THE 2013 colts grand final was played between two very evenly matched teams in Swan Hill and Koondrook Barham, providing the very large and vociferous crowd with all the highlights that a clash between the two best outfits could promise.
Both the Raiders and the Swans brought their best game to the Swan Hill Recreation Reserve and both camps would leave on Saturday rightly proud of their respective sides.
The result was always in the balance as both sides enjoyed ascendancy at various stages throughout the contest, neither being able to create that winning advantage and the ability to kick clear.
In a fairytale finish it was the Swans that grabbed the silverware from the minor premiers and it was big Arnold Kirby who was the hero of the day.
Kirby took yet another strong mark preparing to take his kick as the siren sounded.
Taking his kick after the siren, the youngster calmly went back and from in excess of 60m launched a magnificent drop punt that sailed through the uprights at half-post height.
The Swans had set the tone early as they went to the first change with a healthy seven point advantage and managed to increase that lead to 12 points at the long break.
Declan Quinn was very busy early for the Swans snapping two majors in quick succession after leading goal kicker Sam Davis had opened the scoring for the Raiders with a fine goal after a strong mark.
Xavier Mertz was on top in the ruck for the Swans and giving first use to his runners in Cody Travaglia and Brody Hartley just to mention two of the many.
Jordon Lang and captain Sam Davis were busy and Zac Hare took the opportunity to snag a handy goal.
Into the second term, and the Swans appeared to be quicker as many of their number were leading their opponent to the ball and showing superior acceleration to open up play in their team’s favour.
The scoring from both sides appeared to be drying up as the defences gained ascendancy and the game was played between half back lines
Xavier Mertz was still playing well and through his efforts the Swans gained that halftime advantage.
The third term started in good fashion for the Raiders as their better player started to take control.
The Swans were second to the ball at this stage, and Sam Davis, Brad Heffer, Oliver Gordon and Dylan Robinson were setting the agenda for the Riaders, as the Swans possessions were rare and mostly ineffective.
Goals to Davis and Heffer saw the Raiders in front and enjoying the run of the ball, as the Swans early pace appeared to have deserted them and at the final change the raiders went to the huddle rejoicing in a nine point lead.
The final term was a classic grand final period as the lead changed from time to time and the game became an arm wrestle with both camps looking for the winning strategy.
Both sides gave their all as the final siren loomed.
The ball could not have been in any better hands than those of monster kick Arnold Kirby who turned a two point losing score into a four point winning margin.
This was an enthralling game to witness and for many years the supporters and combatants from both outfits will recall the “one that got away” or the win “we snatched from the jaws of defeat.”
