Coach Luke Brookes has delivered on his prediction that Chiltern remained a flag threat after outlasting premiership fancy Kiewa-Sandy Creek by a goal at Chiltern on Saturday.
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Most people predicted the Swans would slide down the ladder this season after the departure of more than half-a-dozen players including match-winner Ricky Whitehead.
Despite the departures Brookes has maintained his faith in the playing group and is on the record of saying that the Swans sit comfortably alongside Tallangatta, Kiewa-Sandy Creek and Barnawartha as legitimate flag contenders.
And it's hard to argue after the Swans made a statement with a stirring 8.12 (60) to 8.7 (55) win over the Hawks who pushed Tallangatta to six points the previous week.
Brookes said he was proud of his players and their ability to walk the walk.
"I said in the lead-up that I didn't subscribe to the popular theory that it was a three-horse race for the flag," Brookes said.
"We got our noses in front at the last break and were tougher for longer in the final quarter.
"We were three goals down at half-time but I thought we had more of the ball but with their experience used the ball a lot better going inside the forward 50.
"At half-time the message was we are right in this game of footy.
"We were able to use the ball better in the second-half and turn things around.
"I just thought we were tougher than them in the end."
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In a low scoring encounter, the Hawks looked the better side during the first-half mainly through the efforts of Dillon Blaszczyk, Nick Beattie and Alexander McDonald.
The home side struggled to find a reliable avenue to goal and were kept goalless in the first-term before booting three goals in the second term to get within 19-points at the main break.
The Swans lifted their workrate in the third term with midfielders Brad Hibberson, Mitchell Hemming, Chris Anderson benefitting from the ruckwork of Kyle Magee.
Magee was in the Swans best for the third successive week as has proven to be one of the recruits of the season in the opening rounds.
Clinging to a six point lead at the final change the Swans were able to hold their nerve in a tense final quarter with only three goals being scored.
Adding further merit to the win, Caleb Boxall missed the second-half with a groin injury.
The Hawks could also have their injury concerns with Michael Thompson and Mitch Paton finishing the match on the bench.
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