Sport
12 August, 2025
Swans trampled by Talbot’s 105-point onslaught
After 17 gripping rounds of MCDFNL football, we now know who will have the double chance come finals after Talbot overran Natte Bealiba in the second half to win by 47 points and secure their spot inside the top four.
After completing the season double over the Swans last weekend, the Hawks will finish the regular season in second, a remarkable achievement after missing out on finals last season.
Natte’s premiership defence will be extra tricky after the defeat, stricken to an elimination final after finishing as minor premiers last season.
Similarly to their round six encounter, the match was a feisty affair, with both teams playing with an intensity and determination worthy of a finals encounter.
The Swans were hampered by injuries for this clash, most notably player-coach Trent Mortlock, who will likely be sidelined until the latter stages of the finals.
That didn’t stop the visitors from taking the early lead at Talbot Recreation Reserve, showing vigorous initiative with their top four chances at risk.
Key forward Will Holt kicked two early goals for the Swans, while their defence started extremely well, holding Talbot’s high-powered offence to nine points in the first quarter.
Trailing by 11 points at quarter time, the Hawks began to assert their control on the match in the second term, with Jamieson House and Jude McGuire often sending the ball forward.
However, they couldn’t cut down the deficit early, with Holt maintaining his hot start by booting his third goal to give the Swans some breathing room.
The Hawks brought the margin down to five points midway through the term after Charles Aitken scored his first goal in the goal square.
The two teams traded goals through Jayden Templeton and Dean Limbach before Talbot hit the lead for the first time on the eve of half time, thanks to a brilliant effort from Zac Cicchini just outside 50.
That gave the Hawks a four-point lead at the main break.
Not content with their slight lead, Talbot dominated the start of the second half, but wasted some golden opportunities to extend their advantage early.
Even with those missed chances, the hosts continued to have the upper hand throughout the third term, putting the Swans on the ropes with an 18-point lead at three-quarter time after kicking four goals to two.
Natte desperately needed a breakthrough early in the fourth quarter to spark a late-comeback, but Talbot’s Jayson Atkins dashed those plans with a brilliant solo goal to open the scoring in the final term.
After Aitken kicked his third goal for the Hawks a minute after Atkins’ opener, Jordan Fraser provided a lifeline for the Swans with his third goal of the game to reduce the margin to 22 points.
That lifeline was cut by Limbach, who kicked back-to-back goals for Talbot to deliver the dagger to Natte’s top four chances.
After taking some brilliant marks in the forward 50 throughout the fourth quarter, Aitken would put the exclamation point on a brilliant individual performance with his fourth goal as Talbot added another statement win to their resume.
Aitken was named as the Hawks’ best player, joined by House, Alex Marshall, Matthew York, Darcy Osborne and Limbach, who also finished with four goals.
Natte listed Templeton, Daniel Vadala, Kynan Cane, Joshua Grant, Holt and Jordan Fraser as their best players.