Football
29 May, 2025
Tigers return to winning form
Pimpinio overcame a spirited Swift outfit to win their Horsham District Football Netball League round seven clash on Saturday.
Coming off the bye, the Tigers defeated Swifts 9.8 62 to 6.9 45 at Pimpinio Sporting Complex.
Connor O’Dwyer got Pimpinio rolling with his second-minute goal as the home side took a 40-11 lead into halftime on the back of a four-goal second quarter.
Swifts fought back to be down just seven heading into the final term before a composed Tigers unit brought home the win.
Pimpinio coach Guy Smith was confident going against a depleted Swifts team, but the Tigers themselves faced in-game injury issues, with four players going down.
“We knew that Stawell were severely undermanned because they had some injury concerns and unavailabilities leading into the game,” Smith said.
“We knew that if we just played some good footy and played our style, we would get over the top of them, but we weren't expecting to not have a bench by halftime, and that hurts.”
Smith was pleased with the team’s finish to the game after the Swifts’ third-quarter response.
“We knew they (Swifts) were going to come at us pretty hard in the third, so we had to work it through and defend a little bit,” Smith said.
“By the last quarter, we took back control of the game and were able to finish it off a lot better.”
Jason Westley and Oscar Hahn were Pimpino’s best on ground, while Jesse Galea-Portelli and Liam Scott were among Swifts’ best.
Westley kicked three majors for the Tigers, and Ryan Folkes led the Swifts with three himself.
The Pimpinio coach credited co-coach Westley and young guns Oscar Hahn and Austin Simpson for their performances.
“Jason Westley, he was unreal, led from the front,” Smith said.
“We have two young superstars in our playing group who are changing the game a bit.
“Oscar Hahn, he’s been great for us this year, playing super well on the wing, and then Austin Simpson has come from 17s and is playing really well for us up forward.”
The result lifts Pimpinio to third on the league ladder, with the Swifts shifting to fifth.
– MACKENZIE BOOK