The Swans clung onto a two-goal lead at the final change and held their nerve in a tense final quarter to stun the previous ladder leader, 10.10 (70) to 9.8 (62).

Federal went into the clash undermanned missing coach Matt Jones, No. 1 ruckman Ash Tyrell, Josh Whitty, Matt Murphy and last season’s best and fairest winner Josh Jarvis.

Jarvis will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder reconstruction.

Swans reserves players Robert Shoebridge and Nick Sheather were forced to double up to help cover the crippling injury toll.

Jones, in his first year in charge of the Swans, labelled the win as the club’s finest.

“I wouldn’t say it was unexpected but definitely one of the club’s best wins in the last two or three seasons for sure,” Jones said.

“No doubt the slippery conditions helped us because they had a lot of talls that weren’t suited by the conditions.

“But I suppose the positive is we have got up to five blokes to come back into the side.

“And if we can pick up another one or two before clearances close we should be right in the mix come finals.”

In other matches, Cudgewa remains the only unbeaten side after a 68-point win over Border-Walwa.

Defending premier Tumbarumba remains winless after going down to Bullioh by nine points.