Sport
16 June, 2026
Swans overcome Magpies fright
Natte Bealiba has placed themselves within touching distance of the top eight after surviving a major scare from an emboldened Campbells Creek, winning by 19 points.
After trailing by 11 points at quarter time, the Swans snatched control from the Magpies during a high-scoring second term before eventually ebbing away from the hosts after half time.
Natte Bealiba vice captain Jai Howell continued his sparkling form since returning from his round one injury, kicking five goals, while Aidan Medlyn is developing into a Swiss army knife for the Swans, proving key across the ground.
The victory cuts Natte’s deficit to the finals spots to just four points, a gap they will hope to preserve when they host Talbot at CHS Broadbent Oval this weekend.
Following heavy away defeats to Carisbrook and Trentham, Camp-bells Creek was determined to showcase their competitive improve-ments on their home turf, bursting out of the blocks in the first quarter.
Magpies key forward Jesse Presser was giving the Swans back six immediate headaches, providing a powerful leading target who could cement an attack with a strong contested mark or ensure the loose ball would fall to the rovers.
Presser’s presence allowed his fellow forwards to get on a roll early despite tricky kicking conditions at Campbells Creek Recreation Reserve, giving the hosts an 11-point lead at quarter time.
With their team facing an ominous threat of a potentially crushing loss to their finals aspirations, stars Ryan Semmel, Stephen Ross and Kyen Burrill-Grinton began to will Natte forward with their work around the contest.
Howell was a constant threat around the goals every time he ventured forward, routinely creating chances or scoring on his own as the Swans began to flourish in the wetland conditions.
Despite losing their lead in the second quarter, Campbells Creek remained firmly on Natte’s heels, trailing by 11 points at half time following a nine-goal term.
After both teams traded majors to begin the second half, a quickfire double from Howell and Medlyn gave the Swans some valuable breathing room after a spell of domination from the Magpies.
Campbells Creek quickly began to rue their missed opportunities early in the second half, as Natte Bealiba entered three-quarter time with a healthy 27-point buffer.
Jack Larkin, James Haber and Dylan Stevens led a Magpies fightback in the fourth quarter, but their deficit proved insurmountable in the end, as the Swans escaped with a hard-fought win.
Howell and Medlyn continue to be vital for Natte Bealiba, listed among the club’s best players alongside Burrill-Grinton, Jake Postle, Semmel and Ross.
Isaac Fletcher, Stevens, Presser, Haber, Larkin and Ben Sutherland were listed as Campbells Creek’s best players in a disappointing yet encouraging showing given recent results.