SWAN Hill claimed back-to-back premierships with a tense three-goal win over Tooleybuc Manangatang on Saturday.
The gallant Saints put up a strong fight, but the Swans’ superior fitness was telling in the finish as the premiers finished the stronger of the two teams.
For the Swans, led by coach Madeleine Foott, the 2013 undefeated season completes a remarkable two years in which they’ve lost just one game.
While Saturday’s decider was close at a few vital moments, it was the Swans who were able to find another gear in the final term.
Foott said there was no opportunity to relax until the last few seconds.
“I didn’t feel confident until I saw the time-keeper stand up,” Foott said.
“It was tightly contested and really went right down to the wire.”
The two strong sides were evenly matched at the outset, with Tooleybuc Manangatang thwarting the Swans’ early attempts to achieve their usual lead as a strong, well-matched team.
“At the third quarter we took the lead,” Foott said.
There was no time to feel comfortable however, with the Saints taking back points and threatening the Swans’ lead.
“At that point we just had to dig deep and make sure of our passes,” Foott said.
The Swans’ coach attributed her teams’ hold of the lead to their cohesive strength as a unit.
“It was just a real team effort that got us over the line, the girls really had to work hard together.”
It was that strength, on show throughout the Swans’ historic season, that enabled them to secure the win and outstrip the Saints in the last quarter, winning by just three points at 35 to 32.
Best on court were Karlie McIntyre from Swan Hill and Julie Wardle of Tooleybuc Manangatang.
Foott said the team celebrated their title on Saturday night with fellow Swans’ champions, the A Reserve and B Grade teams and the colts.
“With the three teams winning, that was fantastic to share it with everyone and the colts too.”
Foott said determination and hard work had earned the Swans their championship title.
“I just think we worked hard and we trained hard and the expectations were the same for everyone,” she said.
“We’re really proud.”
