Under perfect Spring conditions, in front of a monster crowd the Swans won every quarter, providing club favourite and coach Ash Baker the ideal parting gift.
Tony Lockett Medallist Biggie Nyuon thrived on the big stage with six goals to share best on ground medal honours with experienced intercept key defender Alex Keath the AFL Victoria BOG recipient.
The impact of the Swan’s 200cm trio that included Patrick Graham had the last say on the competition’s biggest day, earning complete validation for their ambitious recruiters in the process.
A relatively small side over recent years, the Swan’s gains proved every bit a handful for any side and very much the catalyst in their meteoric rise from sixth last year to 2026 BFNL Premiers.
Baker’s newly crowned champions had plenty of ground level quality to worry the Burra out of it for a second time in a fortnight limiting Tony Lockyer’s men to their third lowest (Grand Final) and lowest (2nd Semi Final) scores of the season.
While it’s all smiles for the Swans camp, the Burra were left disappointed, while proud, pondering missed opportunity and momentum, as their 7.14 scoreline would suggest.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
1st quarter - Ballarat 4.6-30 led Sebastopol 2.4-16
A highly contested opening term had scores virtually even into time on before the Swans kicked two late with a crumbing goal to Wyatt Squires after 24 minutes before a set shot for Tyson Richard gave him his second goal two minutes later.
The Burra missed gettable chances returning 1.3 from set shots while the Swans managed 3.2 including one from Biggie in the seventh minute to kickstart his afternoon.
Fraser Perkins, Squires, Richard and Graham were looking good early for the Swans while Lachie Cassidy and Bailey Medwell were building nicely into the game for the Burra.
2nd quarter - Ballarat 7.7-49 led Sebastopol 4.9-33
An arm wrestle of sorts during the first 14 minutes with the majority of time spent largely in the Sebastopol front half, but the Burra couldn’t impact the scoreboard. The Swans took advantage of their set shots on goal (3.0) through Zach Maple (14 min) and Biggie (17&25 min).
The Burra finally found some reward on the scoreboard in time on through Gedd Hommelhoff (21 min) and Connor O’Shea who finished his work off beautifully with a set shot after the siren to narrow the deficit to 16 points.
3rd quarter - Ballarat 10.10-70 led Sebastopol 5.13-43
Despite an early goal to Joel Edwards, the Burra’s struggles to get bang for buck for time spent in their forward half continued to haunt them as the Swans pounced with three goals in five minutes through the middle stages. Biggie kicked goal number four and five while Alex Keath began to impact in defence with his trademark intercept marking and distribution.
Post the 16-minute mark and goal for Swan’s utility Paddy Simpson out of stoppage, the remainder of the term was more a dour and desperate affair, symptomatic of the occasion. The Burra were rushed at times, played with urgency at the expense of assuredness while the Swans were relatively calm with a commanding 27-point lead.
4th quarter - Ballarat 13.12-90 def. Sebastopol 7.14-56
Henderson Medal runner up Jack Bambury goaled in the opening two minutes to narrow the margin back to 21 and give the Burra a pulse.
Lachie Cassidy hit the post moments later to make it two posters in a row from set shots for the blue and gold after Lockyer suffered the same fate from the boundary late in the third term.
When Biggie locked in his sixth for the afternoon, his fourth in general play at the eight-minute mark, you could feel the oxygen drain from the Burra’s afternoon long challenge.
Luke Kiel goaled at the 13-minute mark to restore some energy into the blue and gold army but goals to Wyatt Squires and Jake Drever put the result beyond doubt sending Swan’s fans into raptures. The bevy under Baker become the next band of immortals honoured at the Ballarat Football Netball Club.
Commiserations to the Burra, it just wasn’t their day (3.8 from set shots to 7.5 didn’t help), as their frustrating premiership drought extends for another year. Definitely the glass half full scenario for the Burra in summary, there’s no doubting they’ll be back in 2027 giving fans another reason to hope.
All honours with the Swans - now crowned champions in arguably one of the more difficult BFNL seasons of recent times.
Congratulations!
Stats that Mattered
Alex Keath (Ballarat) - 19 disposals, 11 intercept possessions, 7 marks
Biggie Nyuon (Ballarat) - 10 disposals, 8 score involvements, 6 goals, 5 marks inside 50
Lachlan Cassidy (Sebastopol) - 33 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 8 clearances
Thomas Simpson (Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 10 tackles
Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol) - 26 disposals, 11 1%ers, 11 intercept possessions
Coaches’ Verdict
Ash Baker (Ballarat)
“Firstly to Tony and your boys at Sebas - you’ve been a super side all year and unfortunately there can only be one winner on the day. We at Ballarat feel privileged to have shared the last game of the year with Sebas. Couldn’t be prouder of our boys for their efforts across the entire day. We were able to open up a slight lead early in the game and had to work hard all day to keep our noses in front. Sebas, true to their form, never went away and kept pressing across all four quarters. We were able to keep responding to the challenges thrown at us, which was really pleasing.”
Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
“Congrats to Ash and Ballarat on taking out the title. Top quality side who certainly hit their straps at the right time of year. Well done to them - enjoy. Immensely proud of our Burra club and community. Striving for success over many years now and unfortunately just fell short on the final day again. A few more moments taken and it could very well be a different finish to 2026. Fine margins. Thank you to everyone who has supported me as coach and contributed the last 3 years. Greatly appreciated. Lastly a big shoutout to the loyal crew behind the scenes who dedicate themselves to the Burra, through both the good and tough days. A tough day yesterday but we will celebrate the success of 2026 and take comfort knowing that the good times will continue as the next Burra chapter begins”
Final scores
Ballarat: 4.6-30, 7.7-49, 10.10-70, 13.12-90 def.
Sebastopol: 2.4-16, 4.9-33, 5.13-43, 7.14-56
Ballarat (Goals): B.Nyuon 6, T.Richard 2, W.Squires 2, Z.Maple,J.Drever, P.Simpson
Sebastopol (Goals): J.Edwards 2, A.Munari, C.O’Shea, J.Bambury, G.Hommelhoff, L.Kiel
Ballarat (Best): B.Nyuon, A.Keath, Z.Rinaldi, F.Perkins, T.Simpson, T.Maple, W.Squires, P.Graham
Sebastopol (Best): L.Cassidy, C.Littlehales, B.Medwell, T.Lockyer, G.Hommelhoff, B.Hutt
