Sport
13 May, 2025
Second half surge sees Natte defeat Giants
After a first-half scare, Natte Bealiba returned to their dominating best in the last two quarters, limiting the Maryborough Giants to eight second-half points on their way to a 66-point victory.
Previous performances from the Swans and Giants this season suggested there would be goals aplenty at Hedges Oval, and they delivered as both sides flexed their offensive prowess in the opening term.
Despite the Swans’ plethora of attacking talent threatening to kick away with six first quarter goals, the Maryborough Giants managed to keep up with the reigning premiers, kicking four goals of their own to trail by 14 points at quarter time.
While the scoring rate was dialled down slightly in the second term, the competitiveness of the contest didn’t wane as the Giants matched the Swans with three goals in the quarter.
Unsatisfied with the half time scoreline, the Swans came out flying in the second half. They dominated the contest to limit the Giants’ forays into their offensive half, with the hosts held scoreless in the third.
Swans forwards Trent Mortlock, Bailey Jacobs and Jake Postle seemed to have velcro on their hands in the third term, plucking the majority of contested marks in their forward 50 to kick five unanswered goals, cracking the margin out to 51 points.
The Swans continued to collect first advantage of the ball in the final term, converting their class in the midfield to a three goals to one fourth quarter, finishing the game as 66 point winners.
Jordi Cossar led the way for the Swans’ second-half turnaround, named in the best players alongside Mortlock, Nathan Holt, Austin McKenzie, Aaron Hayes and Archie Chadwick.
Fresh off his eight-goal performance against Newstead, player-coach Mortlock kicked four while Jacobs and Postle contributed three.
Kaylab Eggers, Matthew Johnston, Scott Miller, Jacob Rollason, Nathan Murphy and Sam Spink were the star players for the Giants, with Rollason kicking three goals.