Football
3 June, 2026
Swifts edge out Lakers
The Swifts’ senior football side recorded their first win of the season, narrowly defeating Taylors Lake in round eight of the Horsham District Football Netball League on Saturday May 30. Playing at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve, the Swifts kicked 12.16 (88) to the Lakers’ 12.10 (82).
Having been let down by their slow starts in previous weeks, the Swifts immediately got on the front foot with an early Anthony Munkara goal, with the Baggies kicking four more opening-term goals to take a 33-1 lead.
But the Lakers swung the momentum of the game back, kicking five goals of their own to trail by just six (41-35) at half-time.
Relentless forward pressure from the Swifts saw them kick 4.10 in the third, with accurate kicking by the Lakers on the opposite end keeping them in the game, as the Swifts entered the final break with a 75-60 lead.
Despite having the inside 50 advantage in the last quarter, the Lakers were unable to cut the deficit, with the Swifts taking a one-goal victory.
Anthony Munkara led the Baggies with five goals, with Scott Carey, Ben Sladdin and Mack Padley also among the best performers for the side.
Alex Baker continued his fine form up forward with four goals, with strong games also from Billy Finnigan, Dylan Bates, Austin Guisa and Chris Fletcher.
Swifts coach Nigel Sibson said he was pleased with how the side held on in the final quarter to claim their first victory.
“It’s good to finally get a win after coming a fair few times,” Sibson said.
“Usually late in games we’ve come from behind but just couldn’t make up the deficit, so we were in a unique position going into the fourth.
“We had nine more scoring shots in the third quarter so I told the guys we just had to maintain what we were doing, and it was good enough to get the win.”
The Baggies coach said he was pleased with how the first quarter set up their game but said the Lakers maintained pressure all game.
“Usually our slow starts have hurt us so to kick five goals in that first quarter was really pleasing," Sibson said.
“But credit to Taylors, they got right back into it in the second and were on top of us during stages of those middle quarters.”
Pleased with the overall effort of the team, Sibson said numerous individuals stepped up, including Munkara.
“We weren’t quite sure what we were getting when Anthony came over but he’s been really strong up forward for us and played a great game on Saturday,” he said.
“Scott Carey, who’s been a great player in this league for a long time, was a steady presence.
“Jack Champion is adjusting to playing down back and I thought he played really well, and then we had Mack Padley who did a good job in the ruck filling in for Brett Hargreaves.”