VFL Round 22: Sydney Uni v Sydney Swans Reserves

[ugg]

Hello Goodbye
NEAFL Round 22

Sydney Uni v Sydney Swans Reserves
Sunday 18th August 2013 11.40am
Sydney Cricket Ground

The final round of the regular season sees the Swans and Belconnen in battle for the minor premiership. However with Sydney's superior percentage it will take an unlikely set of outcomes in both this clash and the Magpies' match against the Tuggeranong Hawks (who are playing their last match in the NEAFL). While Belconnen may well pile on the requisite amount of points to close the gap, it is hard to see the Swans not doing the same to their opponents Sydney University.

While Sydney Uni have improved in their second season in the NEAFL, having doubled their number of wins from 3 to 6, they have struggled against the Swans and the Giants reserves teams in particular conceding big scores in their past meetings with those two sets of teams. The only two meeting with the Swans have ended in 203 and 148 point thrashings.

Eastern Conference Ladder
Past Meetings
2012

R7 Sydney Uni 5.6 (36) defeated by Reserves 38.11 (239) @ Blacktown International Sports Park
The Reserves were too powerful for the NEAFL new boys, crushing Uni by a mammoth 203 points. Forwards Nathan Gordon and Mitch Morton both kicked 10 goals straight and were ably supplied by midfielder Jarred Moore and half-back flanker Tony Armstrong.

Goals: Gordon 10, Morton 10, Walsh 4, White 3, Pyke 3, Lamb 2, Meredith 2, Biggs, Moore, Cunningham, Armstrong
Best: Moore, Armstrong, Morton, Gordon, Walsh, Wynn
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R13 Reserves 28.20 (188) defeated Sydney Uni 6.4 (40) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
The Swans were taken aback by Uni's early challenge in the first quarter but wrested control back in the second, before going on to completely dominate the second half, kicking 16 goals to 1 in that period. Rookie listed player Shane Biggs was incredibly clean and efficient off a wing while Trent Dennis-Lane also impressed despite only suiting up for the first half.

Goals: Morton 6, Gordon 5, Spangher 4, White 3, Cunningham 2, Mitchell 2, Walsh, Seaby, Dennis-Lane, Biggs, Lynch, McNeil
Best: Biggs, Dennis-Lane, Cunningham, Moore, Dunn, Morton

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Recent Form
Reserves
Sydney Uni

Last Round
Reserves 15.20 (110) defeated UWS Giants 6.9 (45) @ ANZ Stadium

Goals: Tower 3, Rohan 2, Membrey 2, Cox 2, Plug, Lloyd, Cunningham, Armstrong, Jaffer-Williams, Head
Best: Biggs, Brown, Lockyer, Lloyd, Cunningham, Richards

Hills Eagles 14.11 (95) defeated Sydney Uni 13.8 (86) @ Bruce Purser

Goals: Barrett 4, Elkington 2, Thompson, Morrison, Campbell, Krochmal, Barton, Dyson, Dugmore
Best: Barton, Ayton, Thompson, Barnes, Wilkie, Bottin-Noonan

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Jack, Naismith
Out: Gary ROHAN (seniors)

Rohan was playing as forward last week and Jack looks like a direct swap for him. The back six is heavily stacked with listed players but with the ball unlikely to see much time in the Swans back half, a few reassignments are on the cards - Biggs and/or Armstrong to the midfield or Dick and/or Brown to the forward line. Naismith will make finally make his debut as a listed player, after impressing as a topup last year and suffering multiple injuries since the preseason. Likely to be eased into the team, he should split minutes between his favoured ruck position and as a tall marking forward.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Davis, Dawes, Dunn, Heeney, McKinlay
Out: Daniel COX, Blake ERICKSON, Blake GUTHRIE, Doug HADDEN, Yarran JAFFER-WILLIAMS, Brad PLUG

Dawes will likely take the main rucking duties despite Naismith's return. He was impressive enough in his last game to earn a vote. It will be his first reserves home game. Head who led the ruck last week will return to being a mobile tall forward.

Heeney and Davis are both Swans Academy members and also represented NSW/ACT RAMS in this year's U18 championships

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Mitch Morton 33 (8)
• Tim Membrey 30 (13)
• Dean Towers 24 (15)

For full list: 2013 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Jake Lloyd 47 (16)
• Shane Biggs 30 (16)
• Jed Lamb 24 (7)

For full list: 2013 Best Votes - RWOwiki

Sydney Uni Squad

In: Carter, Caspersonn, Figg, Smith, Vincent
Out: Tim BARRETT, Nick ROBERTS

Despite suffering more losses than wins, the Sydney Uni team has shown the capabilities to hit the scoreboard. Their problems seem to lie at the other end of the ground. There are a few familiar faces in this squad - Ryan Bottin-Noonan and Mitch Thompson are former scholarship players with Monty Krochmal and Jack Csapersonn playing as topups.

Peter Dugmore was good enough to kick 4 goals against the Swans in one of last year's games while Tom Elkington was a worthy opponent in the ruck.

[wolftone57]

Thanks Ugg. Good to see young Sam back in the Red & White, he is a real goer. Can't wait to see him play and I think he will make a huge difference to our reserves finals chances.

[ugg]

Thanks Ugg. Good to see young Sam back in the Red & White, he is a real goer. Can't wait to see him play and I think he will make a huge difference to our reserves finals chances.

With a restriction of 12 listed players for the finals, he may find himself missing out.

[dimelb]

Thanks ugg. Let's hope they go into the finals with a big win.
A question that's just occurred to me. Do you know if the restriction rules for finals change with the new arrangement next year?

[ugg]

They'll have to work out new rules I suspect. The Lions and Suns are allowed more listed players when they play the Queensland sides (not sure of the exact number)

[wolftone57]

With a restriction of 12 listed players for the finals, he may find himself missing out.

This restriction is crap. If the side is not good enough then they shouldn't be in the league. This new league I hope will ber like that. In finals 12 players is just wrong, that is why we don't win too many. Yet all of these sides can recruit ex AFL players if they wish and play whoever they like. It is a stupid restriction and just holds back the comp from getting any better.

[Doctor]

I would hope (and expect) that the new rules will address this kind of stuff. Changes like we're seeing are encouraging in terms of us having a genuine second tier comp. Probably one of the benefits of the Giants & Suns coming in that we didn't originally consider.

[liz]

I think he VFL has the same rule.

[wolftone57]

According to this article in Sporting Pulse there doesn't seem to be a nominated number at all for the VFL. But players who have played AFL after July who have not played at least six games or players who have not played a game in the home and away season but no AFL are ineligible. It seems you can play as many AFL listed players and rookies as you wish as long as they fit that criteria. I know there is no restriction in SA & WA except for having to qualify by playing a certain amount of games. Both these leagues changes their rules after Rhoyce Hart played in a VFL Grand Final and then a week later played in the SANFL Grand Final for Glenelg because he had played two game for the club while on National service.

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?client=1-118-0-0-0&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=20367882

[ugg]

Tweeting from the game Swans Reserves (swansreserves) on Twitter

[707]

Did Mitchell play or has he had the week off?

[ugg]

Goal Kickers: T. Head 3, D. Towers 3, J. Lloyd 2, H. Cunningham 2, T. Membrey 2, I. Heeney 2, J. McKinlay , A. Davis , S. Biggs , B. Jack
Best Players: J. Lockyer, T. Armstrong, H. Cunningham, S. Biggs, J. Lloyd, J. McKinlay

[Primmy]

The blond Isaac Heeney (I think that's it, 51??) had a Big Day Out for his first game as a toppie. He was not going to end the day wondering that's for sure. Great potential there.

Looking forward to ugg's assessment. Thomas Head should be a keeper. BJ must have caused his mum heart attacks growing up - no fear. X has a mature approach to everything. Shiggsy is getting better and better.

That's the thing everyone. It's the players that get better and better each week that you know are going places. Those that arrive with ability and style over and above the qualities of other first year players but it stays exactly the same week in week out never ever progress further up the scale. The learners do, even if they start way below the pack.

One other thing. Is Tony Armstrong the Captain of the ressies? If not, why not. Its subtle but his game is improving steadily and he is organising things out there. He may be a late bloomer but I would be very surprised if he wasn't retained. It's all there.

[ugg]

Uni really took it up to us in the first quarter and it wasn't just their physical pressure that caused problems. They definitely have some skill and structure and generated enough forward 50 entries to keep our back six busy. Certainly did not look like a side that lost by 180 points 2 weeks ago and inwardly the Swans would have been happy with such a willing contest. The Swans asserted their superiority in the 2nd quarter but for some sloppy work in the forward entries and some desperate defence including 5 rushed behinds, the Swans could only manage 2.8 in that term. The second half belonged to the Swans too as the Uni players started to tire, but they were not without their highlights including 4 goals to Tom Elkington and some good hard leads and marks by Ben Taggart and Peter Dugmore.

• Membrey - had a hot and cold day, his opponent Geraghty (#58) played him very well, stuck with him on the lead but also had the physical strength to compete in the marking contests. Membrey's renowned set shot accuracy was slightly askew as he missed some easy shots but what I liked about his game and have liked for some time is that he is a smart reader of play and also a creator and would have notched up a few assists as well. His time will come.
• Cunningham - Liked his all round game, including the ability to sneak forward and present as a target.
• Armstrong - Liking the change it attitude, no nonsense game who tried to keep things simple by taking the straightforward option instead of trying to beat opposition players on his own or trying the audacious kick.
• Towers - with two ruckmen (Dawes and Naismith) back in the team, that allowed Head (see below) to settle at FF, which meant Towers started at HFF with the direction to push up to the contest, similar to how we structure up in the seniors. He was completely invisible in the first half, was better in the second half with some marks inside the forward 50 but remains very much a peripheral figure in this side.
• Lockyer - another solid game defensively, took some brave marks in defence and then obviously brimming with confidence also was pretty useful going forward including a nice sprint down the middle and kick to Membrey who marked it.
• Robinson - Had his time in his usual midfield spot but also dabbled with the occasional stint in the forward line.
• Dick - one of his better games in defence, spoiled well but more importantly was a lot more competitive and also showed something with ball in hand.
• Jack - had a quiet first half, ramped it up in the 2nd with some telling involvements in scores.
• Naismith - spent the first half doing the world's longest warm up and practiced some set shots during the half time break with Tippett acting as his ballboy. Played a lot more forward than ruck, timing looked to be a little off, but very keen to launch himself at the contest with that big frame of his and at least one Uni defender copped the full brunt of that clash.
• Brown - The understanding between Lockyer, Richards and Brown has grown as the season as progressed and they worked well again yesterday especially when Uni had their purple patch in the first quarter. Colours were lowered a little by having his opponent Elkington kick 3 of his 4 goals when Brown was marking him.
• Richards - Did better in the one-on-one wrestling contests but was beaten on a lead a few times.
• Lloyd - ball use was excellent yesterday, hardly missed a target, and continues to hit the scoreboard.
• Biggs - Started in defence but played the majority of the game off a wing. Hard runner whose elite fitness allows him to get into the right spots at the right times.

Toppies

• Head - seems to play well every time and is certainly turning, dare I say it, some heads around the joint. Tall, takes a good grab with his strong hands but also aerobically fit and can pinch hit in the ruck. I hear he also had a pretty good U18 carnival so he must be worth some consideration. I'm not sure what his draft status is like though and I think he's a little older than some of the other topups.
• McKinlay - I'm a little surprised to see his name on the bests as I didn't notice him till late in the 3rd quarter. Must have been doing a tagging job?
• Perris - played plenty of minutes in the midfield, not a standout today but definitely doesn't look out of place next to the listed players on the field.
• Weir - With the ruck rearrangement explained above, he was shifted from forward to defence for most of the game although he did find himself back forward later on. No issues on his defensive duties but his awkward kicking style still sticks out.
• Dunn - some nice deliveries into the forwards from the wing.
• Wray - nothing stood out.

Of the toppie newbies

• Dawes - Not a newbie but the first time I've seen him, big sized but very mobile and athletic. Tried a few kicks that were somewhat unruckman-like
• Davis - Looked really good to me, lively type played mainly across half forward, read the play well on a few occasions and created chances.
• Heeney - Nervous the first few plays he was involved in but settled nicely and was finished his two chances accurately.

Sydney Uni 3.3 5.3 7.6 8.8 (56)
Swans Reserves 6.4 8.12 13.16 18.23 (131)

Goal Kickers: T. Head 3, D. Towers 3, J. Lloyd 2, H. Cunningham 2, T. Membrey 2, I. Heeney 2, J. McKinlay , A. Davis , S. Biggs , B. Jack
Best Players: J. Lockyer, T. Armstrong, H. Cunningham, S. Biggs, J. Lloyd, J. McKinlay

A week's rest now before we host (hopefully as the curtain raiser to Hawthorn game) the prelim against the winner of Belconnen-Ainslie.

[Primmy]

The blond Isaac Heeney (I think that's it, 51??) had a Big Day Out for his first game as a toppie. He was not going to end the day wondering that's for sure. Great potential there.

I am feeling so smug right now I would recommend you lot keep a distance, I am likely to become intolerable.

Heeney's first hit-out - SYDNEYSWANS.com.au