VFL Round 11: Sydney Swans Reserves v Belconnen Magpies

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Blackbird

NEAFL Round 11
Sydney Swans Reserves v Belconnen Magpies
Saturday 1st June 2013 1.00pm
Sydney Cricket Ground

A fortnight ago, the Reserves made light work of the then top-of-the-table clash when they demolished a weakened Queanbeyan outfit. They hope to repeat the dose to fellow Canberra side Belconnen as the Swans host the number 2 ranked Magpies at the SCG. Belconnen have not made the finals since finishing as minor premiers in 2009 but the return of some favourite ex-players has blossomed into a renaissance.

The Swans continue to dominate the competition, and this despite missing some key structural personnel last week, went away to Ainslie Oval and coasted to an easy victory thanks largely to the now famous 56-possession game by "son of a gun" Tom Mitchell and a 7 goal haul to full forward Tommy Walsh. Both Toms were rewarded for their great games with promotions to the senior Swans side.


Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012
R21 Reserves 31.11 (197) defeated Belconnen 10.6 (66) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
The Reserves were in devastating form, bouncing back from their previous week's defeat to the Lions Reserves, to crush former powerhouse Belconnen by 131 points. Thanks to some fantastic conversion in front of the sticks, the Reserves led by 43 points at half time and pulled away convincingly in the premiership quarter with a 12 goals to 2 showing to put the result of the match beyond doubt. Trent Dennis-Lane continued his superb form playing both up forward and in the midfield and finished with 7 goals while Jesse White had his best showing of the season playing as the primary ruckman.

Goals: Dennis-Lane 7, White 6, Lamb 3, Morton 2, Cunningham 2, Gordon 2, Spangher 2, Naismith, Roos, Mitchell, Lynch, Brown, Potter, Broome
Best: Dennis-Lane, White, Parker, Brown, Lamb, Moore

Recent Form
Reserves
Belconnen
Last Round
Ainslie 6.13 (49) defeated by Reserves 23.13 (151) @ Ainslie Oval

Goals: Walsh 7, White 4, Mitchell 2, Weir, Robinson, Lloyd, Hadden, Jack, Marsh
Best: Richards, Mitchell, Jack, Lloyd, Walsh, Brown

Belconnen 18.11 (119) defeated Broadbrach 12.11 (83) @ Kippax Oval

Goals: Lokan 12, Bunyan 2, Hector 2, York 2
Best: Lokan, Jordan, Bennett, Campbel, Curtis, Turnbull

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Cunningham, Lamb
Out: Tom MITCHELL (seniors), Tommy WALSH (seniors), Daniel ROBINSON (???)

3 key outs - 2 in the midfield where Mitchell has been dominant and Robinson a crucial cog but they have capable replacements in Lamb and Cunningham. Walsh will be harder to replace - the big Irishman has been the focal point in attack with 7 goals last week. White may stay forward to join Membrey and leave the ruckwork to topup Levi Sands (see below) or topup Jordan Weir may go forward again where he has been okay.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Hodgson, Kilpatrick, Pola-Smith
Out: James DUNN, Josh ROEBUCK

As mentioned above, Sands did the majority of the ruckwork against Ainslie, albeit not too successfully as the Tricolours won the majority of the hitouts and clearances. Some of the usual topups are missing due to their NSW/ACT Rams commitments - they play the SA U18 team at Blacktown on Saturday as well.

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Mitch Morton 26 (5)
• Tommy Walsh 21 (6)
• Jesse White 17 (7)

For full list: 2013 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Tommy Walsh 19 (6)
• Jesse White 18 (7)
• Jake Lloyd 17 (8)

For full list: 2013 Best Votes - RWOwiki

Belconnen Magpies
In: Bloomfield, Coate, Delaney, Taylor, Weston
Out: Matthew VINEY

The Magpies are missing reigning Mulrooney medalist Shane Harris, a dangerous small forward who can kick bags of goals. However, playing coach and former Collingwood player Matthew Lokan has stepped into breach with aplomb, kicking a superb bag of 12 against NEAFL Northern side Morningside last week.

As mentioned in the intro, the Magpies have been strengthened this year by the return of 4 former players in James Bennett, Lexie Bennett, Brock Weston and Chris York who were all part of the side when they were the dominant force in AFL Canberra in the mid to late 2000s. The first Bennett is a classy midfielder who returns from SANFL side North Adelaide after winning their B&F. The latter Bennett is a key player in their halfback line, his presence there this year freeing Lokan up to play forward.

Bennett #1 has been in great form collecting 35+ touches in the last 2 rounds and is well supported by fellow on-ballers Jordan Harper and Simon Curtis. Experienced ruckman Matt Porter may also cause problems with his tapwork.

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Topup Erol Sertbas added to the side

[wolftone57]

I see we only have 13 not 14 list players. But I must say the top ups have been very good but then again some of them are from the academy on most weeks. I think Jordan weir is proving to be a good kid and can Kick a good goal as well as put forward pressure on am opposition. Is very good in the air.

[Primmy]

keep an eye on young Yarran Jaffer Williams. the little flea of a player. Will be interesting to see how he has progressed in the last couple of rounds. And Jordan Weir, who I heaped praise on - and this is why I love the ressies.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Wonderful to see Harry make such a good comeback, and that Jed Lamb's latest demotion hasn't dampened his spirits - I thought him BoG.

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Swans 4.2 7.7 13.13 20.20 140
Magpies 2.4 3.6 5.10 6.13 49

Goals: White 5 Jack 3 Kilpatrick 3 Towers 2 Sands 2 Membrey Lamb Hadden Pola-Smith Weir
Best: Biggs Jack Lamb Richards Armstrong White

I thought Lamb BOG too (plenty of cool, composed touches) and Jack (some excellent clean skills and use of pace) up to halftime. Richards shows improved confidence and Towers started to show some of the skills that made him our first draft pick last year. Membrey started very strong with marks on the lead and some brilliant pinpoint kicking that resulted in goals to his teammates. White had a late, late flourish up forward after playing most of the day in the ruck. Could have finished with seven. Cunningham sat out the first quarter but when he did come on he played midfield as well as in the backline

Topups were excellent all round I particularly liked the extravagantly attired Levi Sands, curly blonde forward Lachlan Kilpatrick, tall utility Jordan Weir and lively smalls Ben Hodgson and Doug Hadden. They all contributed significantly to the win

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Swans 4.2 7.7 13.13 20.20 140
Magpies 2.4 3.6 5.10 6.13 49

Goals: White 5 Jack 3 Kilpatrick 3 Towers 2 Sands 2 Membrey Lamb Hadden Pola-Smith Weir
Best: Biggs Jack Lamb Richards Armstrong White

I thought Lamb BOG too (plenty of cool, composed touches) and Jack (some excellent clean skills and use of pace) up to halftime. Richards shows improved confidence and Towers started to show some of the skills that made him our first draft pick last year. Membrey started very strong with marks on the lead and some brilliant pinpoint kicking that resulted in goals to his teammates. White had a late, late flourish up forward after playing most of the day in the ruck. Could have finished with seven. Cunningham sat out the first quarter but when he did come on he played midfield as well as in the backline

Topups were excellent all round. I particularly liked the extravagantly attired tall forward-relief ruck Levi Sands, curly blonde forward Lachlan Kilpatrick, tall utility Jordan Weir and lively smalls Ben Hodgson and Doug Hadden. They all contributed significantly to the win with their competitiveness.

[DamY]

Thanks ugg for the report. Kilpatrick impressed me when I wasn't working on my assignment haha

[Primmy]

I was about to say, Lachy Kilpatric is a keeper. That goal he kicked while falling backwards on a sharp angle was sublime, and then following up with another brilliant one. Kid is a natural. Can kick them all over the joint. He also has shoulders to die for.

I thought Jesse played a stressed game.
Love love love the brothers X and BJ. Those boys are so good, getting better, and the unbelievable running with the flight of the ball at pace and taking a clean mark by X was just exhilerating..
Thought Membrey has picked up a level or so.
Jed is taking a leadership role just now. Good to see.
Jordan Weir is no longer standing there and watching the game. May have a future
S Biggs appears to be stepping up a notch or two.
So is Jake Lloyd
Dean Towers is a puzzlement to me. I keep an eye on him, and he kind of floats in and out, doing some very good stuff but not looking all that urgent. Dale Thomas like sort of. dunno.

Caught up with an old footy friend haven't chatted to for ages, so it was weather eye footy for a term or two. However the boys didn't seem too fazed by the wet weather, they just got on with the game. Belconnen have some very big big men and we have some marsh birds in amongst the mix. Didn't seem to matter.

[wolftone57]

I thought Biggs was very good and his delivery is excellent. Kilpatrick is a tricky customer, kicked a couple of beauties one from an almost impossible angle. Chops was brilliant all game and his work rate was the best. He seems to have a really good understanding with Biggs. Jesse was good but he will probably have to be much better next week after the injury to Tommy Walsh.

[dimelb]

Thanks ugg, Primmy, wolfy , DamY - always much appreciated.
I'm especially pleased to note Jed exuding Bloodlike qualities - i.e. knuckle down and work hard and skillfully. Well done.
And the brothers sound wonderful - to have such talent (literally) in reserve!

[Primmy]

Forget the Dale Thomas reference, I wasn't able to correct the bloooooody thing. Having difficulties this morning.

Dale, our dale, the laconic one.

[liz]

There were a couple of mouthwatering exchanges between Membrey and Jack, with Jack using his pace to great effect, and Membrey picking out long targets and delivering impeccably.

Special mention to a couple of the top ups. Hadden was terrific, I thought. He's tiny but is a little terrier and has excellent skills. He's played quite a few games with the reserves now, and you can see the benefit of these kids getting more familiar with the team, and more confident as a result.

At the other end of the spectrum was no 58, playing his first game - Pola Smith. I don't think he played in the first half but got a few opportunities late in the game. He's a tallish, skinny lad - he has the look of someone who has shot up in the last year or so and is still trying to adjust to his new height and arms that look far too long. But he took an intercept mark 40m or so out from goal, almost on the boundary line, and went back and slotted the goal. I remember reading an article on the Swans website a year or so ago - IIRC his dad played Richmond. I think he was playing U16 last year, so must still be 17 or so, and a year off draft age. I look forward to seeing a bit more of him over the next year and a bit.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Liz

given you know your stats -

if your friends son was achieving the following:

15yrs of age
193cm tall
14.4 on the beep test
20m = 2.92 sec
3km run in 11:00 mins

how do you think these stats rate at the national draft ?

[liz]

I'm not an encyclopaedia of draft camp stats. On the face of it, those figures suggest he's a good athlete relative to the pool that typically gets drafted. Whether he can play football is another matter.