Chiltern claims maiden TDFL flag after 16-point victory over Kiewa-Sandy Creek

The Swans downed a valiant Kiewa-Sandy Creek 4.9 (33) to 2.5 (17) to finally deliver a fairytale flag to their success-starved supporters.

It was one of the lowest scoring grand finals in league history after only one goal was scored in the second-half.

A former Ovens and King powerhouse, the Swans crossed to the TDFL in 2003.

The closest they had previously come to the ultimate glory was a grand final defeat in 2006 under former coach Brendan Way.

Since then the Swans have only had a handful of finals appearances before the appointment of coach Luke Brookes in 2018 sparked a major turnaround in their fortunes.

Brookes is a Swans legend and one of their most loyal servants after playing more than 300 matches at the club and was captain in their most recent grand final appearance in 2006.

The Swans were bundled out in straight sets in the league's most recent finals series in 2019.

Covid put the brakes on the Swans' premiership aspirations for two years as the club had to patiently wait for another shot at premiership glory.

With the side comprising predominantly local talent, Brookes was able to lure three key signings this year in Barton medallist Scott Meyer, young gun Tom Bracher and Wodonga recruit Rhys Ritchie.

The trio provided three crucial pieces to the Swans' premiership puzzle and helped transform the club into the premier side in the competition.

In a huge occasion, the seconds and fourths were also successful to hand the club a rare trifecta.

Brookes said it was a dream come true to finally deliver the club its maiden flag in the competition.

The victory for Brookes was made even sweeter with his oldest son, Ashton, 18, part of the premiership side.

"It's a dream come true to win the flag with a great bunch of blokes," Brookes said.

"To win all three flags is a momentous accomplishment.

"We came here today hoping to create some history and we were able to achieve that by winning three from three.

"The day started on a high with my youngest son captaining the fourths to victory.

"Now, I got to coach my oldest son to a premiership - so it's been an unbelievable day.

"This means the world to me personally - I got married and had three kids which I rate as the best thing that ever happened to me.

"But winning this flag is the second best thing - it's a proud moment.

"With Ashton winning a senior flag at 18, I couldn't be more proud of my boy.

"He has achieved something that I never did - be a senior premiership player."

The match started with the pristine Sandy Creek surface relatively dry considering the rain that fell in the preceding 24 hours.

There were also some mouth-watering match-ups with Hawks skipper Jed Andrew and Swans young gun Tom Bracher going head-to-head in the midfield.

Unheralded defender Tristan Radley was handed the unenviable task of curbing Connor Newnham while Nic Carney got the job on the league's leading goalkicker in Ethan Boxall.

Kyle Magee landed the first blow for the Swans after being on the receiving end of a lace out pass from Brookes and converted from 30m.

Kyle Cooper then dribbled through a classy goal to hand the Swans a 13 point buffer.

The rain that threatened to arrive started bucketing down as conditions quickly deteriorated.

The Hawks got their first major after the quarter-time siren when Jack McDonald converted from a fortuitous shot from Jake Hicks fell into his lap 20m from goal.

The Swans held an eight point buffer at the first change with Barton medallist Scott Meyer and Tom Bracher having a huge impact.

Bracher bobbed up with the first goal of the second term after finding space inside 50m and converting from directly in front.

Spearhead Mark Doolan then landed a classy snap to hand the Swans a game-high 22 point lead.

Half-way through the term Newnham sent a scare through the Hawks' camp when he jogged to the interchange in discomfort with what looked like a rib injury.

However, the star Hawk returned late in the second term and played the remainder of the match.

The Hawks were kept goalless for the term with the Swans establishing a handy 22 point buffer at the main break.

Rhys Ritchie missed an easy shot at the start of the third term which would have been the first nail in the Hawks' coffin.

Both Scott Bartel and Brad Hibberson also missed gettable shots before Nathan Vogel landed a blow for the Hawks and reduced the margin to 16 points at the seven minute mark.

It would be the final goal of the match with the slippery conditions proving a nightmare for forwards.

Stoppage after stoppage unfolded in the second-half as the match developed into an arm wrestle.

Swan midfielder Brad Hibberson was ferocious in his attack on the ball while Tom Bracher also thrived in the conditions.

The Hawks did their fair share of attacking but couldn't find a marking option inside 50m with defender Fin Lappin taking plenty of intercept marks for the Swans across half-back.

Meyer was also asserting his dominance in the ruck at the stoppages and was a deserved winner of the league medal for the best player on the ground.

Although kept goalless for the term, the Swans still had a handy 17 point buffer at the final break.

The Hawks desperately needed the first goal of the final term if they were to have any hope of mounting a stirring comeback.

However, they were only able to kick one point while keeping the Swans scoreless in one of the lowest grand final scores in league history.

The final siren sparked wild celebrations from the Swans who had finally clinched their first flag in the TDFL after 19-years in the competition.

Brookes revealed that the Swans' final score of 33 points and his premiership side's total player points of 33 was an eerie coincidence after he wore number 33 throughout his 300 plus game career.

"Our final score of 33 - I wore that number in more than 300 matches for this mighty club," Brookes said.

"Our total player points today - 33.

"So it's an incredible omen and make of that what you want."

Brookes was also immensely proud of the club's achievement of winning three flags.

"History says it's hard to do but we are a proud club and we are back where we need to be - back on top," he said.

"We knew it was always going to be a slugfest once the rain came so to get a fast start and kick the first two goals was crucial.

"We came in as favourites which added to the pressure but we knew we were the best side and knew what we had to do today.

"It ended up being a bit of a unique decider - you'd never think four goals would be enough to win a grand final.

"We only kicked three points in the third term and were scoreless in the last.

"But we knew it was never going to be pretty - we just came here to get premiership medals and that's exactly what we got.

"Full credit to the players, they really toughed it out for the four quarters in ordinary conditions.

"A lot of people said Chiltern would need a fast track to use their skills to win the flag.

"But what they underestimated is how tough this group is, we are as tough as any side in the competition and proved that today."

Brookes was grateful for the club including president Tom Lappin for the opportunity to coach.

"I'm proud to be the voice of the club but it's certainly not all about me," Brookes said.

"Tom Lappin backed me in five years ago and took a gamble by appointing a local bloke as coach.

"We tried to get as many local players back to the club as possible and proved dreams do come true.

"Covid was frustrating because we thought we had the side two years ago to do what we did today.

"But we finally got our reward today.

"I will sail off into the sunset now but I feel the club couldn't be in better hands with Tom at the top and Brad Hibberson set to coach."

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