A FIFTEEN-goal second half helped Lake Boga to a comfortable 60-point win over Swan Hill, who were replaced in the top five as a result.
After trailing by 16 points at half-time, the Magpies lifted their work rate into the wind, cutting the deficit to just one point with a quarter to play.
They then blew the game open, producing a 10-goal onslaught with the wind at their back.
The 20.16 (136) to 12.4 (76) win was the Magpies’ fifth and puts them squarely back in the finals race at the expense of the Swans, who dropped to sixth and are due to face Kerang after the week off.
While Lake Boga’s third quarter changed the momentum of the match, Swan Hill looked to be the more impressive prior to half-time.
The young Swans were running the ball into the wind and outscored the Magpies in the second quarter, but were unable to maintain the rage.
Lake Boga joint coach Angus Monfries, who kicked three goals, said the Magpies played a more positive brand of football in the second half.
“It was good to get the four points and even up the ladder rather than being a couple of games behind them and chasing our tails,” Monfries said.
“They played some good footy in the first half and we spoke at half-time about changing our mindset and playing a more positive brand of footy.
“We were a bit negative with how we were going and it was really good to flick the switch and get it back to even pegging at three-quarter time.
“We identified we were getting beaten around the contest, so we just tweaked a few things around the ball and ended up having a bit more forward connection, which helped.
“Lochie Laing was really good in the air, along with Jayden Lonergan – they got us going in the third quarter and then obviously continued on with it in the last.”
Lonergan booted four majors, as did with Dustin Burns, while Jose Miliado continued his good form for Swan Hill by kicking three goals.
Laing was instrumental to the Magpies, providing that vital link between the midfield and forward half, while also getting up around the ball and impacting around the contest.
Ryan Fox found plenty of the ball through the middle and used his pace to great effect, while Jacob Simpson in the ruck, Marty Parsons, Matt Taverna and Daniel Dzufer, who pulled on the black and white stripes for the first time this season, were influential in the back half.
For Swan Hill, it was their big names who again did most of the damage, with Xavier Moloney and Matthew Wade winning plenty of the ball, along with Miliado, who has given the desperately needed x-factor. Adam Manning and Leighton Dullard were also among the better players.
While it may have been their experienced campaigners who stood out, positive signs for the Swans’ future continued, with youngsters Sonny Beasy, Seamus Doherty and Koby McMillan, who was on debut, showing plenty of ability despite their age.
Looking to the future is clearly a priority, however it may also have contributed to their downfall in the second half.
“(Swan Hill) played really well and they’ve got several good young kids who are energetic and run really hard,” Monfries said.
“We thought they could potentially drop off in the second half because of their age and how young they are, and knowing that, we needed to make sure as a team we were in the game.
“We got organised a bit better after half-time and had the game played in our forward half and on our terms a bit more.”
FINAL SIREN
| Swan Hill | 4.3 | 8.4 | 11.4 | 12.4 | 76 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Boga | 4.4 | 5.6 | 10.9 | 20.16 | 136 |
VOTES
3 – Lochie Laing (Lake Boga)
2 – Jayden Lonergan (Lake Boga)
1 – Jose Miliado (Swan Hill)
