A superb Swans effort brings home the bacon

South Hedland Swans coach Joe Ewan always believed his side was the best in the North Pilbara Football League — it’s just taken until the grand final for the rest of the league to know it.

The Swans went from second to premiers after steamrolling favourites and minor premiers the Karratha Kats by 36 points in the grand final at Kevin Scott Oval on Saturday.

Forty years since the club’s first premiership season, the flag was lifted once more and the historic moment wasn’t lost on players, coaches or supporters.

“We f...... did it boys,” Ewan said at the flag presentation.

“We’ve played hard all season and really turned up today — you boys gave us 80 minutes of football and you deserve this.

“Now let’s get some beers.”

The Swans got off to a flying start in the first quarter, going tit-for-tat with the Kats but emerging better for it, ending the first term up by a goal.

The second quarter was perhaps the defining period, with the Swans putting five goals away without a single behind while holding the Kats to just 1.1 to lead by 29 points at the main break.

Half-time was a tale of two sides, the Kats players looking exhausted, sitting on the ground and wondering if they could recover, while the Swans were all standing, huddled and rearing to go. In the third quarter the Kats give it all they had left but still not enough.

Swans again surged, booting 4.1 while the Kats could only muster two.

The final term felt more a formality than a contest with the Swans holding the ball in midfield and making sure they gave no opportunities for the Kats to pounce.

Some poor accuracy in front of goal meant the small glimpse of hope Kats players had was snuffed out.

The Kats scored 1.5 whilw the South Hedland Swans, went on to seal the emphatic 13.3 (81) to 6.9 (45) victory.

Speaking to the North West Telegraph just seconds after the final siren, South Hedland Swans president Barry Taylor said the win signalled an important step forward for the club.

“It’s fantastic, it’s been a hard year with COVID, the league’s done a great job and it’s been a great contest between the two sides, we’re just lucky enough to come home with the bacon tonight,” Taylor said.

South Hedland Swans captain Pauric Bannon said his team had fought all season and deserved the result on the day.

“We had a tough time with the Kats all year, to come out and play like this in the grand final is just awesome,” he said.

“It’s probably the best four quarters of footy we’ve played all year.”