After trailing for three-and-a-half quarters, the Swans were staring down the barrel of a third single-figure loss of the season.

But, a captain's goal from Sam James drew the hosts close before a Bailey Van de Heuvel major stole the lead.

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It left Bailey Fraser's late snap to be the exclamation mark on a searing fourth quarter that secured a 9.16 (70) to 9.11 (65) win.

"It was a reward for all the effort these boys have put in," Ballarat coach Joe Carmody said.

"We've lost some close ones this year and even going back to 2019. The effort the boys put in, they've deserved a result like today."

It was a contest defined most by what happened off the field.

East Point's dual-premiership coach Jake Bridges was a notable absentee, having visited emerging COVID hotspot, Sydney midweek.

Come matchday, Bridges was still waiting for the result of a COVID test that would have freed him from home isolation.

The Swans, meanwhile, were buoyed by their inclusions.

Former Hawthorn champion Josh Gibson was a notable debutant, and while he still influenced the affair, more than anything, his presence allowed a teammate to be the matchwinner.

The luxury of having a three-time AFL premiership player in defence allowed the Swans to push Bailey Van de Heuvel forward.

It looked to be a big call, with East Point going on to kick the first three goals of the game unanswered.

But, the Swans bigman was able to find space and take a strong contested mark against an undersized defence.

Van de Heuvel (three goals) slotted the setshot, kickstarting the Swans' fightback.

Carmody said the Swans had tipped Van de Heuvel for the new role for some time.

"We'd planned to do it for a little while now," he said.

"But, with Gibson coming in it, we thought it was the perfect opportunity. He clunked a fair few as well, which was good."

Van de Heuvel's presence up top allowed the Swans to make the most of their limited entries inside 50.

East Point dominated the inside 50 count 12-6 in the first term and largely controlled the second quarter as well.

However, neither side managed to build a buffer.

Two goals apiece saw the Roos enter half-time with a slender one-point lead.

It wasn't until midway through the third quarter that the game opened up.

East Point started to win the clearance battle, and when the Swans were able to get the ball forward, the defensive pairing of James Lukich and Bryson McDougall nullified Van de Heuvel.

The Roos chipped away at the scoreboard, Jake McQueen kicking two goals on his return from a broken wrist, and earned a 13-point lead at three-quarter time.

WATCH BALLARAT COACH JOE CARMODY MOTIVATE HIS PLAYERS BEFORE THE FINAL QUARTER

The final quarter was footy at its hardest; the three weeks spent away from the field only seeming to heighten players' appetites for contests and collisions.

As stoppages increased and the clock ticked away, the Swans' hopes faded.

That was until Ballarat skipper Sam James found himself open 25 metres out from goal and slotted an easy set-shot.

Two more majors would follow, and the hosts were in the front seat.

However, there was still some drama to come.

In the 20th minute, East Point's Chris Carson found himself free out the back. Defensive pressure forced a shot that dribbled along the ground and snuck inside the posts to cut the deficit back to five.

The Roos pushed till the end and had time for one last scare.

In the 25th minute, a hopeful forward entry found its way to an attacker on the goal line. With dreams of a matchwinner, he made his way within metres of the goal, only for the defender to sneak up from behind and demand a rushed attempt.

As the ball sailed across the goal face and ended up out on the full, the reigning premiers resigned themselves to a humbling restart to the season.

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