SWIFTS’ senior football team might have received more attention for its premiership, but the club’s under-14 got the ball rolling with a great grand final victory against Edenhope-Apsley.
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The Saints’ radar was off early in the day and the Baggies made them pay for inaccurate kicking.
After both teams had an even number of scoring shots in the first term, the Saints booted five behinds to Swifts’ one goal in the second.
With a six-point half-time lead, despite registering four fewer scoring shots, the Baggies came out firing in the third term.
Brother and sister Seth and Genevieve Blake added two more goals, while Jesse Iese finally broke the run of behinds for Edenhope-Apsley.
With the game on the line in the final quarter, Saints midfielder Corey Williams burst forward to kick a great running goal, trimming the margin to nine points.
Mitchell Thomas had a snap at goal minutes later to bring the margin back within a kick but missed.
Genevieve Blake kicked a steadier for the Baggies, and the clock started to work against Edenhope-Aplsey.
Williams kicked another magnificent goal but could not drag his side back in time.
Swifts captain Sam Raeck was named best afield and nabbed an AFL Victoria medal in addition to a premiership medal.
Baggies coach Brian Calovic said the Saints had been tremendous opponents throughout the year.
“We were in Edenhope-Apsley’s position last year, so for us to get here was a two-year journey,” he said.
Edenhope-Apsley coach Clayton Caldow said he was proud of his team.
“Throughout the year our results were a three-point loss and a two-point loss, so I knew it was going to be a 50-50,” he said.
“They played real well and we weren’t far off the mark.”
