VFL Round 14: Sydney Swans Reserves v UWS Giants

[ugg]

NEAFL Round 14
Sydney Swans Reserves v UWS Giants
Sunday 30th June 2012 4.00pm
ANZ Stadium

The Reserves take on a struggling Giants team, who due to their senior team's long injury list and Sheedy and Williams' penchant for giving their young players a rest on a rotational basis, have taken some real beatings in the NEAFL this season. While they lie 6th, one spot out of the Top 5, they are 3 games and a gargantuan 50 percentage points away from 3rd place Ainslie. They lost their 5th match on the trot last week, against the previously winless Tuggeranong.

The Swans on the other hand, are in a patch of good form, having won 6 games in a row since their dramatic fadeaway against the NT Thunder.

Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R1 UWS Giants 4.9 (33) defeated by Reserves 23.13 (151) @ ANZ Stadium

The Swans began their NEAFL season with a bang kicking 8 goals in the first quarter and keeping the hapless and undermanned Giants scoreless. The rout continued throughout the game, with Mark Seaby, Jarred Moore and Dylan McNeil dominating the clearances, and Trent Dennis-Lane and Jesse White finishing off their teammates' good work with 10 goals between them.

Goals: Dennis-Lane 6, White 4, Seaby 2, Lamb 2, Pyke 2, Moore 2, Cass 2, Biggs, McNeil, Morton
Best: Seaby, Dennis-Lane, Moore, White, Lynch, McNeil

2011
R6 GWS 3.9 (27) defeated by Reserves 12.15 (87) @ Manuka Oval

GWS were much improved from their previous showing against the Reserves, and managed to keep the contest low-scoring and tight right up till the end of the 3rd quarter. The Swans kicked away in the last quarter but onlookers left very impressed with the disciplined and well-drilled side that Sheedy and Choco have managed to build up. Luke Parker was immense in the midfield and up forward, earning a debut in the next week based on this performance. Lewis Johnston and Chris McKaigue were lauded for their defensive work, especially their spoiling down back.

Goals: White 3, Haren 2, E.Moody 2, Dennis-Lane 2, Parker, Bevan, McNeil
Best: Parker, Johnston, McKaigue, Thompson, Roberts-Thomson, McNeil

R12 GWS 3.11 (29) defeated by Reserves 17.13 (115) @ Blacktown Olympic Park

A tight and intriguing struggle developed during the early stages of the game where GWS's pressure and tackling strangled the Swans' movement of the ball. After an adjustment during the second quarter where the Sydney players started to kick longer and more direct, they managed to break the Giants' swarm and coast to a comfortable victory. Daniel Currie starred both in the ruck and at full forward finishing with 4 goals. Luke Parker was the pick of the dominant midfielders.

Goal Kickers: Currie 4, Gordon 3, White 2, Dennis-Lane 2, Otten 2, Everitt 2 McNeil, Meredith
Best Players: Parker, Heath, Meredith, White, Gordon, Currie

R17 Reserves 9.3 (57) defeated by GWS 18.13 (121) @ Blacktown Olympic Park

Bad weather saw resulted in this SCG-scheduled match being relocated to the Giants' training ground. With only 9 listed players on the ground and 13 topups lining up, the team started well and were still in the game at half time but fell away in the 2nd half.

Goal Kickers: Dennis-Lane 2, Moore, Gordon, Murphy, White, Potter, McNeil
Best Players: Potter, Gordon, Moore, White, McNeil, Murphy

Recent Form
Reserves
R1 UWS Away WIN 151-34
R2 BYE
R3 Gold Coast Home LOSS 55-91
R4 Ainslie Away LOSS 85-111
R5 Tuggeranong Home WIN 213-41
R6 NT Thunder Away LOSS 90-112
R7 Sydney Uni Away WIN 239-36
R8 Brisbane Away WIN 120-86
R9 Eastlake Home WIN 144-43
R10 Gold Coast Home WIN 109-56
R11 Queanbeyan Away WIN 137-96
R12 BYE
R13 Sydney Uni Home WIN 188-40

UWS Giants
R1 Sydney Home LOSS 34-151
R2 BYE
R3 Brisbane Home LOSS 81-109
R4 Hills Eagles Home WIN 130-94
R5 Queanbeyan Home WIN 98-94R6 Eastlake Away LOSS 85-103
R7 BYE
R8 Gold Coast WIN 90-75
R9 Brisbane Away LOSS 33-274
R10 Hills Eagles Away LOSS 27-136
R11 BYE
R12 NT Thunder Away LOSS 93-139
R13 Tuggeranong Away LOSS 89-118

Last Round
Reserves 28.20 (188) defeated Sydney Uni 6.4 (40) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
The Swans were taken aback by Uni's early challenge in the first quarter but wrested control back in the second, before going on to completely dominate the second half, kicking 16 goals to 1 in that period. Rookie listed player Shane Biggs was incredibly clean and efficient off a wing while Trent Dennis-Lane also impressed despite only suiting up for the first half.

Goals: Morton 6, Gordon 5, Spangher 4, White 3, Cunningham 2, Mitchell 2, Walsh, Seaby, Dennis-Lane, Biggs, Lynch, McNeil
Best: Biggs, Dennis-Lane, Cunningham, Moore, Dunn, Morton

Tuggeranong 18.10 (118) defeated UWS Giants 13.11 (89)
Without a permanent head coach but with the talents of ex-Brownlow medallist Jason Akermanis at their disposal, the Hawks bombarded the Giants with a clinical and ferocious 2nd half display to overrun the tiring young UWS legs. Former VFL midfielder Stephen Clifton was the Giants' best in his comeback game.

Goals: Clifton, Hoskin-Elliott, Eastman, Tomlinson, Hampton, Golds
Best: Elkington, McConnochie, Everett, Cole, Lee, Edwards

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In:
Out: Seaby (injury), Morton (???)

In most other teams losing your leading goalkicker, who has averaged just a tick below 5 goals a game this year would be a severe blow to the team's structure and chances of winning. However for the Reserves, they still have plenty of firepower left in their arsenal - TDL, White, Spangher, Gordon and Walsh are all noted goalkickers and each has kicked at least 4 goals once so far this season.

Academy Players/Topups
Changes
In: Broome, Crawford, Kilpatrick, Moody, Plug
Out: Nathan Bosschieter, Jack Davis, James Dunn, Calum Johnston, Sam Naismith

Broome is an interesting selection, he left West Coast due to homesickness reasons (comes from a remote WA town). He is a small forward (and the Swans may have found someone shorter than Moody, listed at 169cm!) with lightning pace and an eye for goal.

RAMS playing 2 matches this weekend, so Swans players in that team unavailable.

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Mitch Morton 53
• Nathan Gordon 20
• Tommy Walsh, Jesse White 17

For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Jarred Moore 35
• Mark Seaby 24
• Shane Biggs, Trent Dennis-Lane, Tommy Walsh 16

For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki

UWS Giants

• 4. Israel FOLAU
• 13. Sam DARLEY
• 15. Tom GOLDS
• 19. Nick HAYNES
• 21. Matthew BUNTINE
• 24. Stephen CLIFTON
• 27. Andrew PHILLIPS
• 32. Gerald UGLE
• 36. Jack HOMBSCH
• 42. Mark WHILEY
• 43. Kurt AYLETT
• 44. Tom DOWNIE
• 47. Josh BRUCE
• 48. Sam FROST
• Logan AUSTIN
• L CARTER
• Matthew EASTMAN
• Yoshi HARRIS
• Christopher JANSEN
• Dominic KILLWORTH
• Karl MERSON
• Ben WHARTON

Summary
The Swans will start hot favourites given their form and the Giants' depleted lineup.

[jono2707]

Thanks Ugg - great write-up as usual. I'll be out there early tomorrow to take in the game - looking forward to seeing Mitchell in action especially. Lewis Broome will be an interesting one too...

[Gezball]

Broome's player profile at West Coast:

http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/players/playerprofile/lewisbroome/tabid/7302/playerid/21685/category/past/season/2012/selected/bio/default.aspx

Hey Ugg, any idea why he's popping up playing for our reserves? I can only guess that we must have some interest in seeing him play?

[wolftone57]

Thanks Ugg great job as usual. I remember a Broome playing for the Glenelg Reserves years ago. He topped the goal kicking in the comp at FF. The thing that is so remarkable about this feat is that he only had one a half arms. He took all his marks one handed of course. He played 10 'A' Grade games and kicked 6 goals in one match against South Adelaide. Amazing story of overcoming adversity. Maybe young Broome will overcome his lack of height to become an 'A' Grade pocket rocket? I know about lack of height I must have been hiding behind the door when the legs were given out lol!

[wolftone57]

That profile is interesting Gezball thank you. Yes I was wondering why he is all the way over here so far from home if he had home sickness in Perth. Be interested to have a look at the little bloke. if he is anywhere as good as the rap then we may be onto a winner no matter his height. Ian Callinan has proven you don't have to be 5' 10" as a small forward.

[Primmy]

Thanks ugg. if you see me in the stands wave. I will be wearing red.

[ShockOfHair]

Thanks Ugg. Mitchell the main point of interest for mine.

Is this Folau's first game back? He should be fairly dominant at this level.

[liz]

Broome has been quite lively in first half, kicking three goals. S
Scoreboard is lopsided but Giants' pressure has been good, meaning most of our lads haven't been as clean or precise as normal.

[satchmopugdog]

Thanks Ugg and Liz.

Could have fun with nicnames for Broome..Pearly, Cleansweep etc

[aardvark]

NEAFL Round 14
Sydney Swans Reserves v UWS Giants
Sunday 30th June 2012 4.00pm

Oh Ugg you led me astray......

[liz]

87 point win. Broome finished as top scorer with 5, Trent had 4.

Swans were in complete control all game but were not as clean and cohesive as they usually are. Mitchell came on in second half and seemed to find the ball at will. Disposal was a bit mixed but his hands were clean off the ground. Is clearly going to become a busy midfielder at senior level when he gets his body right.

[Bloody Hell]

The report was pumping up TDL's tyres.

[ugg]

Sydney Swans

Goal Kickers: A. BROWN 5, T. DENNIS-LANE 4, N. GORDON 2, S. BIGGS , T. MITCHELL , M. SPANGHER , D. MCNEIL , A. Moody , J. POTTER , J. MOORE
Best Players: N. MALCESKI, D. MCNEIL, B. MEREDITH, A. BROWN, T. DENNIS-LANE, J. POTTER
UWS Giants

Goal Kickers: L. AUSTIN , P. Green , I. Folau , A. Phillips , T. Downie , N. Haynes
Best Players: A. Phillips, S. Frost, M. Whiley, G. UGLE, N. Haynes, M. Eastman

They mixed up Brown with Broome?

[wolftone57]

Sydney Swans

Goal Kickers: A. BROWN 5, T. DENNIS-LANE 4, N. GORDON 2, S. BIGGS , T. MITCHELL , M. SPANGHER , D. MCNEIL , A. Moody , J. POTTER , J. MOORE
Best Players: N. MALCESKI, D. MCNEIL, B. MEREDITH, A. BROWN, T. DENNIS-LANE, J. POTTER
UWS Giants

Goal Kickers: L. AUSTIN , P. Green , I. Folau , A. Phillips , T. Downie , N. Haynes
Best Players: A. Phillips, S. Frost, M. Whiley, G. UGLE, N. Haynes, M. Eastman

They mixed up Brown with Broome?

I'd say so Ugg but I don't know how? The littlew bloke was really good. I actually had him down for 6.2 but maybe got Moody mixed up as their numbers are similar 50 & 52 from a distance with my eye sight! He can play this kid took a sensational mark and slotted the goal as well. The mark was even better than Bewick's because he never used his hands to get a ride he just flew up the guy's back!

[Primmy]

My few cents worth. Thought that Broome was a little 'slow' to start, but once he forgot he was a toppie he just went for it. He can play. If he can work out his issues, then he would be an asset to any team - hope some investment is made in him, he would be worth the trouble. Alex Brown did some good things, but he did NOT kick 5 goals!!! Counted them myself, and it was Broome.

Thought that Nipper Gordon has discovered the mongrel in him. He was aggressive at the ball and mostly pretty darned good. However, he must temper this with an awareness that giving away frees is not smart.

Don't like seeing NicMal in twos, and he is a cut above, but .... would he have been better in seniors than another player last night?

Tommy Walsh is progressing nicely. Reading the play so well now, you can see his improvement week after week. Took a tops contested mark on the wing too. Enough to get you excited, even though the combatants were not exactly top end.

Meredith seems to be playing down back most of the time now. He was midfield. Could be a keeper (at last).
TDL, was TDL. seems to have hit a plateau. My opinion only.
Love the Doggy, but....no he was good.

Most of the other boys were fighting mightily, and they did not take their foot of the throat, played all 4 quarters. Strange how this seems to be something that has to be learned, but we have seen what happens when they don't. Get it instilled into them now, the future is ok.