
Hargreaves said the side is looking to take things to ‘that next step’ in 2025.
“[Last year] I think we probably started really, really well and maybe faded late with a few injuries and things like that,” Hargreaves said.
“I think we'll probably try and work it a bit differently this year … [we] definitely structured the pre-season a bit differently, hopefully we’ll be coming home a bit stronger than we were last year.”
As the Baggies look to recapture the momentum of their first half of 2024, the side will have to do it without Summers, who has returned to cross-town club the Stawell Warriors in the off season.
“We'll probably structure our forward line a lot differently, it was pretty Paul [Summers] centric last year, as you would have seen, so it [should] be more dynamic this year,” Hargreaves said.
Jordan Motton has been recruited to North Park from the Horsham Demons in the Wimmera Football and Netball League and Hargreaves believes he’ll play a role in replacing Summers’ forward impact.
“He's obviously going to be a good target for us, he’s kicked almost 40 goals in [each of] the last couple years in the Wimmera League,” Hargreaves said.
Also among the recruits Hargreaves is tipping for a big season is AFL Barwon reservist Martin Carey, ex-Warrior Sean Mantell, and Matt Smith from Tatyoon.
“We've sort of bolstered the midfield a bit, which is what we needed to do,” Hargreaves said.
Hargreaves admits his side is ‘a bit of a new-look’ team and is still on the young side.
“I reckon it might take us a little while to gel,” Hargreaves said.
“I think as long as we win the games we're supposed to win on paper … as long as we head in the right direction, come halfway through the season, I'll be happy.
“I think the back end is when we’ll do our best work.”