Swan song for Natte Bealiba

NATTE Bealiba’s remarkable run in the second half of the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League season continued yesterday when it won its first premiership since 1995.The Swans proved too strong for Navarre in the grand final at Princes Park to win by 18 points, 12.11 (83) to 10.5 (65).Natte Bealiba’s 2011 season – its first in the MCDFL – will go down as a tale of two halves.After 10 rounds the Swans sat ninth, having won just four games.However, in an extraordinary turnaround the Swans won their next 10 games, culminating in yesterday’s grand final win.After finishing the home and away season fifth, the Swans defeated Rovers (101 points), reigning premier Maldon (12) and Carisbrook (one) in knockout finals to advance to the grand final.In both the preliminary final win over Carisbrook and semi-final victory over Maldon the Swans had trailed during the last quarter.“The club has been great... from the committee down to the players, it has been a fantastic year,” Swans coach Noel Jacobs said.“We never lost focus and we had the belief today that we could perform well, which you need to have coming into a grand final.“Everybody worked really well as a team, and that’s what it’s all about.”The Swans yesterday showed why the third term is regarded as the premiership quarter.Navarre led by one point at half-time, 6.1 to 5.6, but the Swans gained the upper hand in the crucial third quarter.With Stephen Ross, Ian Martin, captain Brent Mortlock and Zac Perez dominating through the midfield, the Swans piled on 6.3 to 2.3 during the pivotal third term.Ross – who was the umpire’s choice for best on ground – kicked two of the six goals, while forward Alex Collins also kicked two.On the back of the strong third quarter, the Swans built a 23-point lead heading into the final term.The Swans then killed off any hope of a Navarre revival when Ben Fox drifted from defence to attack and slotted a 35m goal to extend Natte Bealiba’s lead to a game-high 29 points at the five-minute mark.The Grasshoppers fought the game right out, kicking the last two goals of the match through the hard-working Steve Clohesy and Berry Powell medallist Daniel Parkin, who finished with three as a surprise inclusion after injuring his ankle three weeks earlier.Earlier, Navarre led by 14 points at the six-minute mark of the second quarter.However, the Swans then kicked the last two goals of the second quarter and the first four of the third as they made their match-winning move.The Swans’ Stephen Ross was outstanding through the midfield with his dash and creative play, and also proved dangerous inside 50 to kick three goals, including the first of the game four minutes in.Perez was awarded the VCFL Medal for his brilliant game on the wing, while on the other wing Daniel Gifford was also superb.Experienced midfielders Mortlock and Ian Martin and Fox at centre half-back were other prominent performers.Collins kicked three goals to finish the season with 105.The best for the Grasshoppers were captain Louis Hannett and Clohesy through the midfield, Rhett Murphy, who played a mix of defence and ruck, Andy Leithhead and full-back Josh Monaghan.Matt Jess kicked four goals, including three in the first term.In what was a major blow for the Grasshoppers, coach Ben Martin was stretchered off the ground just before half-time with a knee injury and didn’t return to the field.Meanwhile, in a double celebration for Natte Bealiba, the Swans also won the A-grade netball, beating Navarre 35-27.