VFL Round 15: Sydney Swans Reserves v Brisbane Lions Reserves

[ugg]

NEAFL Round 15
Sydney Swans Reserves v Brisbane Lions Reserves
Saturday 7th July 2012 1.00pm
Sydney Cricket Ground

If my memory serves correctly, this will be the first Swans home reserves match that serves as the curtain raiser for their corresponding senior teams since the old AFL Reserves competition was shut down. It shapes as a competitive match with both side sitting on top of their conference ladders, and having relative healthy lists at their disposal. The Swans have had the wood on the Lions since the NEAFL came into being last year, winning all 3 of the much valued cross-conference clashes, including 2 victories up in Brisbane. The Lions have bounced back in fantastic shape after a very disappointing 2011 season where injuries were a major hindrance as they scraped together just 4 wins for the season.

Eastern Conference Ladder
Northern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R8 Brisbane Reserves 11.20 (86) defeated by Reserves 18.12 (120)
The Reserves travelled to Brisbane to upset the Lions who aided the Swans by being incredibly wasteful in front of goal. The Swans stormed to a 6 goal lead at quarter time and maintained a 4 goal lead at the main break and despite a couple of Lions surges in the 2nd half, confidently withstood the fusillade of shots from Brisbane to win quite comfortably. Mitch Morton continued his goal glut by bagging 8 to complement his 10 the previous week. Captain Jarred Moore dominated the stoppages yet again aided by the taps of big Canuck Mike Pyke

Goals: Morton 8 Walsh 2, Davis, Thurgarland, Spangher, Cunningham, Moody, Bosschieter, Moore, Meredith
Best: Moore, Pyke, Walsh, Cunningham, Biggs, Heath

2011
R10 Brisbane Reserves 14.13 (97) defeated by Reserves 16.8 (104) @ Yeronga
The Reserves were equally impressive and disappointing in this game. They shot to big leads in the 1st and the 3rd quarters, only to be reeled in by the Lions in the 2nd and 4th quarters. They just managed to hang on when Kane Murphy snapped the winning goal against the run of play. Byron Sumner did a great run-with job on ex-Swan Amon Buchanan while Daniel Currie was superb in a almost-lone hand in the ruck.

Goal Kickers: White 4, Murphy 2, Currie 2, Bevan 2, Moore, Johnston, Heath, Gordon, Sumner, Kruger
Best Players: Sumner, Currie, Bevan, McNeil, Parker, Brain

R21 Reserves 26.23 (179) defeated Brisbane Reserves 4.5 (29) @ Blacktown Olympic Park
A four quarter performance resulted in a demolishing of the depleted Lions Reserves. The Swans kicked the first 11 goals of the game before registered their first major and were never troubled. Trent Dennis-Lane continued his impressive form with another 6 goals while midfielders Brett Meredith (5) and Nathan Gordon & Kane Murphy (4) also notched multiple goals

Goal Kickers: Dennis-Lane 6, Meredith 5, Gordon 4, Murphy 4, Seaby 2, Bevan, Moore, Heath, Pyke
Best Players: Moore, Kruger, Meredith, McNeil, Gordon, 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
R14 UWS Home WIN 129-42

Brisbane Reserves
R1 BYE
R2 Broadbeach Away WIN 124-61
R3 UWS Away WIN 109-81
R4 NT Thunder Away WIN 84-76
R5 Gold Coast Reserves Home LOSS 77-93
R6 Morningside Away WIN 118-37
R7 Aspley Home WIN 138-106
R8 Swans Reserves Home LOSS 86-120
R9 UWS Home WIN 274-33
R10 Broadbeach Away WIN 159-42
R11 BYE
R12 Gold Coast Reserves Away WIN 72-50
R13 Southport Away WIN 162-83
R14 Mt Gravatt Home WIN 218-45

Last Round
Reserves 18.21 (129) defeated UWS 6.6 (42) @ ANZ Stadium
Poor conversion in front of goal didn't cost the Reserves anything but a bigger victory as they were too strong for the youngsters from UWS. Nick Malceski was in fine form, rebounding from half back in a dynamic display with ex-West Coast rookie Lewis Broome setting the stadium alight with 5 well taken goals.

Goals: Broome 5, Dennis-Lane 4, Gordon 2, Biggs, Mitchell, Spangher, McNeil, Moody, Potter, Moore
Best: Malceski, McNeil, Meredith, Broome, Dennis-Lane, Potter

Brisbane Reserves 34.14 (218) defeated Mt Gravatt 7.3 (45) @ Sherwood
The Lions Reserves showed no mercy to bottom team Mt Gravatt kicking 20 goals to half time to open up a 105 point lead before cruising home to win by 173 points. Tall forward Aaron Cornelius kicked 7 while Claye Beams shone in two differing roles and finished with 5 goals.

Goals: Cornelius 7, Beams 5, Lisle 4, Buchanan 3, O'Brien 3, Hawksley 2, Karnezis 2, Docherty 2, Sheldon 2, Newell, Longer, Yeo, Dyson
Best: Newell, Beams, Karnezis, Buchanan, Docherty, Sheldon

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Seaby (calf), Lamb (shin), Parker (collarbone),
Out: Eugene Kruger (???), Nathan Gordon (suspended?), Shane Biggs (lower leg)

3 big ins for the Swans. The return of Seaby will free White up to either return to the forward line or resume the on-ball role he undertook with enthusiasm 2 weeks ago. Parker should see significant minutes in the midfield with an eye to a return to the seniors next week as the reserves have the bye. Lamb has missed the last 4 games and might be on a restricted time regime now common with players returning from injury.

The ins have been tempered with the loss of running players Kruger, Gordon and Biggs. The latter 2 are big blows as they have been important players to the Swans' structure. Nippa's ability to play both in the midfield and provide a viable marking target forward will be missed, and my guess is that he was suspended for his reported hit on a UWS player last week. Biggs has been listed as 1-2 weeks on the Swans injury list with a lower leg injury but with no further explanation provided. Mitch Morton misses another week with quad issues and the Lions will be glad to see his name not on the team sheet as he booted 8 very valuable goals in the Round 8 clash up in Queensland.

The Swans have enough depth to cover these losses though with Spangher, Walsh, Dennis-Lane, White and possibly Lamb to play forward and Moore, Cunningham, McNeil, Parker, Mitchell and Meredith as midfield options. The defensive set up will be less obvious though. The Swans have mainly used Heath and Lynch as the key defenders who have been ably assisted at times by Armstrong, Malceski, Kruger, Biggs and Meredith depending on team selection but the Lions have a potent forward setup which has the proven ability to kick big scores over the course of their season. Crouch will have the option of switching a Tommy Walsh (as he did against Ainslie earlier in the year) or a Matt Spangher (played back in his West Coast days) if Plan A starts to go awry.

Academy Players/Topups
Changes
In: Davis, Heeney, Krochmal
Out: Andrew Moody

The RAMS just completed their U18 schedule a few days ago and so Swans players involved with them are naturally unavailable for this game. However you would expect some of them to return for the remainder of the season. The Swans will get another look at Broome who was impressive in a small forward role last week.

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Mitch Morton 53
• Nathan Gordon 22
• Trent Dennis-Lane 20

For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Jarred Moore 35
• Mark Seaby 24
• Trent Dennis-Lane 18

For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki

Brisbane
The Lions have benefitted from a short injury list for much of the year but the withdrawals of McGrath, Polec and Golby in the past week has had a cascading effect with the 3 promotions in Karnezis, Stiller and Crisp weakening their side a little.

Beams has been the standout for the Brisbane side; in the past 3 weeks he has earnt 2 BOG and 1 2nd best nomination and kicked 7 goals in the process. He can be used either offensively to win clearances or have a run-with job on an opposition player - his flexibility a real boon for Lions coach Nathan Clarke. Amon Buchanan has been doing the equivalent of the Jarred Moore role for their reserves side, unable to crack the seniors but able to provide real leadership and experience for his younger teammates running through the midfield. He racked up 39 touches last week and he will need to be closely checked.

202cm ruckman Billy Longer has been impressive in his 5 senior games as the Lions serve to find the right balance in his development. Callum Bartlett is the side's main tagger and will be assigned to Moore, Parker or even Mitchell if he plays from the start.

Up forward, Aaron Cornelius and Jordan Lisle have stepped up since the season ending injury to fellow big man Bryce Retzlaff. They have terrorised the defenders of the Northern Conference with Cornelius kicking 12 in the 2 games since his dropping from the senior team and Lisle on a hot streak with 22 in 5 games playing as a forward/ruck. Todd Banfield has recently returned from injury and will be pushing hard to regain his senior spot. There is no noted small defender on the Swans' list for this game so his pace might prove a problem.

The defence is also looking in great shape with young emerging tall Justin Clarke managing to hold down a key defensive post. Smaller defenders in Steve Wrigley and Sam Docherty have been providing plenty of rebound from defence and their great form has seen them edge closer to a senior promotion.



Summary
For those coming to the senior game, consider coming a bit earlier and taking in this blockbuster which should prove to be one of the most toughest challenges the Ressies have had to face in the past 10 years. The Swans will have the home ground advantage but the Lions have 2 more listed players which may be telling in the second half as fatigue sets in.

[liz]

NEAFL Round 15
Sydney Swans Reserves v Brisbane Lions Reserves
Saturday 7th July 2012 1.00pm
Sydney Cricket Ground

If my memory serves correctly, this will be the first Swans home reserves match that serves as the curtain raiser for their corresponding senior teams since the old AFL Reserves competition was shut down.

Last weekend?! (We also played a curtain raiser against the Suns in Queensland last year.)

Great preview Ugg (as usual). Looking forward to some sterner opposition than we got from the GWS reserves.

[ugg]

GWS aren't an AFL side...yet...Doh.

Hmm I think what I wanted to say was the first interstate reserves team as a curtain raiser because when on the occasions that we've hosted the Suns Reserves and the Lions Reserves, they preceding their senior teams.

[Primmy]

I know what you mean ugg. Havent seen this sort of curtain raiser at the SCG since forEVER.

Thanks for your precise. Ressie watching wouldn't be the same without it - I take your lists with me to the game and make mental notes.

Hmmm you didn't make a note about Bulldog. Guess we will get what we expect, hard work, natural teacher/player coach. Under what must be a trying situation, never ever drops his head.

[Xie Shan]

Thanks for the preview ugg, the Lions should be strong opposition, surprised to see Todd Banfield in reserves for them, he had a promising debut season a couple of years ago. Have heard about Lewis Broome, just another reason to get to the game a bit earlier than usual for those people sitting on the fence!

[ShockOfHair]

Thanks Ugg yet again.
Should be a good contest. PLus, a lot of Swans players worth keeping an eye on - Parker, Mitchell, TDL, Malceski, Broome.

Good to see Matt Dillon turning out for the Lions.

[grarmy]

Amon BUCHANAN playing for the Brisbane reserves. What a tragedy and sad end to a great career. Should have retired with dignity intact.

[Nico]

Amon BUCHANAN playing for the Brisbane reserves. What a tragedy and sad end to a great career. Should have retired with dignity intact.

I guess he is playing out his contract. Would be on resonable dough so maybe money is more important than pride. If it was me I would be taking the folding stuff.

[Primmy]

Amon BUCHANAN playing for the Brisbane reserves. What a tragedy and sad end to a great career. Should have retired with dignity intact.

I have another take on this. His presence for Brissie ressies is kind of like Doggies is for Sydney. Guidance. On field nanny. He was good.

[Primmy]

Morning all!! Shame we lost that one, but we have a legion of toppies, some of whom had no idea so I assume there were a more than average number of outs. Counting back, no Malceski, Spangher, Gordon, Kruger, Biggs, and others whose names haven't come to me yet, and Seaby was lost by the first 10 min of the first quarter! That meant Jesse rucked all game. And one of the toppies (I am not going to name numbers, it was truly unfair for that kid to be playing) cost us two goals directly.

I thought Jed was going to jump out of his skin, and I think it shocked him to find he will take a bit of time to get his mojo in line. Good, but patchy.
Luke Parker, also a bit jumpy to start, but that didn't stay for long, threw himself into everything. He has only one gear that kid, flat out. Subtlety is not his strong suite. Definitely expect him back in seniors next week.
Tommy Walsh is starting to look like he is playing the game on instinct instead of having to remember the rules. We'll keep him I reckon.

Harry looked a bit lost in the game. Probably not having the delivery from the usual suspects threw him.
I like young Alex Brown. Definitely has footy nouse.
Dear Jesse, has almost no footy nouse, and then takes a speccy. What on earth are we going to do with him. All endeavour and no awareness!! Fairly good ruckwork though, but who was he up against.
I am starting to like the look of Jack Lynch. Something solid about him. We may have a keeper there.
Campbell Heath had his work cut out for him, and I think he was ok. Maybe he has reached his stop level, not sure; I hope he can go up another notch.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Jackson Potter on the rookie list next year.
Lewis Broome again started slow, but worked his way in. Not a great game this time, but probably the opponents were stronger.
Who played in 53? I like him. Big unit ready to go; solid build and moves very well.

And Brissie Ressies had six players (at my count, could be more) who have played seniors. We had two, not counting Harry and Tom.

It was a slippery surface, misting rain, and they slid all over the place while playing with a soap ball. Not the best game I have seen. Felt sorry for the lost toppies. Not enough Swans players or rookies to take up the slack. Doggie was of course directing traffic, but 17 people are a bit too many no matter how good you are at the job.

[Primmy]

I would also like to post a "toldyers" re Doggie. Coaching. OK, under 16 Bulldogs in the local comp, but......hehehe....

[Gezball]

Primmy, ugg, thanks.

[Jewels]

I would also like to post a "toldyers" re Doggie. Coaching. OK, under 16 Bulldogs in the local comp, but......hehehe....

And undefeated as coach if my ears didn't deceive me!

[liz]

My take on the game...

One of the most enjoyable reserves games this season, despite the fact that our lads were the second best team out there. It was always going to be a struggle, given we had 12 or 13 (by my count) listed players out there, and fewer of the more seasoned top-ups. (To be fair, I didn't count how many of the Lions players were also listed, but they seemed a much bigger - physically - group than ours.)

Swans started very brightly and had a handful of goals on the board before the Lions kicked into gear. They were very efficient converting chances early in the game, while the Lions were butchering the ball a bit. But as the first half wore on, the Lions definitely gained the ascendency and looking like running away with it. A couple of our top-ups made very costly errors and heads were starting to hang.

Second half was where it got really interesting. It seemed like the coaches managed to instill a bit of confidence in the top-ups over the break because they came out with much more purpose. Yes, they still made mistakes but were running to spots to offer an option to team mates, rather than lurking in pockets hoping the ball didn't come their way.

Meanwhile the senior group -led by Moore - set about crafting some really good passages of play and created goals where it looked like they had no chance of scoring. There was one passage down the O'Reilly wing where Moore and Cunningham found themselves trapped in a pocket but managed to draw their opponents and perfect the timing of their release such that they were able to square the ball to the front of goal and someone converted - can't remember who. Despite the loss, they got a chance to play in a style far more comparable to senior football, and both the coaches and players will have learned far more about who has what it takes to step up to the next level.

On this note, I continue to be encouraged by Cunningham. He didn't dominate in terms of possession, but he runs to the right spots to be dangerous and knows how and when to use his pace. I have little doubt we'll see more senior football from him over the next year or three.

I also thought Heath was great, notwithstanding the number of shots at goal the Lions had. We just didn't have anyone with the height to counter some of the Lions forwards, but in terms of organising the troops he is as important to the team in the backline as Moore is in the midfield. He definitely has a bit of Ted in him, in the way he goes about things. Under his direction, Lynch also had one of the best games I've seen him play. Of course it helped that both Heath and Lynch had plenty to do - against many sides they spend all game languishing in defence with the ball at the other end of the ground.

Mitchell played the whole game, including starting in the centre square at many bounces, and hunted the ball relentlessly. His disposal fluctuated a bit - sometimes he tried to do too much, other times he was brilliant. But you can see he believes he is a senior player in the making (and so he should).

I thought Parker looked off the pace to start the game. He played mostly in the forward line and did some great stuff (including some overhead contested marks and three goals) but wasn't running around dominating in the way he will probably need to to force his way back into the senior team. First game back, so fair enough. I just think he might need another run in the reserves first. Shame the reserves have a bye next weekend.

Another excellent game from TDL, making the most of his forward line opportunities but also working up the ground and tackling hard. He is wasted at this level - I want him in the senior team.

Moore, too, completely wasted at this level but I think it is evident he's not going to get another shot at senior level. Oh for a little more footspeed.

Walsh took some great contested marks. He, too, might find that a slight lack of pace holds him back but when he gets himself into the right position he is hard to move off the line and his hands are vice like. ROK carved himself out a niche as a slow but hard running HFFer with strong hands. Maybe Walsh can too. I suspect this might be more his natural position than FF.

Meredith played again off a half-back flank and was effective. The move to this role may have come too late to save his AFL career but it allows him time and space to use the ball well, by far his best attribute.

Lamb came on at half-time. His first 10 minutes or so were patchy but then he got into things and looked more purposeful (and a little quicker) than he has all year. Kicked one superb goal where he drilled a low skidding ball from the 50m line, taking advantage of an empty goal square.

Jesse was by far the most frustrating player out there. He took a hanger, and then laid the ball off too quickly with a sloppy handpass that missed his target. He burst through traffic and then slipped over at the wrong time. (The early injury to Seaby meant he spent the majority of the game in the ruck and close to no time in the forward line.)

It was great to see all the injured (and suspended) reserves players out there in the huddles. At quarter time, Crouch and a couple of other coaches spent several minutes with the defensive group closely gathered around. While the mids meandered around chatting, Rohan and Spangher had the forwards gathered together, with Rohan waving his crutch around, presumably telling them what they should be doing. Then Spangher took over for a few moments.

[Sidney V]

Great post Liz - thanks.