Swans out for upset

SOUTH Barwon coach Adam Sloan insists his side is a chance to cause an upset over Newtown on Saturday.

The Swans copped a 27-goal loss when the two sides met earlier in the season, but Sloan said much had changed since.

“We definitely know we can be really competitive and push them,” he said.

“They have some great players but we’re working hard with our players to get us across the line.

“We had five players out (in Round 1), who had ANL commitments. But Alice Coakley and Kate Thompson are available and Sarah Main is back, so we should have a good complement of players this week.”

South Barwon is second going into the clash and has scored more goals (595) than any other team in 2017.

That has been largely on the back of Ruby Horton, Main and Thompson, who have run an effective front third all year.

Sloan confirmed Horton would be back after missing against St Joseph’s but said while the attack was blossoming, the Swans had been spending an equal amount of time working on defence, which will be crucial against Kath Knott and Julia Woolley.

“Kath has been out for them with a calf injury and we’ve been lucky enough that our goalers in Kate Thompson, Ruby Horton and Sarah Main have been having outstanding seasons so far,” he said.

“But we’ve been working hard defensively to make sure we are trying to stem the flow of goals for the opposition, and it is paying dividends.”

Newtown has won its past 88 matches but has been happy to play some of their juniors this year, which Sloan said the Swans were equally keen to do.

“We know they (Newtown) have been developing their junior ranks . . . but we’re looking to do the same with some of our juniors and give them an opportunity,” he said.