Youth helps drive South to the top
TRUST in youth has created a near-perfect start at South Barwon this season, with the Swans on top in four of the five GFNL senior netball competitions.
The Swans sit atop the ladder in the A, B, C and E-grade so far this year, and while that is expected to change, a clean sweep over Bell Park last weekend has the club buoyant about its direction.
South Barwon has continued to trust in young players this year, with Kiahna Fallon the latest junior product to make her A-grade debut in the 11-point win over Bell Park.
Fallon, 18, is also part of the Geelong Cougars division 1 squad and the midcourter made her debut alongside her older sister Tyra against the Dragons.
Fellow Geelong Cougars players Ellen Doyle and Maddie McKiernan also played for South Barwon on Saturday and starred in the A-grade win.
“I think, as a junior, all the way back in under-13s you see these older girls and go, ‘wow they are amazing’,” Fallon said.
“I have an older sister myself and seeing her progress to being an A-grade player, I always wanted to do that.
“It has always been a really great club and I think one of the great things about South Barwon is how strong and connected the club is through juniors and seniors. We have always had a really strong emphasis on the juniors and getting them through.”
That pathway, run under coaching director Ainsley Corrigan, appealed to Charlotte Morey when she joined as an under-15 player.
Morey has since been selected in the Australian under-17 squad and said her growth as a player was helped out by the Swans program.
“I love the vibe down at South Barwon,” she said.
“Playing seniors, the girls are really welcoming and it is a good challenge playing outdoors and playing with different people who are more physical and things like that, and it is really fun.”