Sport
27 August, 2024
Swans at their clinical best in 108-point qualifying final demolition of Lexton
NATTE BEALIBA 21.13 (139) def LEXTON 4.7 (31)
Talk about a statement.
If anyone thought Natte Bealiba were vulnerable after their first loss of the season in the final round of the home-and-away campaign, there was an emphatic response waiting for them.
It means the Swans will have a week off to consider how best to attack their status as white-hot premiership favourites after their 108-point demolition of Lexton in the first qualifying final at Princes Park on Saturday.
It did take a while for the Swans to warm up, however.
While Jayden Templeton kicked the first goal of the afternoon after slotting a set shot from 40 out, directly in front, they had to deal with a Lexton response, which saw them hit the front briefly after Pat Parr kicked two quick goals.
Soon, the Swans would get the game on their terms. A goal to Templeton, followed by goals from Stephen Ross and Will Holt, meant that they would have the lead at the first change.
It was the second term where the damage was done, however. There, the Swans were in full flight.
They kicked eight goals for the term, with playing-coach Trent Mortlock starting to fire up on his return from injury.
By holding Lexton goalless, it was game over at the main break, with Natte sitting pretty by 59 points.
The Swans were determined to continue sweeping aside the Tigers, and while they were stopped to an extent from enjoying a similar run to their second quarter, they were still able to score the only three goals of the term to increase the lead to 81 points at the final change.
Six goals in the final term ensured that it would be a day of celebration for Natte.
Templeton and Mortlock would kick six goals apiece, while Holt provided another big target with five goals of his own.
Austin McKenzie was the dominant man on the ground. With Lexton counterpart Jaykeb Lench unavailable, McKenzie provided his Swans midfielders with first use of the footy.
Alongside him, Templeton, Bailey Jacobs, Mortlock, Will Cameron and Holt were all named in the best.
Parr was Lexton’s only multiple goalscorer with two majors, while Lochlan Pett gave everything against the tide.
James Templeton, Josh Sargent, Joel Antonio, Luke Arvidson and Lachlan Pryor were also named in the best for the Tigers, who will now be hoping to respond when they meet Dunolly next week.
Mortlock was thrilled with the application of his charges throughout the afternoon.
“We spoke about our defensive game at quarter time — we felt like we gave them a few too many ground-ball gets inside their forward 50 in the first, and we tightened up defensively, and we kicked eight goals in the second and had the game back on our terms, which was really good,” he said.
Mortlock was thrilled with the efforts of Jayden and Holt alongside him up forward, and while it wasn’t the usual spread of goalkickers that have defined Natte this season on Saturday, there was still a big effort to get a big score on the board.
“We probably adjusted how our midfield rotation and forwards worked on the weekend, with myself and Jayden coming back from injury, and spending a bit more time forward,” he said.
The Swans now await the winner of the Harcourt and Carisbrook semi final, and while they will go into that game as favourites, they won’t rest on their laurels.
“We back ourselves in no matter who we’re playing. We understand if we play our brand of football and play for four quarters, we really like our chances, so we just have to keep honing on our skills and the basics, and preach our way, pressure and contested ball in finals is key,” he said.