Reserves Report

[ugg]

Changes from last game:
In: Schauble, Fixter (yes he acutally exists), Bevan
Out: Nicks, Willoughby (no idea why), top-up player Hodge
Still missing: Spriggs

1st Quarter
Swans 2.2 (14) Queanbeyan 3.1 (19)
Didn't catch this quarter at all.

2nd Quarter
Swans 10.8 (68) Queanbeyan 4.3 (27)
There was a deadly silence as I walked into the ground, no doubt the crowd was shocked by the fact the Swans were trailing. Inspired by my presence, or more likely a spray from the coach, they proceeded to kick the next 6 goals of the quarter.

3rd Quarter
Swans 14.12 (96) Queanbeyan 5.8 (38)
Some good action in this quarter, the Tigers had their chances but failed to put the goals on the scoreboard. The Swans defence led by Campbell and Grundy were put through their paces.

4th Quarter
Swans 26.15 (171) Queanbeyan 5.10 (40)
Once the young Swannies got the first couple in the last, the Tigers heads dropped and their intensity fell away. Also, due to the superior fitness of the Swans, they kicked away in the last. The midfield completely dominated in this quarter, with many of them pushing forward to kick easy goals.

Goals: Schneider 5, Malceski 4 Saddington 3 Bevan 3 Sundqvist 3 Vogels 2 James 2 Schmidt 2 Potter 1 Schauble 1

If I had to give votes a la the Troy Luff medal (perhaps we should have one for the reserves, the Scott McGlone medal maybe?), they would be as follows:
3 - Malceski - As mentioned by liz in the other thread he was totally outstanding. To dominate when your side wins by 21 goals is no mean feat. The thing I liked about his play was that his kicking was excellent. He kept it low and direct, unlike the up-and-unders or floaters many of senior midfielders tend to do. We've been searching for an attacking midfielder for some time, I reckon we could have found him here. Clean pickups and also drifted forward to kick goals. Just shades McVeigh's 8-goal 40-possession game as the best reserves performance I've witnessed.
2 - Much harder to hand out the other votes. I'd probably give 2 to Schmidt, who worked tirelessly in the middle and did well in the clearances. He's been consistent in the reserves matches I've seen.
1 - Sundqvist - I think he offers something different in the midfield. He's tall and lanky as opposed to some of our shorter midfielders. He has good pace and finishes well. I thought some of his decision making and use of the ball was excellent.

Honourable mentions - Schneider (some nice contested marks although it was in the 4th qtr when the game was dead), Powell (much better attack on the ball than I've seen for a long time), Saddington (did well early, but I didn't see him that much in the 2nd quarter)

Overall, it was disappointing that Queanbeyan went down by this margin. They're one of the stronger teams in this competition and I was expecting a lot more from them. Credit still must go to the Swans who maintained a high work rate throughout.

Here's roughly how the reserves lined up:
B: Hayes Campbell Fixter
HB: Davis Grundy Powell
C: Clarke Sundqvist Potter
HF: Schneider Vogels Saddington
F: James Schauble Bevan
R: Ericksen Malceski Schmidt
Int: Shaw Garrubba Quade

[BonBon]

We're still undefeated, right? It amazes me how we kill the opp team. I'd rather the 2's and Seniors be swapped.

[ugg]

Wouldn't make much of a difference. The umpires don't like the reserves either.

[BonBon]

Pity.

[midaro]

The reserves are the single biggest problem facing the Swans right now. Someone really needs to make a fuss about this quickly - we cannot play in the Canberra league again next year.

[ugg]

Maybe we should play in the SANFL. I notice one S.McGlone is tearing it up for South Adelaide.

Seriously, we've played 2 years previously and haven't made the grand final. I think we're much better this year because:
* Less injuries, I can't remember another game where we haven't used topup players.
* Recruited KPP like Campbell, Grundy, Vogels and Shaw. I think we were quite depleted in this area in the past. I remember that Scott Stevens had to play in the ruck in one reserves game.

[liz]

Originally posted by midaro
The reserves are the single biggest problem facing the Swans right now. Someone really needs to make a fuss about this quickly - we cannot play in the Canberra league again next year.

I don't completely buy this argument though, because all four of the players who have come into the senior team this year for the first time have looked fine at AFL level. If they were all at sea at senior level despite dominating at reserves level, it would be a concern, but they're not.

[Glenn]

The sooner Sydney has a team in the VFL (as a standalone team, no just a few players playing for one club) the better, but can't see that happening anytime soon

[ugg]

Originally posted by Glenn
The sooner Sydney has a team in the VFL (as a standalone team, no just a few players playing for one club) the better, but can't see that happening anytime soon

Can someone clarify something for me? This rule of having only 12 players playing for the VFL club is something that applies to all AFL clubs that have a VFL affliate?

[Foreign Legion]

Originally posted by midaro
The reserves are the single biggest problem facing the Swans right now. Someone really needs to make a fuss about this quickly - we cannot play in the Canberra league again next year.

100% correct - this is a joke.

[ROK Lobster]

Thanks for the report Ugg.

I think the criticisms of the reserves situation are a little premature. If this happens again next year then maybe it is time to look to alternatives, but I saw the reserves get belted a few times last year. Injuries, and the drafting of some more mature players has helped. Belconnen (who have won the last three flags) lost a few experienced players. Ainslie have fallen away a bit, I don't know why. I have watched Queanbeyan a couple of times and they are a pretty good outfit. I must say I was surprised to see that the score blew out like it did. Was good to hear that part of the reason that it did was some good defensive work in the first half. Lets wait 'till they have won it two or three years in a row before we move on. Belconnen won the last three, they haven't gone to the VFL.

[Jeffers1984]

Malceski definately has to find a way back into the senior team, as he deserves to be awarded for his solid performances.

Schmidt is another who should get a taste of it later this year. That guy is built like a brick ****house. I even confused him with Vogels a few times even though there is such a height difference between the two. No wonder this boy was compared to Riccutto (in size. And ability? Can't remember) at draft camp.

[ItsAllGoodes]

As (perhaps) an interesting point of comparison I watched Port Melbourne (our former VFL affiliate) play yesterday and saw Josh Thewlis play

He did a few good things, kicked a few goals, but at that level looked only a 'good average' player

I think we have to say that at the moment, the fact that we have a good 'team' of players in our Reserves, rather than a 50/50 team with top-up players,is the main reason we are doing so well. And the form of Dempster, Moore, Malceski etc when they have had a run in the seniors is not indicating that they are being harmed playing at that level.

The true test is next year...if Schmidt, Willoughby etc dont kick on then we may have a problem

[stellation]

What about Sydney providing an even split of players to the teams in the ACT AFL instead of fielding their own team?

[liz]

Originally posted by stellation
What about Sydney providing an even split of players to the teams in the ACT AFL instead of fielding their own team?

That would be worse, IMO. At least with the current system they are playing together, learning about each other and can play to the Swans "system". Farming out a handful of players each week to play with Weston Creek, for example, would be far more harmful to their development than them playing in a team that regularly wins by 100+ points.

I know the SA and WA teams have to work in a spread-out structure but I suspect they'd rather they didn't. And at least the SANFL and WAFL are decent, semi-pro competitions with few really really poor teams.