A stirring comeback from Swifts late against Rupanyup has handed the Stawell-based club its second win for the season.
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Rupanyup, still without injured coach Jack Musgrove, started the stronger side, kicking five goals to one in the first quarter, before the Baggies settled to close the gap to 18 points at the half time break.
A lack of discipline and frustration from missing shots at goal saw the Baggies give away multiple 50 metre penalties and “silly” free kicks to keep the Panthers in front early on.
Swifts coach Scott Carey said the first half was played on Rupanyup’s terms.
“They were able to control the pace of the game and we didn’t take our opportunities when we had them, which was unfortunate in the first half,” he said.
“Giving away those types of free kicks is definitely something we do not want to slip into our game. Frustration kicked in and we had a few moments where we let it get the better of us.”
The Baggies booted four goals in the third term as the momentum shifted in the match, trailing by 17 points going into the final term.
“In the third quarter it was a tussle and we were able to peg the score back a little bit
The Panthers held a nervy lead heading into the final term, and it proved too little as the Swifts scored freely in the final quarter.
“Thankfully for us we were able to get our game going and really run over the top of them in the last quarter,” Carey said.
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The Swifts limited Rupanyup to just two points in the final quarter, scoring 6.8 to win by 25 points.
“We did pick up the tempo and really started to play smarter in the final quarter than we did in the first three quarters,” Carey said.
“I’d like to think we have a pretty solid list and when it comes to the crunch we have the cattle to be able to step up and take the game on – it was pleasing to get the win.”
Carey said he believes the ability to storm home and win from a difficult position holds his side in good stead of the season ahead.
“The boys didn’t take a backward step even when we were up against it early on,” he said.
“It is a good thing knowing that even when we are in difficult situations such as we were on Saturday we have what it takes to fight our way back.”
Campbell Matthews kicked five goals for Rupanyup, while Andrew Cameron and Daniel Parkin both kicked three for the Swifts.
Parkin was named as Swifts’ best on ground, while ruckman Matt Healy and 2017 club best and fairest Ben Taylor were also influential in the win. The Baggies move into third spot on the ladder following the win, sitting behind Jeparit-Rainbow and Harrow-Balmoral.