The NEAFL Swans’ season is officially over after falling seven points short of Aspley in Saturday’s Elimination Final in Brisbane.

The Swans produced a gallant performance but were eventually trumped by the reigning premier 9.13 (67) to 9.6 (60) at Carseldine’s Graham Rd Oval.

In a seesawing second half, Aspley kicked crucial goals at crucial stages to provide some breathing space while the Swans failed to find that extra level when needed to wrestle back the ascendency gained before half-time.

The Swans swallowed up a quarter-time deficit by overwhelming the Hornets with defensive pressure and repeat entries. Four unanswered goals were piled on before the hosts hit back to cut the Swans' advantage back to five points at the main break.

But that pressure soon dropped off, the Swans' going goalless in the third term to trail by 13 points at three-quarter-time.

The deficit was pushed out to as much as 20 points at about the 22nd minute mark of a tense final term, the footy slingshotted from one end to the other with the Swans unable to pull the trigger until the game was all but out of reach.

Jack Hiscox slammed through a late goal – his third of the afternoon – to put the visitors to within eight points while Toby Nankervis (two goals) could have given the Swans a fighting chance but for a hurried set-shot that was sprayed to the right hand side.

Hiscox earned full praise post-match by co-coaches Marty Mattner and Jared Crouch, considered among the Swans’ better players alongside fellow midfielders Ben McGlynn and Craig Bird.

McGlynn and Bird will have a lot to say when Match Committee meets to select the senior side ahead of next weekend’s qualifying final against Fremantle with the pair never holding back from beginning to end on Saturday in a bid for AFL recalls.

Close attention and heavy knocks failed to keep the duo down while Harry Marsh, Tom Derickx and Jordan Foote also led the charge in the Swans’ second consecutive away clash against Aspley.

Summary

Aspley    4.1    5.5    7.12    9.13    (67)
Swans    2.1    6.4    6.5      9.6      (60)

Swans Goals: J Hiscox 3, T Nankervis 2, B Kilpatrick, L Behagg, T Derickx, C Bird
Swans Best: H Marsh, C Bird, B McGlynn, J Hiscox, T Derickx, J Foote