Round 14: Canberra Demons v Sydney Swans Reserves @ Manuka Oval

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Slick Swans dismantle Demons in Alex Johnson?s inspirational return from injury – NEAFL

[Sandridge]

Love the footage of AJ's goal! That's what our club is all about!

[mcs]

Great work MCS.

I asked the question in another thread.

Does AJ look like a much bigger athlete now compared to 2012?

He is certainly more solidly built than he was back in those days, but still has that 'tall lankiness' factor about him as well.

[mcs]

Here are a few shots I took yesterday - sadly I didn't capture any of AJ with ball in toe - was too busy cheering, especially as part of the massive roar that went up when he kicked the goal.

AJ Warming Up


Some pre game revving up by the boys.


A few of the senior guys enjoying the inch of warmth given by the sun in Canberra


AJ lining up on the wing before the first bounce


Early shot by Aliir.

[mcs]

Dan Robinson lays one of many big tackles (I must admit, I didn't really notice his work so much during the game - but the stats don't lie - probably because he was in the clutches for most of the game).


Sinclair in the ruck - he had an excellent game and is in some good form.


Sinclair at it again in the ruck - this led to a clearance by Rose (they worked well in tandem)


AJ about to push off to lead (as the game went on, he looked more comfortable in closer to the ball).


Sam Murray chases one hard that ultimately just escaped his control.


- - - Updated - - -

AJ all in cotton wool for the second half, but clearly happy with his days work!


Toby Pink relieved Sinclair in the ruck - the timing of this picture was very good!


Aliir drops one he probably should have taken early in the last quarter.


A late ruck contest

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[rb4x]

On the DT points being less than half of Sinclair it is hard to see that O'Riordan was our best player. Does anybody fortunate enough to have watched the game think that he really was our best player or is this another case of the best player being some sort of encouragement award. Great anyway that some thought he had a good game.

[mcs]

On the DT points being less than half of Sinclair it is hard to see that O'Riordan was our best player. Does anybody fortunate enough to have watched the game think that he really was our best player or is this another case of the best player being some sort of encouragement award. Great anyway that some thought he had a good game.

O'Riordan was very influential on helping us transition well on Saturday - but I would of put Sinclair and Rose as our best two (both had excellent games I thought), followed by O'Riordan, Foote and Robinson together as the next lot. Stats don't tell the whole story as always - and while Sinclair probably had it a lot easier than he has had at AFL recently, he really did dominate in the ruck and provide an excellent target all around the ground all day.

[barracuda]

SS, I would say he played as I expected - like someone that hasn't played a game of footy for the good part of 4 years!

Played off the wing/a little of the half back flank, so didn't see a lot of the ball come his way, especially as we were very dominant through the middle. Looked a bit hesitant early, but gained some confidence as he went, especially after nailing the goal he kicked.

Laid a big tackle late in the 2nd quarter - probably to me his best moment of his game and one in which he went in really hard, but also had a couple of good moments of shepherding, and most importantly his kicking seems to have not lost some of the poise it had early in his career. It'll take some time (rest of the season in my book) before he probably really starts to get involved as we all hope, but first steps were good steps!

All in all, its just a baby step of course, but the club and he will be stoked (assuming he pulled up well) with how it went. Certainly a monstrous roar when he kicked his goal, and Swans players came from everywhere to pile in on him!

I think the best part was late in the second half when he had to change direction quickly a couple of times and did it ok.

[barracuda]

Good game from the two toppies Wicks and Stewart. Wicks with 20 touches and Stewart with 2 goals. I think Jake Brown might be back next week after a longish term injury.

[Mug Punter]

Good game from the two toppies Wicks and Stewart. Wicks with 20 touches and Stewart with 2 goals. I think Jake Brown might be back next week after a longish term injury.

Would you say Wicks has adapted to life well in the NEAFL Barra? Sounds like he was unlucky to not be selected in the Allies.

Sorry if this is OT but do you think he is a chance of being rookie listed by us? How does the NDS work in terms of the academy kids? Can we pass on a kid like Wicks un the Rookie Draft knowing we can always match an offer? So in a way the NDS acts a bit of a carpark for potential rookies but I guess there is always the risk clubs will rookie list him after we have filled all our spots.

Then if he goes into the NDS don't we still have matching rights for another year or two?

[barracuda]

Would you say Wicks has adapted to life well in the NEAFL Barra? Sounds like he was unlucky to not be selected in the Allies.

Sorry if this is OT but do you think he is a chance of being rookie listed by us? How does the NDS work in terms of the academy kids? Can we pass on a kid like Wicks un the Rookie Draft knowing we can always match an offer? So in a way the NDS acts a bit of a carpark for potential rookies but I guess there is always the risk clubs will rookie list him after we have filled all our spots.

Then if he goes into the NDS don't we still have matching rights for another year or two?

It looks like wicks has. He got in the best players in the game against uni, which was pretty close for 3 quarters. Then backed it up with another 20 disposals on the weekend.
Given he missed the allies he is coming from a fair way back regarding draft. However his neafl performances over 7 or so games is pretty compelling, 10 goals, a neafl rising star, consistent disposals. His ball use is very clean and he is off the charts for agility. The goal he kicked in the uni game showed that agility when he breezed through three opposition players one of which was hiscox.
He is pretty skinny and hasn't filled out at all. I suspect the swans will let him grow some more with the expectation he will bust the door down next year.
The NDS is a car park for the swans, given they maintain academy rights for three years. The only problem is that in years where there are few injuries the NDS group can get no games. For some that has been the case this year.
For Wicks not playing allies will mean he is not on the radar for the other clubs.
I still think James bell will get drafted.

[Mug Punter]

It looks like wicks has. He got in the best players in the game against uni, which was pretty close for 3 quarters. Then backed it up with another 20 disposals on the weekend.
Given he missed the allies he is coming from a fair way back regarding draft. However his neafl performances over 7 or so games is pretty compelling, 10 goals, a neafl rising star, consistent disposals. His ball use is very clean and he is off the charts for agility. The goal he kicked in the uni game showed that agility when he breezed through three opposition players one of which was hiscox.
He is pretty skinny and hasn't filled out at all. I suspect the swans will let him grow some more with the expectation he will bust the door down next year.
The NDS is a car park for the swans, given they maintain academy rights for three years. The only problem is that in years where there are few injuries the NDS group can get no games. For some that has been the case this year.
For Wicks not playing allies will mean he is not on the radar for the other clubs.
I still think James bell will get drafted.

Thanks Barra, I know we should be clinical with our recruiting but if Bell is a good kid I hope we draft him with our third rounder.

So with the Academy rights do they only apply of the kids stay with the Swans NDS? E.g if Hebron suddenly has an enormous year with Sydney Uni next year do the Swans still have academy rights? Because as you say I imagine most kids will only stay for one year tops at the Swans as an NDS kid if they are not getting regular footy

[barracuda]

The swans maintains rights over the player at uni. Accordingly guys like Hebron are kept close to the swans in case they really develop. At some point one of them will really develop and the swans will take them. Watch Eddie go nuts when this happens.

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Sydney v Canberra


9: Callum Sinclair (Sydney)
5: Colin O?Riordan (Sydney)
4: James Rose (Sydney)
4: Dan Robinson (Sydney)
4: Jordan Foote (Sydney)
3: Sam Martyn (Canberra)
1: Aliir Aliir (Sydney)