Bombers end Swans’ season with Coffs win

THE SYDNEY Swans fell agonisingly short of a spot in this season’s AFLW finals series, going down by three points to the Essendon Bombers during their final round match in Coffs Harbour.

The Bombers ended the Swans season with a gruelling 2.2 (14) to 1.5 (11) victory at a rain and wind-swept C.ex Coffs International Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.

The Victorians snapped an eight-game losing streak to end their season on a high, with the Swans rueing what could have been as a victory would have seen them play finals.

Saturday afternoon’s thunderstorm meant the match was delayed by 35 minutes.

It was a hard slog in the wet and windy conditions, with the Bombers having the better early running in the first quarter.

They locked it in their forward half, starving the Swans of forward 50 entries, with scoring naturally hard to come by in a grind for territory advantage as the Bombers took a two-point lead into quarter time.

The hard slog continued, as the Bombers maintained their territory advantage and were rewarded with the first goal of the game courtesy of Bonnie Toogood with six minutes to go until half time.

They took a seven-point lead into half-time having won the territory battle with 23 inside 50s to the Swans’ eight.

The defensive stalemate continued into the third quarter, with the Swans having the better chances but unable to convert.

The Bombers defence continued to keep them goalless as they took a six-point lead into the final quarter.

Essendon kicked a dagger in the opening minute, with a Sophie Alexander goal extending the lead to 14-2.

The Swans then had a number of chances but could only kick behinds.

Zippy Fish finally broke through for the Swans’ first goal with a great snap on the run with four minutes to go, setting up a grand stand finish.

But the Bombers held off a fast-finishing Swans side for a memorable upset victory.

By Aiden BURGESS