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NEAFL 2015 Round 1
Ainslie Tricolours v Sydney Swans Reserves
Saturday 11th April 2015
11.30am
Alan Ray Oval, Ainslie
With the departure of Queanbeyan and Belconnen from the NEAFL (as well as the Hills Eagles in Sydney), there remains just two Canberra based teams in the competition in Eastlake and Ainslie. The Tricolours were the best performing NSW/ACT based non-AFL reserves side in last year's NEAFL when they finished 6th and qualified for the finals before being knocked out by the NT Thunder.
Ainslie have picked up some of Belconnen's senior players who will strength their depth but will miss their leading possession gatherer from last season in Aaron Vandenberg who has already made his AFL debut with the Melbourne Demons. Ainslie come into this game having completed a strong preseason defeating their practice match opponents in Lavington and Manly by a combined 190 points.
In contrast the Swans have struggled, losing both practice matches to a rejuvenated Sydney Uni and a strong UWS outfit, albeit by small margins. As has happened in almost every season, the Reserves have lost key players in 2 of their 3 top ball winners Ryan O'Keefe (retired) and Shane Biggs (Western Bulldogs) and their top goalkicker in Tim Membrey (St Kilda) and will be seeking improvement in second year players such as Zak Jones, George Hewett, Toby Nankervis and Aliir Aliir to fill the void
NEAFL Ladder
Recent Form
Reserves
Ainslie
Past Meetings
6th July 2014 @ North Dalton Park
Last Round
N/A
Team List
Listed players
Changes
In:
Out:
Strong contingent of 16 listed players with Derickx the only unexplained omission. Perris, Newman, Melican and Johnson are missing through injury. With McGlynn using this match to gather match fitness and Tom Mitchell being left out of the seniors, the Reserves will have a very strong midfield consisting of those 2 along with Robinson, Jones, Hewett, Jack and Hiscox
McLaren will be given the first chance to fill Membrey's boots, even though he has spent the majority of his junior career as a backman or a ruckman. Davis will also play forward at times, but has shown he can play as a defender as well as a midfielder. Hiscox did well as a topup last year, playing as a small forward and kicked 10 goals in 12 games but his future lies in the midfield.
Down back third year player Richards will partner second year tall Aliir. The big question remains who will replace Biggs' output as a running half back flanker. Biggs was led the Swans Reserves' in Rebound 50s (and 2nd in the NEAFL) last year. Possible candidates include Marsh, Foote or maybe someone out of left field like a Brandon Jack to broaden his ongoing footy education.
Academy Players/Topups
In:
Out:
Ainslie Tricolours
In:
Out:
Harper, Collins and Curtis are 3 of the Belconnen recruits and they join former Thunder defender Williams in making their Ainslie debut. Forward Josh Bennett returns to the club after spending 2014 in the VFL. He led the NEAFL Eastern Conference goalkicking in 2013 with 61 goals.
Ainslie Tricolours v Sydney Swans Reserves
Saturday 11th April 2015
11.30am
Alan Ray Oval, Ainslie
With the departure of Queanbeyan and Belconnen from the NEAFL (as well as the Hills Eagles in Sydney), there remains just two Canberra based teams in the competition in Eastlake and Ainslie. The Tricolours were the best performing NSW/ACT based non-AFL reserves side in last year's NEAFL when they finished 6th and qualified for the finals before being knocked out by the NT Thunder.
Ainslie have picked up some of Belconnen's senior players who will strength their depth but will miss their leading possession gatherer from last season in Aaron Vandenberg who has already made his AFL debut with the Melbourne Demons. Ainslie come into this game having completed a strong preseason defeating their practice match opponents in Lavington and Manly by a combined 190 points.
In contrast the Swans have struggled, losing both practice matches to a rejuvenated Sydney Uni and a strong UWS outfit, albeit by small margins. As has happened in almost every season, the Reserves have lost key players in 2 of their 3 top ball winners Ryan O'Keefe (retired) and Shane Biggs (Western Bulldogs) and their top goalkicker in Tim Membrey (St Kilda) and will be seeking improvement in second year players such as Zak Jones, George Hewett, Toby Nankervis and Aliir Aliir to fill the void
NEAFL Ladder
Recent Form
Reserves
Ainslie
Past Meetings
6th July 2014 @ North Dalton Park
Last Round
N/A
Team List
Listed players
Changes
In:
Out:
Strong contingent of 16 listed players with Derickx the only unexplained omission. Perris, Newman, Melican and Johnson are missing through injury. With McGlynn using this match to gather match fitness and Tom Mitchell being left out of the seniors, the Reserves will have a very strong midfield consisting of those 2 along with Robinson, Jones, Hewett, Jack and Hiscox
McLaren will be given the first chance to fill Membrey's boots, even though he has spent the majority of his junior career as a backman or a ruckman. Davis will also play forward at times, but has shown he can play as a defender as well as a midfielder. Hiscox did well as a topup last year, playing as a small forward and kicked 10 goals in 12 games but his future lies in the midfield.
Down back third year player Richards will partner second year tall Aliir. The big question remains who will replace Biggs' output as a running half back flanker. Biggs was led the Swans Reserves' in Rebound 50s (and 2nd in the NEAFL) last year. Possible candidates include Marsh, Foote or maybe someone out of left field like a Brandon Jack to broaden his ongoing footy education.
Academy Players/Topups
In:
Out:
Ainslie Tricolours
In:
Out:
Harper, Collins and Curtis are 3 of the Belconnen recruits and they join former Thunder defender Williams in making their Ainslie debut. Forward Josh Bennett returns to the club after spending 2014 in the VFL. He led the NEAFL Eastern Conference goalkicking in 2013 with 61 goals.
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