NYAH-Nyah West United overcame a poor start on Saturday to storm home in the last quarter and defeat a very gallant Swan Hill by 13 points – 10.11 (71) to 8.10 (58).
Rain on Friday night brought the young Swans into calculations for an upset victory against the undefeated Demons, whose dominance in centre clearances can be restricted in heavy conditions.
This was very much the case in the opening term, as the Swans worked the ball into their forward line much easier than the visitors.
Swan Hill had early winners around the packs, including standouts Jose Miliado, Toby Thoolen and Tom Isma.
The opening goal was kicked by the experienced Ned McKeown, who used his bulky frame to perfection to mark and convert after five minutes.
Swans utility Brandon Houlihan found the wet conditions to his liking, producing a right-foot snap midway through the term.
The Demons looked sluggish and were continually under pressure due to the Swans’ ability to hunt in numbers around the packs, causing turnovers with monotonous regularity.
Poor disposal by NNW United midfielders meant that their forwards struggled to have any impact.
The second term would again be all Swan Hill’s, as both the Miliado brothers in Jose and Elijah had the ball on a string, enabling McKeon to show his class by booting three great goals.
The Swans’ pressure on the ball carrier was immense and a real highlight, thwarting attempted runs by the Demons with great tackling and defensive play from Tom Holdstock, Tom Corridan and Jimmy Toumpas.
NNW United finally kicked their first goal at the 20 minute mark of the second quarter, when Brandyn Grenfell took a big pack mark in the square, which was followed by a late goal to Corey Daniels.
The heavy conditions began to dry and as a consequence, the game went up a level.
NNW United started hitting their targets, with both Jordan and Lucas Iudica coming under notice with some excellent possessions, and the Demons looked as though they were back in the contest.
Ethan Saville, Ben Shadbolt, Mitch Grinham and Brayden Bigham started to work constructively around the ground, with goals to Grenfell, Liam White, Nick O’Neill and Savile only interspersed by a brilliant left-foot checkside goal by Jose Miliado that had to be seen to be believed.
The Swans margin was dramatically reduced to six points at the last change.
Big crowds of supporters surrounded both huddles at three-quarter-time as the coaches implored their players to sacrifice their bodies to win the ball.
It would be the Dees who responded better, Grenfell putting on a goalkicking display to boot four and finish with six for the day in a best-on-ground performance.
The Swans had stopped to a walk and NNW United controlled the onball clashes, where Saville, both Iudica brothers and Dom Gallo may have got leather poisoning.
Swans Thoolen, Cooper Angus and Toumpas played their hearts out, but any hopes of an after-match celebration that had looked likely earlier in the day evaporated, with the Demons keeping their undefeated status intact as the final siren sounded.
FINAL SIREN
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| SWAN HILL | 2.3 | 6.5 | 7.9 | 8.10 | 58 |
| NNW UNITED | 0.5 | 2.8 | 6.9 | 10.11 | 71 |
VOTES
3 – Brandyn Grenfell (NNW United)
2 – Jose Miliado (Swan Hill)
1 – Lucas Iudica (NNW United)
