Surprise team in box seat
DESPITE pre-season expectations of making finals, perhaps even fourth position on the ladder at Round 13 has exceeded what South Barwon thought it was capable of this year.
Having missed finals every year since their 2013 premiership after a decade of sustained success, the Swans were coming from a long way back.
But under first-year coach David Farrell, who was resigned this week until 2020, they have been the surprise packet of the GFL season and appear in the box seat to play an elimination final, thanks to some key additions.
“If you look at the last six rounds and try to figure out who is going to beat who it does your head in a little bit. Straight away, in the first week of six, there’s been an upset so we’re not looking too far ahead, but we’re really happy with where we’re sitting,” Farrell said after Saturday’s 120-point thumping of St Albans, in which they kept the Supersaints goalless.
Two crunch games against Newtown & Chilwell in Round 15 and Bell Park in Round 17 threaten to define South Barwon’s season, despite Farrell hoping his side “should be able to secure our spot before then”.
“Our position hasn’t changed,” he said.
“We set out to play finals and not shy away from it.
“The group is maturing all the time and their expectation is to play finals, so as coaches we’ve got to continue to drive that.
“We’re trying to develop a game that will stand up against the best sides.”
Despite sitting in fourth position, the Swans are yet to defeat a side currently inside the top five, with a 36-point defeat to Leopold in Round 9 the closest they have come.
To make the finals and then succeed in them, Farrell knows they need a scalp.
“I think at times throughout the year we’ve found it hard to generate scores,” he said.
“Any side that’s going to have success in the extended part of the season need to be good defensively, so we think we’ve got a good starting point there.
“For us, we’ve got an eye on making sure we’ve got a game and style that will stand up against the top sides.”
Farrell was an assistant coach of the Geelong Falcons’ TAC Cup premiership side last year.
Arriving from the Falcons alongside Farrell were Charlie Francis and Lachie Noble — the latter representing the GFL in interleague, Geelong VFL and under-19 Vic Country this season.
“For him to adapt each week has shown a real sense of maturity,” Farrell said.
Former Gold Coast Sun Louis Herbert, plus midfielders Ollie Lee and Dom Sliwa have all come to the club in 2018 and made an impact.
“Charlie and Louis are just great people and that’s what we’re looking for when we bring people into the club,” Farrell said. “For us it was about getting guys who were really coachable and prepared to work hard. That’s stood up through the whole list and been consistent. No doubt going forward we’ll look for the same types.”