VFL Round 3: Sydney Swans Reserves v Gold Coast Suns Reserves

[justabaraker]

If you're planning to follow the Ressies on the weekend, you can get a team list (WITH TOP-UP PLAYER NUMBERS) from the NEAFL website

[liz]

That might just about be the best half of footy I have seen our reserves team play when you take into account the quality of the opposition. The forward line pressure was immense, with every single player focussed on tackling and chasing. Scoreboard is 10.12 to 3.3 but its more about how they are doing it than the actual score.

And Mitchell yet to come.

[jono2707]

Agree with Liz - a really good performance so far against strong opposition. Jed's working well, I'm liking the work of most of the others too. Really excited to see Tom in the second half in conditions that should suit him.

[707]

Look forward to fuller updates ..... please :-)

[DeadlyAkkuret]

From facebook:

Mitchell spoils a sun kick in Def. Gathers and goals under pressure 13.16 6.5

[liz]

Final score was 15.20 to 10.5

Suns found it slightly easier to get the ball forqard as the Swans tired in the second half but the Swans were still running harder at the end than their opponents. Many missed but gettable shots gave the Suns acoreboard respectability they didnt deserve.

Not a heap of touchs to Mitchell but there were some classy moments from him.

[ShockOfHair]

Good news about the Mitch.

[dimelb]

Thanks Liz and others . There's a write-up on the official site now.
Bright start for Swans reserves - SYDNEYSWANS.com.au

[ugg]

Swans 7.6 10.12 12.16 15.20 (110)
Suns 1.0 3.3 5.5 10.5 (65)

SYDNEY SWANS

Goal Kickers: M. Morton 4, T. Membrey 3, H. Cunningham 2, A. Brown , E. Sertbas , T. Mitchell , D. Robinson , B. Jack , J. Lamb
Best Players: J. Lamb, H. Cunningham, D. Robinson, A. Brown, J. White
GOLD COAST SUNS

Goal Kickers: J. Hall 3, A. Boston , D. Gorringe , D. Stanley , J. Taylor , J. Holland , K. Horsley , T. Cornish
Best Players: C. Cameron, J. Allen, T. McKenzie, J. Hall, J. Taylor, A. Boston

[ugg]

I wrote a preview for this game but couldn't post it last night on RWO. Here it is for future reference and for those who are interested.

Here come the Suns

NEAFL Round 3
Sydney Swans Reserves v Gold Coast Suns Reserves
Saturday 6th April 2013 10.05am
Sydney Cricket Ground

While the seniors were allocated an ?easy? draw to open their premiership defence, the Reserves haven?t been afforded the same luxury with their first 2 games of the 2013 season being pitted against the might of the Giants Reserves, and now in a tantalising cross-conference clash, the Suns Reserves.

The Swans managed to hang on for a mighty 5 point victory against an inaccurate UWS side, whereas the Suns had no problems dispatching Queensland side Mt. Gravatt by over 100 points.

In the corresponding fixture last year, the earlybirds at the SCG were rewarded by a eyecatching performance by mini-draft selection Jaeger O?Meara who has now graduated to the senior team. Be prepared to be equally dazzled by the diminutive but talented Western Australian teenager Jack Martin who received BOG accolades in his last match.

Eastern Conference Ladder

Northern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R2 Reserves 7.13 (55) defeated by Gold Coast 13.13 (91)

The Reserves were hampered by the late withdrawals of Mark Seaby and Jesse White whilst their opponents the Suns had the ability to call on the full complement of 5 on their bench. The Reserves struggled to break down a resolute Suns defensive unit and lost it in the last quarter when Josh Fraser booted 4 of his 5 goals.

Goals: Walsh 2, Potter, McNeil, Lycakis, Jack, Gordon
Best: Heath, Walsh, Lycakis, Moore, Jack

R10 Reserves 16.13 (109) defeated Gold Coast 8.8 (56) @ Blacktown International Sports Park
In the wet and damp conditions out west, the talls Mark Seaby (in the ruck) and Matthew Spangher (at CHF) dominated for the Swans as they romped to a comfortable 9 goal win over the Suns. The physicality and pressure of the home team was too much for Gold Coast whose sloppiness proved costly as they could only manage 3 goals to 3 quarter time.

Goals: Spangher 4, Morton 3, Everitt 2, Seaby 2, Moody, Cunningham, Mitchell, White, Walsh
Best: Seaby, Spangher, Biggs, Everitt, Moore, Davis

R18 Gold Coast 15.10 (100) defeated by Reserves 20.11 (131) @ Metricon Stadium
A close fought game was blown apart in the last quarter when the Reserves unleashed an 8 goal display to easily triumph away at Metricon Stadium. Mitch Morton was the star forward, kicking 9 goals in a consistent all round display with Nathan Gordon and Matt Spangher's competitive displays leading the way for the Swans.

Goals: Morton 9, Spangher 3, Plug 2, Moore, Potter, McNeil, White, Everitt, Gordon
Best: Gordon, Spangher, Morton, Meredith, Plug, Cunningham


Recent Form
Reserves
Suns Reserves
Last Round
UWS Giants 14.18 (102) defeated by Reserves 17.5 (107) @ ANZ Stadium

Goals: Morton 3, Membrey 3, Everitt 3, Weir, Jack, Head, Lloyd, White, Cunningham, Brown, Lamb
Best: Everitt, Bird, White, Morton, Lloyd, Cunningham

Gold Coast Reserves 24.14 (158) defeated Mt Gravatt 4.8 (32) @ Metricon Stadium

Goals: Hall 4, Nicholls 3, Trask 2, Osborne 2, L.Weller 2, Boston 2, Mills 2, Martin 2, Sexton, Cameron, Fraser, Schade, Cornish
Best: Martin, Taylor, Nicholls, Osborne, Hall, Allen

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Mitchell (injury), Walsh (injury), Armstrong (seniors), Rampe (seniors)
Out: Andrejs Everitt (seniors), Craig Bird (seniors)

No listed player restrictions in place again and a shortened injury list (touch wood) means that a whopping 19 listed players have been named, but due to player management only 18 will ever be in play at the same time (see Mitchell?s notes above).

It will be particularly interesting to see how Crouch handles the defensive setup with a surfeit of half-back flankers due to Rampe and Armstrong dropping back to join Towers, Cunningham, Biggs, Lockyer and Brown.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Kiel, Sertbas
Out: Mitch Crawford, Lachlan Kilpatrick Stephen Wray

Sertbas played 4 games as a high energy half-forward type towards the tail end of the 2012 campaign, including the Grand Final against Queanbeyan.

And yes we finally get topup numbers BEFORE the game. It?s amazing it only took many years for us to reach a situation that was commonplace back in the mid 2000s

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Andrejs Everitt, Tim Membrey, Mitch Morton 3
• Craig Bird, Alex Brown, Harry Cunningham, Thomas Head, Brandon Jack, Jed Lamb, Jake Lloyd, Jesse White, Jordan Weir 1

For full list: 2013 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Andrejs Everitt 6
• Craig Bird 5
• Jesse White 4

For full list: 2013 Best Votes - RWOwiki

Gold Coast Suns Reserves
In: Goodall, Gorringe, Horsley, Lynch, Stanley
Out: Fraser, Hutchins, L.Weller, M.Weller, Watts

16 listed players but a core group of them have AFL experience and possibly should be in their senior side. McKenzie, Stanley, Lynch, Horsley and Nicholls are the pick of this bunch and will be key to their side?s chances. Lynch, Hall and the resting ruckman provide 3 genuine tall targets in their forward 50 and will keep our defenders very busy

[Primmy]

Watched the game and enjoyed it a lot. Proper hard hit out, and most of the boys stood up big time.

I have such highfive for BrandyJack. His second and third efforts are going to be a trademark. Three tackles (first class efforts) made in a single passage augers well but to follow up with a double straight afterwards........he may be skinny and looks like a long legged swamp bird but the boy has talent, not just ability.

Shane Biggs is developing into quite a leader out there. He makes some pretty good decisions and gives directions.

I like watching Tim Membrey ..... he is good.

Loved the effort of MM......Morto (its such a crap call sign, but that's what they use) his efforts are team oriented, and sometimes just plain freakish.

the one thing I noted about the whole game is just how much they are already aware of 'combinations' and teamwork. This appeared to be a game of combined effort, noone was making a name for himself, noone appeared to be trying to 'impress the judges'. A lot of muscle development is required, but the awareness development appears to be taking root as is the full team ethic.

Perhaps its the influence of Jared Crouch, who is their coach. He is like a mushroom in a forest when they cluster around him - I had no idea how not-tall he really is. He appears to be a good quality coach. I have been ressiewatching for many years now, and this is the most cohesive team combination I can remember in April.

One side note: toppie number 60......ball watching is not going to get you into the game.

[liz]

This appeared to be a game of combined effort, noone was making a name for himself, noone appeared to be trying to 'impress the judges'.

That is what really impressed me. Pretty much everytime a Suns player took what they thought was an uncontested mark in space, that player would turn around, probably expecting to play on, and find a Swans player already fiercely guarding the mark. When the Suns tried to run the ball from defence, they were subjected to tackle after tackle, and more times than not, the team managed to force a turn-over and keep the ball locked in.

It is hard to pick any "best players", given how much of a team effort it was. But a few comments:

Mitch's class and experience did shine out on several occasions. He worked his butt off up around the half forward area and is definitely playing well enough to deserve a senior spot, should one open up.

Primmy has mentioned Jack jnr's tackling in the forward line. It was manic and effective.

Harry played almost exclusively as a midfielder, rather than off the half back flank. I much prefer him there and think he could become a genuine onballer in time. His ability to use his pace to break from centre bounce clearances is great to watch.

Lamb's work rate stood out in a team where everyone worked hard. He also used the ball intelligently. While we don't want any of our senior team to get injured, I do hope he gets a chance at senior level sooner rather than later.

The X-man continues to show encouraging signs for someone so young and still relatively skinny. He is not afraid to try and take front position, and attacks the ball well. One for the future, not now, but looks very promising.

Alex Brown has played each game I've seen this season (including the two practice games at Lakeside) with a lot more intensity than I was expecting after seeing him last year. He moves very well for a tallish fellow and attacks contests with gusto. His kicking has been a bit of a mixed bag - sometimes scrappy but other times pinpoint. He seems to be playing a utility role in the style of Everitt - a tall running wingman who pushes forward a lot but can also drop back when needed.

[Swansongster]

Thanks to all of the ressies watchers. Sorry if I missed any mentions above, but did Mitchell get on the field? If, so how well did he contribute?

[jono2707]

Mitchell played the second half and it was a good hit out from him without being dominant. His class showed a few times and he has the composure, time and space in tight situations to show that pretty soon he'll not be far from taking a further step up. Fingers crossed his body cooperates.

I really liked the game of Daniel Robinson too - he was very busy and showed some good skills. Towers was ok in spots but needs a bit more time. Tommy Walsh acquitted himself quite well as a sweeper across half back. Membrey and Mitch were dangerous up forward and neither would be out of place if they get a chance in the 1s. Membrey is a top-notch set shot too.

Jesse toiled well in the rucks and showed some of his trademark athleticism a few times. Armstrong took a while to get going but is obviously being groomed as another running, distributing half back. Harry was very solid, as was Brown, and Biggs did a few telling things in the last quarter which showed a bit of class.

But the standout for me was Jed - playing mostly on ball, he worked his tush off and was involved in pretty much everything. I think he'll get a gig with a green vest sooner rather than later.

It was a very entertaining match against good opponents - as Primmy noted, the teamwork was a real highlight. Hopefully I catch a few more games as there is some talent developing there....

[wolftone57]

It was such a team effort. The Dew Kickers are turning into a very good cohesive side. I was glad Jordie has started to show a bit too, he did some nice work yesterday. Robinson was really good he is a lanky lad still and I think he might just be a find. Boy has Lloyd got some class about him. some of his clever stuff was so good to watch yesterday. The baulk and sidestep around two players was super, he is a talent just starting to realise just what he can do. BJ was wonderful with his intensity and boy does he hit hard. He spoiled a player just near the point post and we were in the RED Zone Bay 316 and heard a loud smack and crunch. The lad took a while to get up.

The usual suspects all played well and Membrey is a very strong mark and he doesn't miss to many. He also always looks for a player in better posie. Tommy was pretty good at FB, He lost his player a couple of times but is learning how to conserve and conquer a bit like 'The Truck' does. Everyone who the coaches think is forgetting about defense and picking their player up gets a job down back which is good. It will teach them to be mindful of their opponent to the benefit of the team.

I thought this was a very good effort against a team that had many experienced AFL players. Our kids are going to goo, VERY good. someone, I can't remember who was lamenting our lack of depth last week or two weeks ago. I think whoever it is they got it wrong, we don't have lack of depth, quite the opposite, we are going to be trying to fit them all in.