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NEAFL Qualifying Final
Sydney Swans Reserves v Ainslie Tricolours
Saturday 25th August 2012 11.45am
Blacktown International Sports Park
A tantalising clash of last year's Eastern Conference grand finalists, with the winner going on to face the minor premiers Queanbeyan in the preliminary final next week. The Swans have had a terrific year winning 14 and only losing 4 of their clashes. 3 of those losses were to the stronger Northern Conference teams with the solitary Eastern Conference defeat being at the hands of, you guessed it, Ainslie. That occurred much earlier in the season in Round 4, when the new players and a new coach were still trying to gel together and the monster Ainslie forwards took advantage of their physical dominance to kick away late in the game.
Another factor to consider is the limit of 12 listed players that the Swans are allowed in this game. Throughout the season the Swans have used 13-17 listed players at each game but with a limit of 14 on the field at one time. This finals restriction will probably see the listed players that do take the field tomorrow spend less time on the bench than usual. A lot will depend on the young, slender shoulders of the topup group.
Ainslie's title defence looked shaky at the start of the season but they appear to have hit top form at the right time coming into this game on the back of a 5 game winning streak.
Final Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R4 Ainslie 17.9 (111) defeated Reserves 12.13 (85) @ Ainslie Oval
The Reserves jumped off to a good start and a mini-break on the Tricolours only for their forwards' accurate kicking brought them back into the match and eventually into the lead. The loss of Brett Meredith and Jordan Lockyer to injuries hurt the balance of the side and the margin proved too big to reel back in. Jack Lynch showed he was as adept up forward as he was in defence with a decent 4 goal return while Tommy Walsh won plaudits for his engaging battle with ex-Crow Ken McGregor at CHB. Mike Pyke rucked for most of the day and when he went for a rest in the last quarter he managed to hang onto 5 contested marks in the F50 in the last quarter, converting 2 of them.
Goals: Lynch 4, Dennis-Lane 2, Pyke 2, Moore, Weir, Lockyer, Lamb
Best: Walsh, Lynch, Moore, Pyke, Jack, Armstrong
---------------------------------------------------
2011
R9 Ainslie 11.8 (74) defeated by Reserves 18.16 (124) @ Newcastle Number 1 Sportsground
Trent Dennis-Lane kicked another bag of goals as the blonde trio of Heath, Bevan and Kruger starred.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 6, Bevan 3, Meredith 2, Norton 2, McNeil 2, Gordon 2, Brain
Best: Heath, Bevan, Kruger, Meredith, Sumner, Currie
---------------------------------------------------
R22 Reserves 16.14 (110) defeated Ainslie 14.2 (86) @ Manuka Oval
A controlled display by the Reserves who led all day but were kept honest by Ainslie's accurate and efficient conversion (can we hire their kicking coach please?). Dennis-Lane led the goalkicking again for the Swans who have been superbly marshalled by nuggety half-forward Jarred Moore in the past 2 months. Marcus Crook was Ainslie's best with 5 goals.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 4, Moore 3, Pini 3, Bevan 2, Heath, Seaby, Pyke, Potter
Best: Moore, Kruger, Meredith, McNeil, Gordon, Murphy
---------------------------------------------------
Semi Final 2 Reserves 21.7 (133) defeated Ainslie 9.17 (71) @ Manuka Oval
Ainslie finally found a way to contain goal machine Trent Dennis-Lane, keeping the spry forward goalless for the first time this season. However they had no answer to the Swans' mighty spread of goalkickers. Accurate conversion for goal gave the Swans a comfortable buffer at each break and although Ainslie fought back hard in the last and generated many oppor their inaccuracy cost them any chance of a miraculous comeback.
Goals: Gordon 5, Meredith 3, Lamb 2, Seaby 2, McNeil 2, May 2, Wales, Pyke, Crawford, Moore, Moody
Best: Moore, Guthrie, Heath, Gordon, Seaby, Potter
---------------------------------------------------
Grand Final Reserves 10.13 (73) defeated by Ainslie 19.11 (125) @ Manuka Oval
It was a case of 4th time lucky for the Tricolours as they claimed the Eastern Conference title with a commanding victory. Ainslie led at all the breaks while the Swans were disjointed and disoriented after losing captain and Mulrooney Medallist Jarred Moore early on.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 2, Gordon 2, Seaby 2, Murphy, Jetta, Pyke, Everitt
Best: Potter, Murphy, Seaby, McNeil, Brain, Gordon
Recent Form
Reserves
Ainslie
Last Round
Brisbane Reserves 13.8 (86) defeated by Reserves 17.15 (117) @ Yeronga
The Reserves coped well without leading goalkicker Mitch Morton with his replacement Trent Dennis-Lane kicking 5 goals and the two talls Matt Spangher and Tommy Walsh 3 each. It was the impressive use of the ball by Andrejs Everitt that saw him named best on ground alongside midfield general Jarred Moore. Campbell Heath yet again led the defence superbly, blanketing the Lions tall forwards.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 5, Spangher 3, Walsh 3, McNeil 2, Everitt 2, Cunningham Gordon
Best: Everitt, Moore, Heath, McNeil, White
Ainslie 19.10 (124) defeated Sydney Uni 8.8 (56) @ Ainslie OvalThe Tricolours went into the match needing a win to secure 3rd position on the ladder and with a second half blitz put away the Students to achieve their aim. Leading goalkicker Nicholas Paine kicked 6 in an impressive marking display.
Goals: Paine 6, M.Lawless 3, McGregor 2, M.Crook, Horner, I.Lawless, Costigan, Carter, Cuzner, Bowles, Gourlay
Best: Paine, M.Lawless, Cuzner, Horner, Tuohey, Harris
Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Meredith (traveling emergency)
Out:
The Swans are keeping their cards close to their chest by naming 16 listed players in the 26 man squad despite only being allowed to have 12 in the squad. IMHO Brown, Kruger and McNeil would be the 3 most likely to make way with the 4th probably one of the 3 senior emergencies staying at the SCG in case of a late withdrawal (aka the Jon Griffin scenario last week). If I was forced to make a guess I would plump for Tommy Walsh who I think has been strategically named as an emergency, as Brett Meredith was last week for the Bulldogs game. They would still have enough forward firepower in TDL, Spangher, Lamb, Everitt, Broome (topup see below) and perhaps Gordon to kick a winning score.
Campbell Heath and Jack Lynch will have their hands full and may require a loose man in defence to help them out, most likely to be Tony Armstrong or Brett Meredith.
Academy Players/Topups
Changes
In: Broome, Crawford, Cullen, Dunn, Lycakis, Plug, Roebuck, Sertbas, Weir
Out: Blake Guthrie, Brandon Jack, Dane Rampe, Jordan West, Stephen Wray
The outcome of the game could be dependant on how the topups go. Potter has played every game for the reserves this year and is basically as valuable as a listed player. Broome can be a lively and valuable contributor playing in a forward pocket while Plug and Lycakis have also impressed in their handful of games this year. Weir is a tall defender (192cm) who may required to handle one of the Tricolours' big forwards.
Reserves leading goalkickers
For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Ainslie
In: Bloomfield, Vandenberg
Out: L. Crook, J. Gourlay
The main threats come in the form of tall forward Nick Paine and Kenny McGregor who have the size and the bulk to worry Heath and Lynch. Perhaps worried about the size differential, Lynch didn't play in defence in Round 4 with Crouch entrusting Walsh to mark McGregor with satisfactory results. However Lynch has improved as the season has progressed and has been thoroughly immersed in the Swans Undersized Defenders' Handbook showing off his body positioning skills in the past few weeks and I'd back him to play in defence this week.
Marcus Crook is a former Mulrooney Medalist and has been their driving force in their midfield since the departure of Rob Shirley back to the SANFL earlier this year.
Sydney Swans Reserves v Ainslie Tricolours
Saturday 25th August 2012 11.45am
Blacktown International Sports Park
A tantalising clash of last year's Eastern Conference grand finalists, with the winner going on to face the minor premiers Queanbeyan in the preliminary final next week. The Swans have had a terrific year winning 14 and only losing 4 of their clashes. 3 of those losses were to the stronger Northern Conference teams with the solitary Eastern Conference defeat being at the hands of, you guessed it, Ainslie. That occurred much earlier in the season in Round 4, when the new players and a new coach were still trying to gel together and the monster Ainslie forwards took advantage of their physical dominance to kick away late in the game.
Another factor to consider is the limit of 12 listed players that the Swans are allowed in this game. Throughout the season the Swans have used 13-17 listed players at each game but with a limit of 14 on the field at one time. This finals restriction will probably see the listed players that do take the field tomorrow spend less time on the bench than usual. A lot will depend on the young, slender shoulders of the topup group.
Ainslie's title defence looked shaky at the start of the season but they appear to have hit top form at the right time coming into this game on the back of a 5 game winning streak.
Final Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R4 Ainslie 17.9 (111) defeated Reserves 12.13 (85) @ Ainslie Oval
The Reserves jumped off to a good start and a mini-break on the Tricolours only for their forwards' accurate kicking brought them back into the match and eventually into the lead. The loss of Brett Meredith and Jordan Lockyer to injuries hurt the balance of the side and the margin proved too big to reel back in. Jack Lynch showed he was as adept up forward as he was in defence with a decent 4 goal return while Tommy Walsh won plaudits for his engaging battle with ex-Crow Ken McGregor at CHB. Mike Pyke rucked for most of the day and when he went for a rest in the last quarter he managed to hang onto 5 contested marks in the F50 in the last quarter, converting 2 of them.
Goals: Lynch 4, Dennis-Lane 2, Pyke 2, Moore, Weir, Lockyer, Lamb
Best: Walsh, Lynch, Moore, Pyke, Jack, Armstrong
---------------------------------------------------
2011
R9 Ainslie 11.8 (74) defeated by Reserves 18.16 (124) @ Newcastle Number 1 Sportsground
Trent Dennis-Lane kicked another bag of goals as the blonde trio of Heath, Bevan and Kruger starred.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 6, Bevan 3, Meredith 2, Norton 2, McNeil 2, Gordon 2, Brain
Best: Heath, Bevan, Kruger, Meredith, Sumner, Currie
---------------------------------------------------
R22 Reserves 16.14 (110) defeated Ainslie 14.2 (86) @ Manuka Oval
A controlled display by the Reserves who led all day but were kept honest by Ainslie's accurate and efficient conversion (can we hire their kicking coach please?). Dennis-Lane led the goalkicking again for the Swans who have been superbly marshalled by nuggety half-forward Jarred Moore in the past 2 months. Marcus Crook was Ainslie's best with 5 goals.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 4, Moore 3, Pini 3, Bevan 2, Heath, Seaby, Pyke, Potter
Best: Moore, Kruger, Meredith, McNeil, Gordon, Murphy
---------------------------------------------------
Semi Final 2 Reserves 21.7 (133) defeated Ainslie 9.17 (71) @ Manuka Oval
Ainslie finally found a way to contain goal machine Trent Dennis-Lane, keeping the spry forward goalless for the first time this season. However they had no answer to the Swans' mighty spread of goalkickers. Accurate conversion for goal gave the Swans a comfortable buffer at each break and although Ainslie fought back hard in the last and generated many oppor their inaccuracy cost them any chance of a miraculous comeback.
Goals: Gordon 5, Meredith 3, Lamb 2, Seaby 2, McNeil 2, May 2, Wales, Pyke, Crawford, Moore, Moody
Best: Moore, Guthrie, Heath, Gordon, Seaby, Potter
---------------------------------------------------
Grand Final Reserves 10.13 (73) defeated by Ainslie 19.11 (125) @ Manuka Oval
It was a case of 4th time lucky for the Tricolours as they claimed the Eastern Conference title with a commanding victory. Ainslie led at all the breaks while the Swans were disjointed and disoriented after losing captain and Mulrooney Medallist Jarred Moore early on.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 2, Gordon 2, Seaby 2, Murphy, Jetta, Pyke, Everitt
Best: Potter, Murphy, Seaby, McNeil, Brain, Gordon
Recent Form
Reserves
Ainslie
Last Round
Brisbane Reserves 13.8 (86) defeated by Reserves 17.15 (117) @ Yeronga
The Reserves coped well without leading goalkicker Mitch Morton with his replacement Trent Dennis-Lane kicking 5 goals and the two talls Matt Spangher and Tommy Walsh 3 each. It was the impressive use of the ball by Andrejs Everitt that saw him named best on ground alongside midfield general Jarred Moore. Campbell Heath yet again led the defence superbly, blanketing the Lions tall forwards.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 5, Spangher 3, Walsh 3, McNeil 2, Everitt 2, Cunningham Gordon
Best: Everitt, Moore, Heath, McNeil, White
Ainslie 19.10 (124) defeated Sydney Uni 8.8 (56) @ Ainslie OvalThe Tricolours went into the match needing a win to secure 3rd position on the ladder and with a second half blitz put away the Students to achieve their aim. Leading goalkicker Nicholas Paine kicked 6 in an impressive marking display.
Goals: Paine 6, M.Lawless 3, McGregor 2, M.Crook, Horner, I.Lawless, Costigan, Carter, Cuzner, Bowles, Gourlay
Best: Paine, M.Lawless, Cuzner, Horner, Tuohey, Harris
Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Meredith (traveling emergency)
Out:
The Swans are keeping their cards close to their chest by naming 16 listed players in the 26 man squad despite only being allowed to have 12 in the squad. IMHO Brown, Kruger and McNeil would be the 3 most likely to make way with the 4th probably one of the 3 senior emergencies staying at the SCG in case of a late withdrawal (aka the Jon Griffin scenario last week). If I was forced to make a guess I would plump for Tommy Walsh who I think has been strategically named as an emergency, as Brett Meredith was last week for the Bulldogs game. They would still have enough forward firepower in TDL, Spangher, Lamb, Everitt, Broome (topup see below) and perhaps Gordon to kick a winning score.
Campbell Heath and Jack Lynch will have their hands full and may require a loose man in defence to help them out, most likely to be Tony Armstrong or Brett Meredith.
Academy Players/Topups
Changes
In: Broome, Crawford, Cullen, Dunn, Lycakis, Plug, Roebuck, Sertbas, Weir
Out: Blake Guthrie, Brandon Jack, Dane Rampe, Jordan West, Stephen Wray
The outcome of the game could be dependant on how the topups go. Potter has played every game for the reserves this year and is basically as valuable as a listed player. Broome can be a lively and valuable contributor playing in a forward pocket while Plug and Lycakis have also impressed in their handful of games this year. Weir is a tall defender (192cm) who may required to handle one of the Tricolours' big forwards.
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Mitch Morton 75
- Trent Dennis-Lane 35
- Matt Spangher, Tommy Walsh 29
For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Jarred Moore 44
- Trent Dennis-Lane 28
- Tommy Walsh 26
For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Ainslie
In: Bloomfield, Vandenberg
Out: L. Crook, J. Gourlay
The main threats come in the form of tall forward Nick Paine and Kenny McGregor who have the size and the bulk to worry Heath and Lynch. Perhaps worried about the size differential, Lynch didn't play in defence in Round 4 with Crouch entrusting Walsh to mark McGregor with satisfactory results. However Lynch has improved as the season has progressed and has been thoroughly immersed in the Swans Undersized Defenders' Handbook showing off his body positioning skills in the past few weeks and I'd back him to play in defence this week.
Marcus Crook is a former Mulrooney Medalist and has been their driving force in their midfield since the departure of Rob Shirley back to the SANFL earlier this year.
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