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Capital effort from Swans
4:07:13 PM Sun 18 April, 2004
Matt Burgan
Sportal/Exclusive to afl.com.au
Sydney has won its third match in a row ? and its first home-and-away game at Manuka Oval ? to inflict the Kangaroos? first loss of the season by 51 points in the nation?s capital on Sunday.
The Swans (18.13.121) defeated the Roos (10.10.70) in front of 14,891 ? a new ground record for any event staged the picturesque Canberra venue ? while it was only the home side?s third loss in 10 home-and-away matches at Manuka.
After three impressive Canberra victories in 2004, the Kangaroos fell away dramatically after quarter-time and never looked like getting back into the contest.
After a slow start, the Swans produced some stunning football with Barry Hall starring up forward with four goals, while Jason Saddington was an unlikely hero in front of the big sticks also finishing with four majors.
The underrated Ben Mathews was ultra-consistent right from the start of play and racked up possessions at will to claim 31 touches ? the most for the match.
Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes was at his brilliant best, while midfielders Brett Kirk, Paul Bevan, Jude Bolton and Nic Fosdike notched up close to 100 disposals between them.
In fact, only two players ? Jarrad McVeigh and Ryan O?Keefe ? did not gain more than 10 possessions, yet they were hardly disgraced, such was the overall input from the Swans.
For the Kangaroos, skipper Adam Simpson battled valiantly, Brent Harvey was solid and emerging tall David Hale showed promise with two goals.
The opening term was a highly entertaining contest. The Kangaroos dominated proceedings for the first half of the term, before the Swans? outstanding comeback.
The Roos slammed on five goals in eight minutes to lead by 25 points and should have extended that lead even further had they not posted four behinds in succession.
This left Sydney a window of opportunity to stay in touch and, sure enough, the Swans capitalised.
Barry Hall started to have a greater influence on the game when he kicked the Swans? second goal at the 20-minute mark.
But despite Kangaroos forward Drew Petrie adding his second shortly afterwards, the Swans answered with four consecutive majors in a crucial period for the red and white.
Jason Saddington bobbed up with two in two minutes and when promoted rookie Paul Bevan kicked truly, the Swans reduced the margin back to just one-point at the first change.
Sydney continued its great form in the second term, posting four majors, while holding the Kangaroos goalless. The Roos could muster just two behinds during that period.
The Swans led by 26 points at half-time, but like the Kangaroos in the first term could have had a greater lead, had they not booted five behinds for the quarter.
Sydney?s domination continued after the main break when it piled on six goals to one, to lead by 59 points at three quarter-time.
The Swans added the opening four goals of the quarter ? and in the process notched up its 12th straight goal ? before the Roos could rattle up their first major since the 22-minute mark of the first term.
The news didn?t get any better for the Kangaroos during the third quarter, when former skipper Anthony Stevens was reported for striking Goodes.
With the result never in doubt heading into the final hit-out, the Kangaroos managed to outscore the Swans with three goals to two but it mattered little in the overall wash-up.
KANGAROOS 6.4 6.6 7.7 10.10 (70)
SYDNEY 6.3 10.8 16.1218.13 (121)
GOALS: Kangaroos: Hale 2, B.Harvey 2, Motlop 2, Petrie 2, Grima, Co.Jones
Sydney: Hall 4, Saddington 4, Goodes 2, Kirk 2, Schneider 2, Bevan, Doyle, Kennelly, Maxfield
BEST: Kangaroos: Simpson, Harvey, Hale
Sydney: Hall, Mathews, Goodes, Saddington, Kirk, Bevan, J.Bolton, Fosdike, Kennelly
INJURIES: Kangaroos: TBC
Sydney: C.Bolton (corked thigh), Kennelly (corked thigh)
CHANGES: Kangaroos Harris replaced in selected side by Grima.
Sydney: Nil
REPORTS: Kangaroos: A.Stevens (Kang) reported for striking Goodes (Syd) by field umpire James in the third quarter
Sydney:
UMPIRES: James, Rowston, Morris
CROWD: 14,891 at Manuka Oval (a ground record)
4:07:13 PM Sun 18 April, 2004
Matt Burgan
Sportal/Exclusive to afl.com.au
Sydney has won its third match in a row ? and its first home-and-away game at Manuka Oval ? to inflict the Kangaroos? first loss of the season by 51 points in the nation?s capital on Sunday.
The Swans (18.13.121) defeated the Roos (10.10.70) in front of 14,891 ? a new ground record for any event staged the picturesque Canberra venue ? while it was only the home side?s third loss in 10 home-and-away matches at Manuka.
After three impressive Canberra victories in 2004, the Kangaroos fell away dramatically after quarter-time and never looked like getting back into the contest.
After a slow start, the Swans produced some stunning football with Barry Hall starring up forward with four goals, while Jason Saddington was an unlikely hero in front of the big sticks also finishing with four majors.
The underrated Ben Mathews was ultra-consistent right from the start of play and racked up possessions at will to claim 31 touches ? the most for the match.
Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes was at his brilliant best, while midfielders Brett Kirk, Paul Bevan, Jude Bolton and Nic Fosdike notched up close to 100 disposals between them.
In fact, only two players ? Jarrad McVeigh and Ryan O?Keefe ? did not gain more than 10 possessions, yet they were hardly disgraced, such was the overall input from the Swans.
For the Kangaroos, skipper Adam Simpson battled valiantly, Brent Harvey was solid and emerging tall David Hale showed promise with two goals.
The opening term was a highly entertaining contest. The Kangaroos dominated proceedings for the first half of the term, before the Swans? outstanding comeback.
The Roos slammed on five goals in eight minutes to lead by 25 points and should have extended that lead even further had they not posted four behinds in succession.
This left Sydney a window of opportunity to stay in touch and, sure enough, the Swans capitalised.
Barry Hall started to have a greater influence on the game when he kicked the Swans? second goal at the 20-minute mark.
But despite Kangaroos forward Drew Petrie adding his second shortly afterwards, the Swans answered with four consecutive majors in a crucial period for the red and white.
Jason Saddington bobbed up with two in two minutes and when promoted rookie Paul Bevan kicked truly, the Swans reduced the margin back to just one-point at the first change.
Sydney continued its great form in the second term, posting four majors, while holding the Kangaroos goalless. The Roos could muster just two behinds during that period.
The Swans led by 26 points at half-time, but like the Kangaroos in the first term could have had a greater lead, had they not booted five behinds for the quarter.
Sydney?s domination continued after the main break when it piled on six goals to one, to lead by 59 points at three quarter-time.
The Swans added the opening four goals of the quarter ? and in the process notched up its 12th straight goal ? before the Roos could rattle up their first major since the 22-minute mark of the first term.
The news didn?t get any better for the Kangaroos during the third quarter, when former skipper Anthony Stevens was reported for striking Goodes.
With the result never in doubt heading into the final hit-out, the Kangaroos managed to outscore the Swans with three goals to two but it mattered little in the overall wash-up.
KANGAROOS 6.4 6.6 7.7 10.10 (70)
SYDNEY 6.3 10.8 16.1218.13 (121)
GOALS: Kangaroos: Hale 2, B.Harvey 2, Motlop 2, Petrie 2, Grima, Co.Jones
Sydney: Hall 4, Saddington 4, Goodes 2, Kirk 2, Schneider 2, Bevan, Doyle, Kennelly, Maxfield
BEST: Kangaroos: Simpson, Harvey, Hale
Sydney: Hall, Mathews, Goodes, Saddington, Kirk, Bevan, J.Bolton, Fosdike, Kennelly
INJURIES: Kangaroos: TBC
Sydney: C.Bolton (corked thigh), Kennelly (corked thigh)
CHANGES: Kangaroos Harris replaced in selected side by Grima.
Sydney: Nil
REPORTS: Kangaroos: A.Stevens (Kang) reported for striking Goodes (Syd) by field umpire James in the third quarter
Sydney:
UMPIRES: James, Rowston, Morris
CROWD: 14,891 at Manuka Oval (a ground record)
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