Sport
7 August, 2024
'Hardened up' Swifts look to keep intensity high against Saints | HDFNL R17
Edenhope Apsley hosts Stawell's Swifts in round 17 of the HDFNL
Stawell's Swifts have endured a difficult couple of weeks on the HDFNL football field.
The side recorded losses against its two nearest rivals, Noradjuha Quantong and Harrow Balmoral, in back-to-back weekends.
But, Swifts' senior football coach Brett Hargreaves sees the positives of the results.
"Its probably not the worst thing that could have happened to us," said Hargreaves.
"We hadn't been playing that well before the losses, its hard to keep the group motivated when we're just winning week-after-week.
"So, playing against two really good teams, even though we took the loss against both of them, its just hardened us up a bit."
Hargreaves said their is also a sense of relief that this low has hit the Baggies now, instead of during the finals series.
"We've got time to rectify it now," he said.
"And, its not like we were disgraced in either game ... if you look back at the last six weeks of footy, we're the only team that's gotten even remotely near Harrow Balmoral.
"So, I'm not too down about it."
These losses do open the door for Noradjuha Quantong to steal the Baggies second place ladder position in the eleventh-hour, but both side's run to the line makes that possibility unlikely.
The Swifts look ahead to Edenhope Apsley and Natimuk United, two sides that have struggled for form in 2024 and are out of finals contention.
Meanwhile, Noradjuha Quantong's final two opponents in this year's regular season are top six contenders Rupanyup and Pimpinio, with the latter fighting for a home semi final.
"It'll be a good opportunity to go up to Edenhope this week, if things go well, we should be playing there in a few weeks against Harrow Balmoral in the semi-finals," Hargreaves.
"I think they're underrated, Edenhope, you never know what they're going to bring."
When the Swifts hosted Edenhope Apsley at Stawell's North Park in round six, the Saints held the Baggies to only 71 points, its lowest score until round 15, but lost by 23 points.
"Last time we played them we battled a bit, we played Harrow Balmoral the week before and we were a bit flat," Hargreaves said.
"I'd like to see us go in saying right we've had a hard game, we know what that's like, we've got to maintain that intensity.
"I'd like to see us go out with the same intensity we play with against Harrow Balmoral, and really put them away."
In round 17, Noradjuha Quantong takes on the Rupanyup Panthers at Quantong Recreation Reserve.
Sitting third in the competition and having recently beaten the Swifts, Noradjuha Quantong should be the favoured side on Saturday, August 10.
But, Rupanyup has proved itself a bit of a bogie side for the Bombers.
In the last three season, Rupanyup has claimed four wins against Noradjuha Quantong, while the Bombers only time taking the chocolates was in the 2023 semi finals.
Laharum is also a mathematical chance of factoring into the top-two discussion, but with a face-off against Harrow Balmoral in round 17, that is slim.
The Demons hit the road to meet the Southern Roos at Harrow Reserve.
Pimpinio will look to continue it fight for a higher finals finish in round 17 when taking on Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve.
And, Kaniva Leeor United meets Kalkee at Kaniva Recreation Reserve.
Natimuk United has the bye.