Early in the season, with Seymour’s numbers at their lowest, the Swans handed out a 16-goal hiding, but with some key players out on that day and some late season recruitment, the game was eagerly anticipated by the Lions.
In scenes reminiscent of the previous round, Seymour's day started with a knee injury to Mani Foubister. Ironically, her sister Asha badly hurt her ankle in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.
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Unsettled, the Lions gave away three goals against the wind.
What would happen next was up to the team and a slow turn about came from the likes of Issy Symes, Em Chapman and Lucy Dawe who began to control the midfield.
With some reward for effort, both teams scored a goal each and the Lions felt they were starting to win contests with notable efforts from Mikayla Delaney and Ruby Cook.
The third term against the wind was inspiring with the Lions’ defence led by Kaitlyn Sweet and Tanisha Welsh. Lucy Dawe kicked a goal and, with a bit of luck, more scoreboard pressure could have really played on the Swans’ minds.
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In the last quarter, the Lions’ running game opened up via Rocket Ford and Olivia McGie.
In the last few minutes of the game, Welsh, who was moved from full-back to full-forward, kept in a ball that appeared to be rolling out of bounds, then threw off a would-be tackler and, while being tackled by another Swans defender, held her ground and put through a very inspiring goal.
Not to be outdone, some outstanding ground work and harassing from Imogen Lynch and Gabby Marrinan saw a long bomb clear heads and who should be running goalward but Clodagh McCarthy, who managed to control a wildly bouncing ball and slot through her first ever goal in football.
The last two minutes of the match were a sight to behold and while the Lions finished a goal down, the momentum of breaking open a very good team felt like a win.
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The Lions are scheduled to face Moama next week in a match that appears unlikely to go ahead due to COVID-19 restrictions, but there’s no doubt the Lions look forward to finals however that may look.
Fingers are also crossed for Mani and the side hopes she is back for finals.
● If there is an aspiring coach out there, the Lions have a team of young girls needing someone to help take them on in 2022. Don’t be afraid to experience the satisfaction of seeing these young ladies get better every week. You never know, you may even get your hair braided.
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