Don’t expect the word redemption to be muttered around McDonald Reserve this week.
A realist, South Barwon coach Mark Neeld is paying no mind to last year’s GFNL grand final loss to Leopold ahead of Friday’s rematch at GMHBA Stadium.
The Swans became the fourth team in as many completed seasons to win their way into the decider from the elimination final after overcoming minor premiers St Joseph’s by 30 points, 9.12 (66) to 4.12 (36).
“Let’s be serious; how can anything 12 months ago, in a different season, when you’re going to have about 14 different players, on a different ground, in different conditions, actually have an impact?” Neeld told K rock Football.
“It’s not going to happen.”
GFNL: SCOREBOARD – PRELIMINARY FINAL
After captain Matt Caldow called correctly at the toss and chose to kick with the aid of a stiff northwesterly breeze, South Barwon took 16 minutes to kick its first goal.
Caldow opened the Swans’ account, followed by Lachie Moble and Lachie Middleton, as the Swans kept Joeys to one behind for the term to take a 20-point lead into the first change.
Harry Cunningham extended the margin to 25 points early in the second quarter before St Joseph’s got on the board with goals to Oscar Morrison and Paddy De Grandi that cut the margin to 12 points.
However, Joeys were unable to get the margin back to single figures from that point on, despite South’s next goal not coming until time-on of the third quarter.
The Swans capped their sixth consecutive win since being on the end of a 74-point hiding from next week’s opponents by outscoring Joeys 4.2 to 2.3 in the final term.
“We’ve gradually improved every game… every training we’ve had as well,” Neeld, who has Geelong United WNBL coach Chris Lucas as a guest in the Swans coaches box, said.
“We showed some footage during the week of our last game against St Joseph’s, and one of the comments (that) came back from the players, “we don’t even look anything like that at the moment”, which is 100 per cent true.
Geelong VFL-listed Todd White stood out for South Barwon, while former Calder Cannon Blair Huggins also impressed.
For Joeys, who follow 2023 minor premiers St Mary’s in failing to win a final, defender Liam Betson was outstanding in quelling the influence of Fraser Fort.
Coming off a seven-goal performance in the first semi-final, the reigning joint Mathieson medalist’s lone major came 16 minutes into the final quarter, courtesy of two 50m penalties.
Midfield duo James Gow and James Hickey battled hard for St Joseph’s, which becomes the first team in GFNL history to go through the home-and-away season unbeaten and not make the grand final.
X: @krockfootball
