Sport
25 June, 2026
Swans strong season continues
CARAMUT was forced to work hard for its seventh senior football win of the Mininera League season when it took on SWM Rovers last weekend.
Rovers got out to a strong start in the round nine match and led at every change until the Swans kicked five goals to two in the last quarter to run out 10.18.78 to 11.4.70 winners.
“SMW Rovers got a good start and were playing extremely well, they were clean and used the ball really well,” Caramut coach Scott Judd said.
“We couldn’t really find any momentum, and when we did we didn’t kick straight.”
While Caramut had trouble converting their chances, Rovers had seven goals and only one behind on the board at half-time.
“We kicked two goals nine in the second, we had all the play and we still gave up two goals, and they only had two or three entries for the quarter.
“It was just one of those days that until half-time we had six more scoring shots and the boys knew that we just weren’t getting the rewards for our effort.”
Down by 11 points at the last change despite having nine more scoring shots at that point, the Swans played their best footy in the fourth quarter.
“The tide turned as the game progressed, but we still were lucky to get away with it.
“We only really won it in the last five minutes.”
Centre half back Dylan Scoble was best for Caramut in the win.
“Dylan kept us in the game, both with his actions and his communication and setting up behind the ball. He prevented them from scoring more over the course of the time when they had the momentum.
“And then when we were on top of things, he really pushed and drove our team forward from there, he was very good.”
Hamish Pierson kicked four goals and was also in the best for the Swans.
“We changed Hamish from centre half forward to full forward and it was probably one of the best decisions for the day.
“He just claimed everything and went back and put it through the big sticks, he looked quite potent down there; we’ll see if that’s something that we have a crack at again in the near future.”
Phil Chatfield played another strong game and was named second best.
“We were down a ruckman for the second half and Phil actually ended up back up ruck; he gave us another onballer around the contest.
“He won his fair share of rucks as well, he set the tone in there and he was one of the drivers that got us over the line.”
Judd didn’t play in the game, coaching from the sidelines instead.
“It was nice to see the boys get challenged, obviously we’re going to get challenged in numerous ways to finish the season off, with all the top contenders to play.
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“But yeah, it’s nice to see them bounce back from a pretty poor and slow start, a bit of resilience was shown in the group, which was nice to see.”
This week fourth-placed Caramut travel to Lake Bolac to take on eighth placed Wickliffe/Lake Bolac, who are just four points out of the top five.
“It’s a tough game going into the bye after a bit of a scare for us and Wickliffe/Lake Bolac has just come off a 40 point win at Ararat.
“It will be interesting to see how it plays out; hopefully we get a few guys back in from unavailability and a couple of injuries, so hopefully we get a few soldiers back on board.”
SMW Rovers got the points in the reserves with a 6.6.42 to 4.13.37 win.
Jaxon Keay, Carl Lehmann, Adam Lehmann and Lachlan Higginson were best for the Swans reserves in the loss, with Joe
Douglas kicking two goals.
There was no under 17 or under 13 football with SMW Rovers not fielding those teams in 2026.
The A grade netball saw SMW Rovers record a tight 40-39 win.
Tahlee Dannatt and Maddie Calvert were Caramut’s best in the loss, with Zoe Wagstaff shooting 21 goals and Maddi Calvert 18.
The B grade game went the way of Caramut who scored a 37-21 victory.
Charlotte Delaney scored 26 goals and April Edwards 11, with Lily Singleton and Edwards best.
In C grade, Caramut had a big 39-3 win.
Rachel Hassett and Carmel Meade scored 13 goals each, with Edie Douglas and Cloe Folkes the Swans best.
There was no 17 and under netball game, with SMW Rovers not fielding a team in that grade.
In the 15 and under game, SMW Rovers had a 30-28 win.
Alex Lehmann and Payson Walker were the Swans best, with Lehmann scoring 15 goals and Walker 13.
The 13 and under netball ended in a 27-5 win to SMW Rovers.
Payson Walker and Peyton Jones were best for the junior Swans, with Tessa Young shooting three goals.
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