One thing was clear for Ballarat coach Rachael Cross on the eve of the season - it was going to be vital to get her combinations working.
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A lot of the Swans' A Grade list carried over from the previous year but found themselves in different areas of the court.
Cross' charges were young but eager.
A 19-point win against Bacchus Marsh was the perfect start to the season, and you can't knock a loss against back-to-back premiers North Ballarat.
What would follow became the Achille's heel of the Swans' season. Results came in clumps.
The North Ballarat loss was followed by two more - a six-goal battle against Redan and a 10-goal defeat to Lake Wendouree.
A timely win would stop the downfall before a 29-point triumph against Sunbury - the Swans' biggest win of the season - sparked a fire that was ultimately doused by the first of the season's COVID interruptions.
The Swans wasted little time on the season's return, upsetting East Point and keeping a grip of fifth spot.
What followed was a familiar pattern - one loss was followed by another before a third-straight defeat was confounded by another COVID break in the season.
When the competition returned again, the Swans stayed on the sidelines, tied down by the bye.
While rivals edged ahead with wins, Ballarat sunk to seventh, six points off the pace.
Then, just like that, another statewide lockdown forced the abandonment of the home-and-away season, some 30-odd days after the Swans last took to the court.
It was a tough finish for the Swans, but the young brigade will bounce back. Defender Indya Forde got better with every game and was named in the Victorian 19-and-under state development squad midway through the season.
RECORD
7th, 4 wins, 6 losses, 20pts, 108.64 per cent
Rd 1: beat Bacchus Marsh, 47-28
Rd 2: def by North Ballarat, 63-49
Rd 3: def by Redan, 41-35
Rd 4: def by Lake Wend., 43-33
Rd 5: beat Darley, 48-40
Rd 6: beat Sunbury, 60-31
Rd 7: beat East Point, 41-23
Rd 8: def by Melton South, 42-36
Rd 9: def by Melton, 49-47
Rd 10: def by Sebastopol, 45-44
Rd: 11 Bye
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