Grand Final: Sydney Swans Reserves v Aspley Hornets

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NEAFL 2014 Grand Final

Sydney Swans Reserves v Aspley Hornets

Saturday 13th September 2014
1.30pm
Graham Road, Aspley

It is not often that the first ever meeting between two sides should occur in a Grand Final, but that will be one of the obstacles the Swans Reserves will have to overcome to claim their first ever NEAFL flag. The Reserves have made the finals in each of the 3 NEAFL seasons but have bowed out twice at the Conference Grand Final in 2011 and 2012 and suffered a meritorious loss to the Brisbane Lions Reserves team last year after only being able to call upon the services of 10 listed players due to senior commitments in Perth.

Another factor working against the Swans will be the undoubtedly strong support for the Hornets as this match is being hosted by them at their local ground Graham Road. Although the Swans finished higher on the ladder, NEAFL rules dictate that any local community team gets first preference over an AFL reserves team for hosting rights.

The Swans have also been forced to omit 3 listed players from last week's victorious Preliminary Final team to comply with the NEAFL rules of only being able to field 15 listed players against a non-AFL reserves side. However, results in the past have shown that the Swans should still have enough firepower to triumph.

Aspley qualified for the Grand Final by upsetting the top ranked UWS Giants in last week's preliminary final. After a 13-goal shootout in the first quarter, both sides found scoring much harder to come in the subsequent quarters, but the Hornets managed to eke out more goals than the Giants in the second half (6 to 2) to complete their unexpected win.

NEAFL Ladder

Recent Form
Reserves
Aspley
Past Meetings

This will be the first ever clash between the two sides

Last Round
Sydney Swans Reserves 16.11 (107) defeated NT Thunder 6.9 (45) @ Blacktown International Sportspark

Goals: Hiscox 3, Towers 3, Membrey 2, Nankervis 2, T.Mitchell 2, Heeney 2, O'Keefe, Jack
Best: Robinson, T.Mitchell, Laidler, Naismith, Walsh, Towers

UWS Giants 10.7 (67) defeated by Aspley Hornets 16.16 (112) @ Blacktown International Sportspark

Goals: Payne 4, Hughes 2, Sansbury 2, Smith 2, Turner 2, Stanley 2, Andrews, French
Best: Payne, Matthews, Grose, Stanley, Turner, Lucy

Team List
Listed players
Changes
In:
Out: Matthew DICK (omitted), Patrick MITCHELL (omitted), Jeremy LAIDLER (ineligible?)

As mentioned above, 3 players had to be omitted from last week's team. Laidler's omission looks to be due the fact he has only played 2 NEAFL games all year and the minimum requirement is 3. Coupled with Dick's omission, there opens 2 spaces in defence, and Biggs is likely to be one of those moved back after playing the preliminary final off a wing.

Dick and Mitchell have traveled with the team as emergencies.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Dickson, Hadden, Wright
Out:

Heeney played a mix of midfield and forward last week, as did Mills who was used slightly more forward. Either Davis or Dickson is likely to slot into one of the defensive spots.

Reserves leading goalkickers

• Tim Membrey 43 (16)
• Toby Nankervis 31 (17)
• Ryan O'Keefe 19 (15)

For full list: 2014 Goalkickers - RWOwiki

Reserves leading votegetters

• Daniel Robinson 33 (18)
• Tim Membrey 32 (16)
• Shane Biggs 31 (16), Tom Mitchell 31 (10)

For full list: 2014 Best Votes - RWOwiki

Reserves leading disposals (avg) min 7 games

• Shane Biggs 32.1
• Tom Mitchell 30.9
• Ryan O'Keefe 29.4

Reserves leading tackles (avg) min 7 games

• Ryan O'Keefe 7.8
• Tom Mitchell 4.5
• Jordan Lockyer 4.2

Reserves leading marks (avg) min 7 games

• Jordan Lockyer 6.2
• Tim Membrey 6.2
• Daniel Robinson 5.9

Reserves leading clearances(avg) min 4 games

• Tom Mitchell 6.7
• Daniel Robinson 6.1
• Ryan O'Keefe 5.5

Reserves leading inside 50s(avg) min 4 games

• Brandon Jack 5.2
• Tom Mitchell 4.9
• Ryan O'Keefe 4.5

Reserves leading rebound 50s(avg) min 4 games

• Shane Biggs 5.7
• Tommy Walsh 2.5
• Xavier Richards 2.3

For full list: 2014 Reserves Stats


Aspley Hornets
In: Pettitt
Out: Harris ANDREWS

Aspley have a number of ex-AFL players including Copeland, Stiller (Lions), Sansbury (North Melbourne), Daye, Stanley (Gold Coast), Grose (Port Adelaide) and Lucy (Essendon). Their danger players include:

• Matt PAYNE - Declared the NEAFL's best and fairest by winning the inaugural MVP award, Payne is an experienced, decorated midfielder with plenty of pace who specialises in clearances (2nd in the NEAFL) and can bob up for a goal (15 for the year). Dan Robinson is likely to get the big task of tagging him.
• Austin LUCY and Ryan MATTHEWS are their other major ball winners both averaging 20+ possessions a game. An intriguing battle looms between their midfield group and the likes of Tom Mitchell, ROK, Brandon Jack and George Hewett.
• Eddie SANSBURY - The ex-Roo is clearly their number 1 forward target, finishing third in the NEAFL goalkicking charts with an efficient conversion of 56 goals 28 behinds. Despite their height difference, Xav Richards should get the job as he showed last week on Ewing he's comfortable marking smaller forwards.
• Cheynee STILLER - Provides plenty of outside run and is one of their best users of the ball going forward.
• Adam HUGHES - Another small forward to look out for, kicked 28 goals in the regular season

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Stream here

[wolftone57]

Thanks Ugg. Great preview.

[Matt80]

I am not sure this pampering of the non AFL affiliated sides is very good for the comp. I think we need to look at things a bit differently and say to those sides they just have to come up to a standard where they can compete on an even level. This idea of only being able to play 15 listed players because the opposition couldn't win if we played 18 is ludicrous. This opposition is very good and have some pretty good ex-AFL players. Robert Copeland, Joey Daye & Eddie Sansbury are pretty good players. Hutchinson could still play AFL as a mature recruit. Aspley have recruited very well and a few other sides, take note Canberra sides, could follow their example. Other than those mentioned this is a run down of their recruits;

Jon Williams; originally from Cooperoo he was drafted by Essendon and spent two years on their list before being picked up by Aspley

Liam Dawson; Qld/Brisbane Academy player who was unlucky to miss out on the draft

Matt Payne; 2011 Grogan Medal winner for the B&F in the NEAFL

Ryan Matthews; Cairns Saints. Aspley B&F.

Jed Turner; Maroochydore & Redlands ruckman who is one of the best in the NEAFL.

Clinton French; Glenorchy. They certainly go a long way to recruit who they want

Jack Stanley; Was on the Suns list but got dropped and picked up by Aspley

Cheynee Stiller; On the Brisbane list before being delisted and picked up by Aspley

Henrey Joice; Morningside, close to being drafted. Got talent.

Austen Lucy; Morningside/Essendon. Drafted and delisted by Essendon and picked up by Aspley

Ryan Holman; Morningside, joint winner of the Syd Guilford Trophy, the media Award.

Gavin Grose; Ex Mt Gravatt captain. There is nothing like leadership.


This is a club that is on the move and they draft very well. This will be no easy task tomorrow. Our young blokes will have to be very sharp. They have a good mix of experience and youth. They have also got a serious game plan in place and seem to be able to get the overlap through run and carry. This is a very good side do not underestimate them.

The concessions need to stay in place. It's extremely expensive for a non-AFL club to field a team in the NEAFL. East Coast Eagles who are a very strong Sydney AFL club have walked away from the NEAFL. Sydney Uni are the only Sydney AFL club who now field a side.

You don't want to go back to the old days of whipping Canberra Teams every week by 130 plus points.

[dimelb]

Enthusiastic thanks ugg, and well done - a terrific lead-in to the match. Plus a link to the stream; we lack nothing. Next we'll have beer on tap via the internet. Thanks also wolfie, your input is appreciated.

Very encouraging to see that the ressies take after the firsts, each the stingiest team in its comp. It's shaping up as a good match and the boys will have to work hard if they are to win. Go Swannies!

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Late change, Wright in for Hey.

[Meg]

Grand Final: Sydney Swans Reserves v Aspley Hornets

Nice interview with X Richards leading into the Reserves GF. Some of his mannerisms are very familiar!

http://m.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2014-09-12/xcited-for-grand-final.mobileapp

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4 AFL premiership medals between the 2 captains:

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Laidler just tweeted he was 'spewing' that he was ineligible to play today.

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Match starting in a few minutes.

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Argh live stream very choppy.

[Swanny40519]

I am still watching the national anthem and freezing. &^%%&(*%(&*%*(%**&^*)*)(*&*(&

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Still going through the national anthem...

Meanwhile the NEAFL app has the Swans leading 13-0 with goals to Towers and Membrey

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Goal to Jack. 19-0 after 8 minutes!

[dimelb]

The picture isn't bad but I can't hack the stops. Back later!