Ballaart Times | BALLARAT’S strong recruiting drive for the 2026 BFNL season has reeled in another high quality catch.

The Swans, who will be aiming for a third consecutive year of finals this season, have signed former Western Bulldogs and Adelaide defender Alex Keath.

He is the second former AFL player to land at Alfredton Recreation Reserve in little over a month, following in the footsteps of homegrown product Brad Crouch.The 200cm Keath, a member of the Bulldogs’ beaten grand final side in 2021, will bring valuable experience and leadership to the Swans’ developing playing group.

He joins the club following a stint last season with East Brighton in the Southern Football Netball League, where he played 18 games, kicked 17 goals and featured in the best players eight times.

Ballarat coach Ash Baker said Keath’s experience at the elite level would provide enormous benefit to the club’s young playing group.

“It’s another great opportunity for our young group to learn from someone who’s played 100 games at the highest level,” he said.“

He’s a super quality person, and will add further to the positive culture and standards our group have established.“The conversations I had with Alex in the lead-up to trying to get him across weren’t around his ability – he can play – but about what our boys can learn out on the ground.“That will be astronomical.”

Baker said Keath’s friendship with Crouch – they were Crows teammates from 2016-19 – was instrumental in enticing him to the Swans.

Click here to read the full article