Match Reviews | The 2026 BFNL home and away season started with a bang as tight finishes and season starters made the headlines. 

Ballarat ended a run of outs at Mars Stadium dating back to 2022, with an all-the-way win over North Ballarat by 13 points.

The Swans won three quarters and may have won by more given their plus eight advantage of scoring shots (23-15).

Former Adelaide and Western Bulldogs key defender and new Swans recruit Alex Keath was the star of the show marking anything and everything that came his way in transition or turnover.

Rival clubs will need to find a way around the near 200 cm former AFL big man who announced his arrival assuming the role of director general, leading the Swans’ defence.

Tall timber trio Biggie Nyuon (200cm), Patrick Graham (in best) and Keath will remain a season long handful with their reach alone not to mention experience.

The clear beneficiaries of that first use at ground level for the Swans were reigning best and fairest Tristan Maple, Lewis Rinaldi, Fraser Perkins and the speedy Jake Drever.

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