Swifts first quarter performance set them up for what eventuated into a convincing win against Noradjuha-Quantong on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the Horsham and District League round two game, Swifts bounced back from their round one loss against Natimuk-United.
Liam Scott injured himself in early into the first quarter, hobbling towards the interchange and took no further part in the game.
"You never want any injuries, let alone an injury in the first quarter," co-coach Scott Carey said.
"The same thing happened to us last week and I hope it isn't a theme which keeps continuing.
"When Liam went down and took no further part of the game I thought we were able to fill his role well - it's a pretty hard role to fill at centre-half-back.
"It shows the depth and versatility of players, to move into a role like that and our ability to still control the back line."
With the inclusion of co-coach Daniel Parkin and former premiership ruckman Brett Hargreaves the Baggies looked unstoppable going in five goals up at quarter time.
"We were really happy with the start and the intensity the boys brought to the game," Carey said.
"It was an area we identified let us down in round one. To come out on someone else's home deck and get a kick six goals in the first quarter is right where we need to be."
The Baggies held onto their five-goal lead in the second quarter but were outscored by the Bombers.
"Noradjuha-Quantong lifted their intensity in those quarters and we probably took the foot off the gas a little," he said.
"They lifted their work rate around the contest and showed their capabilities in playing consistent football.
"We lifted again in the fourth quarter and come away with a 10 goal - it's where we want to be."
Carey said although work still needs to be done, the delivery of the ball into the tall forwards improved from round one.
"We had a huge emphasis on that during the week and we showed a few signs on where we want it (ball delivery)," he said.
"If we put it in the right spot we can see Ben (Martin) can get on the end of it and it showed, he kicked another five goals this week."
With the inclusion of Hargreaves into the side to play alongside Matt Healy, Swifts now have the luxury of adding in extra talls around the ground.
"It's not something we've had the last few seasons," Carey said.
"For the first game they all played together, the combination worked really well.
"It stretched the defence at times and we capitalised on that."
After half-time Carey said the leadership group identified Noradjuha-Quantong's Tom Cooper needed to have a heavy tag.
"He was accumulating too much of the ball for our liking," he said.
"Jakob Davis stepped in again this week and played his role to a tee and stop the influence of Tom."
Final score 16.13 (109) to 6.7 (43).
Swifts will turn their attention to recovery and rest in the week off for Easter before ramping up again for the next three rounds before the inter-league bye.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Northern Grampians shire, sign up here.
