One moment is all it takes to win a game of football and Shepparton Swans learnt that in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday.

While it was a dead-rubber match in the Goulburn Murray Women and Girls League’s final round, Nathalia and the Swans’ youth girls sides were playing for pride in the last game of their seasons.

The result? An all-time thriller.

Throughout four quarters of wet and wild action, the margin remained razor-thin, never more than a single goal and keeping spectators perched on the edge of their seats.

Despite dominating territory in the drizzly conditions, the Swans struggled to convert, managing only three behinds in the opening quarter.

Nathalia’s sole scoring shot converted truly, handing the Purples a three-point advantage at the first break.

The Swans finally capitalised on their momentum in the second term while once again Nathalia had limited opportunities to score.

This time around the Purples were unable to convert their lone shot on goal for the quarter, with the three-point lead now reversed in the Swans’ favour.

As conditions continued to dampen, scoring remained hard to come by in the second half.

Both clubs tallied a goal each in the third quarter, with the Swans’ two extra behinds having the red and white enter the final term with a slim advantage.

The Swans rued another missed shot on goal in the final term to produce a final scorecard of 2.5 (17), but to that stage the lead remained in their favour.

However, Nathalia’s Ruby McIver pounced halfway through the final term to produce a classy match-winner in the wet, the Purples raining on the Swans’ upset chances.

McIver’s goal was the only major of the final term and with desperation to lock the ball at stoppages Nathalia stole a three-point win at Princess Park, despite holding two less scoring shots for the match.

Purples coach Cody Power said a simplified game plan was key to making the most of their limited opportunities in the wet.

“I spoke to the girls before the game and mentioned that the ball would be slippery and on the ground,” Power said.

“Making sure we used space to our advantage, kicking it long when we can and being first to the ball was the key.”

Power lauded her side’s defensive ability throughout the contest as the see-sawing affair never saw a side pull away from the other.

“It was our hardest fought effort from a defensive standpoint,” Power said.

“It was great to finish the season with a win ... and to see the development over the last couple of seasons.”

Summer McIver was Nathalia’s best in the difficult conditions, while Margrethe Calinao and Irish Anderson were admirable for the Swans in the gutting loss.

Across the competition, Moama recorded a shock loss to Shepparton United, the Demons handing the Magpies their second loss of the season.

Moama was held goalless for three quarters before it roared back into the game in the final term, only to fall short by four points at the final siren.

Barooga also caused a boilover against second-placed Echuca United, dominating in the cold to record a 21-point win.

The much-anticipated final round of senior women’s action didn’t fail to deliver either, with everything at stake across all three matches.

Nathalia needed to cause an upset win over Rumbalara to play finals in 2025, or otherwise the final top four spot would be booked for Mansfield.

Trailing at the half, Rumbalara had controlled the tempo and the Purples had the one scoring shot to their name at the long break.

But the premiership quarter kept their premiership ambitions alive.

Three straight goals to no score saw the Purples soar out to a 14-point advantage by three-quarter time.

Rumba are a premiership contender for a reason though and delivered a last quarter response that nearly caused a fatal blow to Nathalia’s campaign.

But a cliche ‘handy point’ in the final term proved decisive for Nathalia, that lone score sending the club through to September action by the slimmest of margins, winning 4.1 (25) to 3.6 (24).

Echuca spoiled Shepparton United’s perfect season with a 20-point victory and, in doing so, laid claim to the minor premiership, while Tatura’s loss to Barooga sees the Bulldogs walk away from season 2025 with the wooden spoon.

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Sunday, 9th July 2023

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