A much improved Curra Swans side battled it out at Neil French Oval with neighbors Hermit Park on Saturday.
The Tigers were still smarting from their first round loss to the Hawks and came out ready to play.
The Swans for their part had a point to prove.
The Tigers had the upper hand in the first half but certainly didnât have it all their own way. The Swans took it the Tigers and when the two sides went to the long break the game was still up for grabs.
The third quarter was decisive and the Tigers put the gallant Swans away with a seven goal burst.
The Swans hit back in the last kicking five of their own but it was all in vain as the Tigers had done enough.
Steven Taylor had an inspirational return in his first game for the season and was well supported by new boys Nathan Wescombe and Captain Jason Drew. Young guns Broderick Hill and Jack Billing displayed why the Swans are confident they are on the way up. Hill is 16years old and can match it with the big boys already and Billing showed why the selectors had enough faith to promote him after last weeks outstanding effort in the Reserves.
Unfortunately for Billing and the Club he was taken to hospital after the match with a suspected fractured jaw and is in danger of missing the rest of the season.
Swans coach Peter Pyle was pleased with the improvement his side showed and wondered how much closer the game may have been if co captain Brent Doyle (Hamstring) and ruckman Tom Madsen (Groin) had played. Doyle pulled up short after training on Thursday and Madsen pulled up sore in the warm before Saturdays match. Pyle mused the loss of Madsen in particular was a blow just before the bounce.
Pyle went home on Saturday knowing his players had lifted and were more competitive, harder at the contest and displayed better skill than the previous week.
Finishing the match with a five goal last quarter gave the coach plenty of encouragement as well. Pyle acknowledged the Swans still have a lot of fitness to work on but he believes the side is on the right track. Pyle noticed that after getting hammered by the Bulldogs last week he had nearly forty players on the training track with a few more on the sidelines and the place was buzzing. He said he knew then that the boys would lift this week and expects the same when they come up against the Hawks after the bye.
Last Modified on 29/04/2009 10:10