Fourth quarter for the ages has Shepparton Swans claim remarkable win

By Liam Nash

Jun 18, 2023

Give and go: Shepparton Swans’ Quade Johnstone. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A fourth quarter showing like no other had Shepparton Swans fly past Benalla on Saturday, kicking more in 25 minutes than their entire total from the previous week’s defeat to Kyabram.

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Trailing by two points going into the final stanza, the Swans conjured up a monster six-goal term at Princess Park to condemn the Saints to 11th, and in doing so, leapfrog them into ninth on the Goulburn Valley League ladder.

However, it may well have turned out the opposite.

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Ground work: Benalla’s Wade King and Shepparton Swans’ Tom Preece. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Whack: Benalla’s Jack Frampton lays one on Shepparton Swans’ Bowen Calogero. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Calm before the storm: Shepparton Swans’ third quarter huddle. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Club legend: Benalla’s James Martiniello. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Ruck duel: Benalla’s Josh Marchbank and Shepparton Swans’ Ben Gilberto. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Eyes ahead: Shepparton Swans’ Will Dwyer. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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On the burst: Benalla’s James Martiniello. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The Swans started the stronger of the two outfits, kicking 2.1 to grip a slim one-goal advantage at quarter-time.

Benalla forced its way back into the game with three crucial majors in the second term and the momentum swing was well and truly in effect by the third as the Saints held Swans goalless while booting two of their own.

It seemed for all money like Benalla was going to deliver the home side a helping of heartbreak, but like a bolt from the blue, up rose the Swans with the crowd at their backs as they reversed the impetus thanks to a 6.4 crackerjack of a last quarter to rouse those in attendance.

Swans’ big man Tom Preece was key during the win as were VFL duo Max Clohesy and Zac Banch, while Blake Uebergang and Jordan Wolff were serviceable on the losing side.

Securing four points was huge for Jedd Wright’s men as they approach a string of fixtures which would be considered winnable inside the Swans’ camp, whereas Benalla plays four of the competition’s current top six in the next month.