VFL Round 21: Sydney Swans Reserves v UWS Giants

[ugg]

What Goes On
NEAFL Round 21

Note: The game will be streamed live on neafl.com.au

Sydney Swans Reserves v UWS Giants
Saturday 11th August 2013 4.00pm
ANZ Stadium

The Top 5 in the NEAFL Eastern Conference ladder are all but settled with the only change possible being defending premiers Queanbeyan overtaking Eastlake for the last spot. However the Swans and Giants will still have home advantage to play for with 1st-3rd placings giving them the right to host a home final, and avoid the possibility of traveling to Canberra to play. The Swans have seen their huge percentage whittled down in recent weeks, so much so that the Giants now claim the greatest percentage in the Eastern Conference and will overtake the Swans if they win this match and split the regular season clashes between these two teams to 2-2.

The minor premiership is still up for grabs with the Swans only a win behind current leaders Belconnen but with a slightly greater percentage. While the Swans will get some handy names back in Biggs and Lamb, they will still take to the field with only 13 listed players which will be a tough task against UWS' 21 listed players in comparison. The 2 sides clashed just 4 weeks ago where the Giants were too strong for the undermanned Swans, with one of the few positives for the red and white team being the successful return of Gary Rohan from injury.

Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2013
R2 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

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R8 UWS Giants 11.12 (78) defeated by Reserves 19.13 (127) @ Blacktown International Sportspark

Goals: Membrey 5, Morton 3, Everitt 3, Walsh 2, Lloyd, Robinson, Mitchell, Wray, Kilpatrick, Brown
Best: Walsh, Everitt, Biggs, Membrey, Lloyd, Mitchell

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R17 Reserves 12.7 (79) defeated by UWS Giants 21.16 (142) ANZ Stadium

Goals: Towers 3, Rohan 2, Lloyd 2, Cox, Kiel, Dick, Cunningham, Green
Best: Robinson, Lloyd, Perris, Head

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

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R14 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

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R19 UWS Giants 9.10 (64) defeated by Reserves 18.18 (126) @ Skoda Stadium
The Giants jumped the Swans early to kick the first 3 goals of the match before the Swans clawed their way back in the contest to trail by only a goal. The 2nd half was a completely different story as the Swans caused the Giants to continually turn the ball over and hurt them on the rebound through their hard running and classy forwards. Morton led the goalkicking again but it was the key defenders in Heath and Lynch who were the real heroes keeping the Giants to just 2 goals after half time.

Goals: Morton 5, Lamb 4, Spangher 2, Crawford, Everitt, Heeney, Thurgarland, Roos, McNeil, Broome
Best: Heath, White, Lynch, Moore, Lamb, Thurgarland


Recent Form
Reserves
UWS Giants

Last Round
Brisbane Lions Reserves 17.17 (119) defeated Reserves 13.8 (86) @ Coorparoo - Giffin Park

Goals: Morton 6, Towers 3, Weir 2, Membrey, Dick
Best: Lloyd, Armstrong, Morton, Towers, Richards, Dawes

UWS Giants 34.18 (222) defeated Sydney Uni 4.6 (30) @ Blacktown International Sports Park

Goals: Jaksch 6, Redfern 5, Wilson 4, Stewart 3, Downie 3, Sumner 3, Frost 2, Ugle, Schulz, Aylett, Miles, Reid, O'Rourke, Growden, Edwards
Best: Tyson, Downie, O'Rourke, Wilson, Edwards, Buntine

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Lamb (seniors), Biggs (traveling emergency)
Out: Mitch MORTON (injury)

Lamb will add toughness and class in the midfield while Biggs may also see time there after impressing as an onballer in his last reserves game. Add the in-form Lloyd, the workhorse Robinson and the speed of Cunningham and there is much to like about this midfield division.

Morton is an unfortunate out as he has demonstrated time and again he can kick big bags of goals in the NEAFL. In his absence, the bulk of the goalscoring will have fall on the broad shoulders of Membrey and Towers.

In defence, Richards and Lockyer look likely to continue their key posts with assistance from Brown, Dick and Armstrong.

The wildcard is Rohan who may line up anywhere from halfback, wing, onball to full forward.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Erickson, Guthrie, Plug
Out: Jacob DAWES, Jarred ELLIS, Jack McKINLAY

Guthrie's first game of the year but he will be familiar to reserves watches having been a regular topup over many years now. Head backed up Dawes in the ruck last week but with Dawes' omission from the team he looks likely to take over first ruck duties with perhaps Weir or one of Brown or Richards giving him a chop out. Perris continues to impress in the midfield leading the team in clearances.

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Mitch Morton 33 (8)
• Tim Membrey 28 (12)
• Jesse White 23 (9)

For full list: 2013 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Jake Lloyd 44 (15)
• Jed Lamb 24 (7)
• Jesse White 24 (9)

For full list: 2013 Best Votes - RWOwiki

UWS Squad

In: Thornton, O'hAilpin, Barrett, Finlayson, Rodman
Out: Aidan CORR, Sam DARLEY, Tom DOWNIE

A strong team but perhaps not as powerful in the ruck division with both Downie (who will make his AFL debut on Sunday) and Brogan missing from the UWS team that dismantled the Swans last month. They still have plenty of height at both ends of the ground which may cause issues for the undersized Swans.

[wolftone57]

Still no Sam I see. I don't know what Matt Cameron was on about he said he was good to go and would play this week. Mind you he said that last week and a lot can happen in a week.

[ugg]

Longmire said he would start running outside, not playing games

[Primmy]

Thanks ugg, printed out and ready to go at 3.55pm for 4.00pm.

[wolftone57]

Longmire said he would start running outside, not playing games

Not Longmire Ugg, Cameron. Cameron said he had joined the main group and was training and keen to get back into the fray. That was two weeks ago and he said he would probably be playing toward the end of the season so we can see what he can do. He obviously isn't ready and didn't pass the fitness test this week. He WAS down for a fitness test it says so in the injury list. Hope he passes it next week because he will be pivotal for the Twos come finals.

[ugg]

Some changes for GWS from the squad named above. Wilson has been drafted into their seniors squad to replace Nick Haynes. Not sure about the others. Takes their listed players number down to 17 but more importantly takes out another ruckman in Setanta. I guess one or more of Frost, Stewart or even Thornton will have to ruck unless one of the topups they've named is a ruckman by trade

Out: Wilson, Growden, Aylett, O'hAilpin
In: J.Dimery, L.Hayres

[liz]

Supwe first half from our lads. Many of them don't have the same pedigree as their Giant opponents but their endeavor (and skill) is putting the Giants to shame. Rohan, Towers and Membrey have each contributed two goals to the total tally of 9. Harry, Jaffer-W and Armstrong have one each.

No sign of Lamb Chop.

[WolfGang]

No Lamb ??
Which of the 3 emergencies are playing ??
Just want to know before to-nights game - Thanks

[jono2707]

Lockyer and Biggs both had strong games - which is good to see, as both would probably be a bit nervous re their place on the list at the end of the year.

I didn't spot Gazza in the final quarter - I assume careful management of his playing time is still happening...

[liz]

Just saw Lamb warming up on the ground with Parker. Suggests he might be in for senior game, though an emergency often warms up with the team. Biggs and X both played out the whole reserves game.

Good second half to the game. Giants were never in it. Lots of very good performances and hard to pick a poor one. Head, Armstrong and Lloyd were probably my picks. Best game I've seen Lockyer play too.

[ugg]

Lamb is wearing his watch which means he's probably not playing

[ugg]

The defence was the standout for me - there were long periods where UWS just couldn't get anywhere near their forward 50.

I'll echo the thought that it was Lockyer's best game - he looked so assured and confident down back. Brown also played well got in many spoils while Richards continues to impress with an attacking brand of defence. Biggs went well too, playing a bit further up the ground than usual, more of a wingman today. Lloyd had a intriguing matchup on Tyson both were impressive for their respective teams so we might call it a draw there. Towers had plenty of opportunities but fluffed a few shots and finished with 3 goals 6 behinds. Some of the toppies also played well, including some exciting goals from Jaffer-Williams and Cox.

We play easybeats Sydney Uni to finish the season next week so if Belconnen lose either this week (Queanbeyan - a chance but the defending premiers have been hit by injuries and are a shadow of last year's champion outfit) or next (Tuggeranong - very unlikely as the Hawjs are easily the worst team in the comp and have already been omitted from next year's revamped NEAFL) we will claim the minor premiership and a week off. If we finish 2nd we will host a final but since the seniors play away at Geelong that week it will probably be at Blacktown.

[ugg]

Swans 3.5 9.6 12.16 15.20 (110)
Giants 1.3 3.4 4.7 6.9 (45)

SYDNEY SWANS
Goal Kickers: D. Towers 3, G. Rohan 2, T. Membrey 2, D. Cox 2, B. Plug , J. Lloyd , H. Cunningham , T. Armstrong , Y. Jaffer-Williams , T. Head
Best Players: S. Biggs, A. Brown, J. Lockyer, J. Lloyd, H. Cunningham, X. Richards
UWS GIANTS
Goal Kickers: L. Sumner 2, B. Thornton , S. Reid , S. Frost , S. Edwards
Best Players: M. Buntine, S. Gilham, L. Sumner, D. Tyson, S. Frost

[jono2707]

Well the Ressies was so much more enjoyable than the Firsts. It was a very strong performance across the ground, although GWS/UWS/Canberra or whatever the hell they are were a bit disappointing as well. I thought we had a lot of solid contributors ( I pointed out Lockyer and Biggs earlier) - Robinson and Jake Lloyd were pretty strong, Towers was impressive in patches (and physically quite a specimen), and Harry Cunningham looked to me to be a class above. Hopefully he gets a few more opportunities next year as he is developing into a smart footballer.

Even the toppies played well tonight , including the two indigenous fellas Jaffer-Williams and Cox, who didn't look out of place and added a bit of spark.

I think I'll just forget that there was another match after that one tonight...

[Primmy]

I love that spread of goal kickers.

It has taken far too long for Dean Towers to make his presence felt. Didn't do a bad job. To be honest, I initially wondered why he was on the books in the first place. Finally the talent is showing up.
I loved Yarren Jaffer-Williams and D. Cox. So inventive in their approach and quick. Skinny as.....what are they feeding on!
Defense was terrific. Liked young Alex Brown's effort to touch a goal through even though we were up by a motza. Freakily weird to see X in action sometimes. Not a struck match between him and Ted when it comes to body movement.
Lloyd Perris is worth a second look.
Lockyer, Biggs, Harry, class above. Need a bit of beef yet, but things could get to be interesting in the future. They know its around the corner.
I couldn't see any passengers out there. Looks like Crouchy has them jumping out of their skins.