Reserves v Belconnen

[ugg]

Here's the team list: http://www.sydneyswans.com.au/Season...8/Default.aspx

Midfield looks pretty bare without the usual dominators in Schmidt, Moore and Jack & Spriggs and Willoughby from previous years. Could the winning streak end today?

[ItsAllGoodes]

This is obviously a test for the depth of the team given Belconnen look to be the second best team in the comp. But if players like Doyle and Laidlaw and Grundy and Phillips etc are going to be potential AFL senior players then this is their opportunity to show how good they are

[swans song]

Anyone speaking to anyone at the game? Around half time

[ROK Lobster]

Sydney 19.10.124 d Belconnen 13.12.90

After Belconnen kicked the first 2 of the match the Swans kicked the next followed by 6 striaght behinds (or crooked behinds) before they kicked their second. Belconnen and Sydney both kicked one more each before Reg missed on the siren. 3.7 to 3.1 in the first of four quite physical quarters. Reg copped quite a nasty late and high knock late into time on in the first. Swans were certainly not dominating with Belco playing a tight game and not giving any of the youngsters much room to move.

Belconnen kicked the first goal of the second quarter, followed quickly by two from Sydney. Belconnen responded from the centre bounce with one of their own. Sydney goaled from the restart. What had been a tight first quarter looked set to become a shoot out in the second with both sides finding space and room on the big arena. When Sydney kicked their 5th (and the 7th for the quarter) inside the 10 minute mark it looked as though another blow out was on the cards. To their credit Belco dug in, manned up, and the game became a slog. No more goals were seen in the second quarter and at half time it was 8.9 to 5.4.

Belconnen applied plenty of pressure ealry in the 3rd term and scored 2 of the first 3. Belconnen were probably the better side until into time on when Brazabon began to dominate through the middle,scoring one for himself and having a hand in another. Kristin Thorton stood up at the same time, kicking a couple. Thornton and Brazabon were the difference around the ground deep into the third really setting up the victory as Sydney slipped out to a 15.10 to 8.8 3 qtr time lead.

The final quarter saw Belconnen fight hard to close the gap, kicking the first 2 and going goal for goal with the Swans until full time. They would not give in and this rerally was a contest to the end, with only the late 3rd quarter rally the difference between the teams.

This is the first time I have seen the 2's this year and without Spriggs, Schmidt and Moore in the middle and no Vogels at one end, they are a different outfit. The engine is not as hard nor as coordinated. Spriggs, Schmidt and Moore had formed an excellent unit, seeming to clear the ball from packs with ease. It was much harder for the Swans today and was a very good match. Sydney's 4th quarter goals were all agiant the "run of play" and basically came out of there being so much space for younger, fitter legs to run into. Belconnen applied plenty of pressure and probably had the better of the play, especially in the 4th. A tall/mobile option up front could well have made the difference for them today. All in all, and enjoyable afternoon in the sun. I would like to give a more detailed report of individual players but had 3 eight year olds with me. Doyle was good at full forward and spent plenty of time around the ground, running out the match pretty well. Luke Brennan looked good at time but struggled to get into I thought. Some of the top ups played well, really had a go and did some good stuff. Names - no idea sorry.

Scores: Sydney 19.10.124 d Belconnen 13.12.90
Sydney goals: Doyle 4, Thornton 3, Bevan 2, #50 2, O'Dwyer, #54, Barlow, Grundy, Brabazon...

plus 3 I missed. Don't think Flipper got one (bugger).

Lobster's best: Brabazon, Thornton, Doyle then the rest were pretty even. A mention to Phillips but I wish they would not all do the same things to their hair...

[liz]

Belconnen look to be the one team capable of giving the Swans' youngsters a real game. With the likes of Moore and Schmidt not there, the core on-ball brigade would be very much the second division, with players like DOK, Smith, O'Dwyer all pretty skinny. Against a team capable of applying some pressure, it's not surprising that they didn't look particularly slick.

Great to read the Brabazon has backed up from last week's performance with another.

Footnote - here are the top up players this week from the Swans' website

50 BRUEST, Luke
51 BRYCE, Josh
52 DOUGLAS, Mal
54 WILKINSON, Liam
55 SQUIRES, Cameron

[ROK Lobster]

Belconnen look to be the one team capable of giving the Swans' youngsters a real game. With the likes of Moore and Schmidt not there, the core on-ball brigade would be very much the second division, with players like DOK, Smith, O'Dwyer all pretty skinny. Against a team capable of applying some pressure, it's not surprising that they didn't look particularly slick.

Great to read the Brabazon has backed up from last week's performance with another.

Footnote - here are the top up players this week from the Swans' website

50 BRUEST, Luke
51 BRYCE, Josh
52 DOUGLAS, Mal
54 WILKINSON, Liam
55 SQUIRES, Cameron

Someone wore 49? Bruest was probably the standout.

I think that as well as lacking the skills and physical-ness of Spriggs, Schmidt and Moore, the lack of older heads in the middle is noticeable too. There is an element of the frantic about their play at times, and a bit of excitement in the directiosn coming from a multitude of sources. I would not be surprised if Belconnen or Ainslie provide a real challenge this year, which would be excellent.

[ugg]

Sportingpulse: http://www.sportingpulse.com/round_i...1449-0&pool=-1

49 is usually Craig Bird but he wasn't listed in that first link.

[liz]

plus 3 I missed. Don't think Flipper got one (bugger).

Looks like you can breathe a sigh of relief. And you failed to mention any to Laidlaw too, you tease

[ROK Lobster]

Looks like you can breathe a sigh of relief. And you failed to mention any to Laidlaw too, you tease

Seriously, I did miss a few and was not teasing. I hoped Flipper was one but did not think he was. I had entertained the thought of saying Phillips kicked them all

[satchmopugdog]

Thanks you lot for the round up. It is good that some of the younguns got some work under pressure.

[Damien]

Heard DOK did his hamstring Thursday night and is out for four weeks.

Can you confirm he didn't play ROK?

[swans song]

Brabazon playing midfield another good performance, great to hear.
Thats his position. He gets plenty of it.

[ROK Lobster]

Heard DOK did his hamstring Thursday night and is out for four weeks.

Can you confirm he didn't play ROK?

I didn't see #8 today.

[ROK Lobster]

Sportingpulse: http://www.sportingpulse.com/round_i...1449-0&pool=-1

49 is usually Craig Bird but he wasn't listed in that first link.

Looking at that link I may have confused Laidlaw with Thornton once or twice, when they were down the other end. Probably why I did not notice Laidlaw much, and thought that Thornton was everywhere!

[SimonH]

Thanks ROK. If we could play a team of Belconnen standard each week, we'd have no complaints at all about AFL Canberra. They must be only a few goals behind a VFL/SANFL team in quality; which is pretty remarkable when you compare the quality and quantity of footballers in the catchment areas.

The major point of playing a 2nds team is to have blokes who come from the arse end of the draft, who most recruiters wouldn't give you 2 bob for, who come from nowhere and prove that they deserve a spot in the senior side. If he can keep up his last 2 weeks' form, Brabazon might become one of those blokes. Good on 'im.