Stacey Stevens and Holly Lovegrove, who had never kicked a ball with intent in their lives, donned the Lismore Swanettes guernseys for the first time in the Queensland Amateur Football Association match against Tweed Coast Tigers at Seabreeze Oval, Pottsville last Saturday.

With the rain soaking Lismore, the Swanettes had not trained for nearly three weeks and were excited to get out onto a field where play was possible. In a tight first quarter the Swanettes' Maggie Riley roved around the pack, picked up the ball and slotted it through the posts.

Debutant Swanette Stacey Stevens tries to get a kick away with Olivia Castagna looking on from the ground. Photo: Adrian Etherson Photography

Tweed grabbed the next two goals but the Swanettes fought hard and could not be denied. Players' player Ruby Armbruster kicked a late goal. Tweed Tigers were ahead by behinds.

Swanettes Assistant Coach Salvatore Scholl said Tweed Tigers dominated the second quarter and scored four goals with the Swanettes impotent. Rookie Alissa McWhirter, who started in the middle of the park and impressed with her aggressive tackling style and on ball pressure, suffered a possibly broken nose in the second quarter and had to come off.

At half time Tweed tigers led 6.6 (42) to the Swanettes 2.0 (12)

"A reshuffle had to happen and Laura Cahill, Stella Allen and Pearl Perkins stepping into the middle. Rebecca Brooks and Maggie Riled did a great job supporting them," said Scholl.

Swanette Stella Allen who has played 12 times this season kicks the ball forward when on the run. Photo: Adrian Etherson Photography

"We had a handful of players out and at half-time after a chat with a couple of senior players it was decided to move Maddie Stewart from the ruck where she had excelled in her rookie year, and put her down back, swapping her for Zoe Goodsell, who made up her lack of height by playing smart in the position.

"The changes seemed to play into our hands. The girls were playing off the ruck lady and our back ladies were working hard for each other and things started to look good. Georgina Morris, Lilli Hutchings, Samantha Knight, Maddie Stewart and Raycee Kaimauna Cooke all excelled in the third quarter. Every Swanette gave everything they had.

"Laura Cahill for the third game in a row did a great run from the back line to the forward line, bursting through players. It lifts the other girls when a player does an amazing run like that. The ball was now in our forward 50 and we didn't waste our opportunity. Ruby grabbed her second gola thanks to a sneaky nice kick from Emma Stoddart. Ruby grabbed the mark from Emma's kick and slotted home the goal. We also felt the newcomer Stacey had grabbed a goal in this quarter from a soccer kick off the ground. It was given as a behind. I am still scratching my head over that call."

At the end of the third quarter Tweed Tigers led 6.8 (44) to the Swanettes 3.3 (21).

Lismore Swanette rookie Olivia Castagna has improved out of sight in her 10 matches this season. Photo: Adrian Etherson Photography

"In the final quarter the heat was really kicking in. I don't know how Rebecca Brooks does it but she keeps on running. Zoe and her were everywhere in the last quarter. Kaitlyn Dwyer also got thrown into the middle where she probably hated me over the call. But with the legs starting to burn and players cramping up we need everyone to put in and they did. Olivia Castagna, another rookie player who has improved out of sight, was on song with some defensive plays. She might not be tall but she brings them all down in tackles. She's probably been watching videos of Lilli and her tackling techniques. Olivia is doing a great job," said Scholl.

"Tweed may have grabbed two goals in the ,last quarter but the kick of the day goes to the captain. With Maggie collecting a bouncing ball, brushing off a Tweed Tigers defender before kicking the ball off the outside of her boot to slot an unbelievable second goal of the day."

Ruby Armbruster was named Players Player for her two goals but Scholl said debutant Stacey Stevens went close along with Maddie Stewart, Georgina Morris, Zoe Goodsell and Maggie Riley. The Coaches Award went to Stacey Stevens.

The Swanettes, who have the Premiership for the past two years, have lost 11 matches in succession after beating Tweed Coast Tigers 26-16 in Round 1. There are three rounds to go before the semi-finals.

The next match, promoting the recognition and support of the LBGTIQ+ in the community, sees the Lismore Swans Men's Reserves and Women's sides play the league leaders Byron Magpies in all three categories in a game recognising the LBGTIQ+ in the community at Oakes Oval, Lismore.