Swifts score big wins over Edenhope-Apsley to keep on HDFNL finals push | Photos

The A Grade netballers continued on their impressive form with a 29-goal win over the Saints, 57-28, enough to push the Swifts into the top six.

A Grade coach Kristy Dodds was impressed with her squad's performance, particularly the passing and defence of their mid court play.

"Our defensive pressure and turnovers within the mid-court took control of the game and our goalies rewarded the hard work," she said.

"Jade (Ralph) was impressive with her strong attack at the ball and within the goal ring and Tarnee (Orr) thread the needle throughout the mid-court, hitting some impressive passes into the ring.

"Overall it was an outstanding performance from the entire team and it keeps our finals hopes alive."

Heading into round 10 action, the Swifts are setting themselves for a tough match-up against fellow finals aspirant Natimuk United.

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The Swifts will head up the highway, but their challenge will be made even tougher with the unavailability of three players.

"Moving into this weekend it's going to be a tough game going in with just seven available A grade players," Dodds said.

"Therefore this week at training we'll look at our options and continue our fight in hope to come away with the four points.

"The team has been faced with a new challenge almost weekly and the team continues to power on."

A similar challenge awaits the Swifts' senior footballers who have the chance to stake their own claim to finals action by taking down the Rams in round 10 action.

Both clubs hold a 4-4 record on the HDFNL ladder, with Swifts' healthier percentage the difference between the sixth and seventh placed sides.

After returning to the winner's list with a 102-point over Edenhope-Apsley in round nine, Swifts senior coach Brett Hargreaves said he and the squad know the importance of the match-up against the Rams.

"It is being built as a final and if we win this weekend it gives us a very good chance of making finals and getting into that top six," he said.

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"Us and Natimuk are level pegging, but if we lose we will leave it in the hands of the football gods and so I have told the playing group this weekend is like a final for us.

"We will be focusing on ourselves. Their performances have been very similar to ours and so it is going to be a close game either way.

"We are just focusing on ourselves, we aren't too concerned about what Natimuk are up to and we just know we have to be better."

Touching on the Edenhope match, Hargreaves said he was slightly disappointed with the side's play, especially in the first half, but was happy with the squads second half correction.

"There were a few positives, especially the debut of Kobe Smith who kicked a couple of goals and was terrific," he said.

Josh Davis will miss the critical match through injury, but the Swifts are expecting to take a largely settled line-up into the game.

Round 10 fixtures

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