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That?s what the setting looked like. Canberra turned on a perfect Autumn day for the Swans away fixture against Ainslie, 15 degrees, just a breath of wind, not a cloud in the sky and a footy ground in absolutely immaculate condition. Not so impressive were the facilities for the visitors, our boys stripped in a portable shed! To ease the pain, the ACT supporters group inaugurated the Nic Fosdike race! Some of the famed RWO player stalkers would have had a field day, as the players had to wander down to the public facilities if they wanted to spend a penny.15 listed players made the journey down the Federal Highway. Skull Murphy was absent, apparently he has a minor groin problem, but we gained Reg Grundy back from injury plus Nick Smith.
The swans got off to a bright start, kicking six straight in the first quarter. Very strange that our ones and twos reflect each other with respect to goalkicking. Last week was the same, but in reverse. Fosdike was burning it up in the midfield; Brennan and Faulks were putting plenty of pressure on down back. The only worry was (as usual) Luke?s wonky boot. Mocca White was playing a mobile centre half forward role, leading up to the wing and doing a very nice job. At half back ND was all class as usual.
In the second quarter Ainslie started to do better out of the middle and finally worked out that the way to get goals was to isolate one of their forwards one on one with a top?up player. Nevertheless, the Swans still largely dominated the midfield and went in at half time 41 points up. This was a quarter of highlights and lowlights. The highlight was a huuuge specky taken by Mocca White. The lowlight was Fossie copping another knee injury. He was a sorry sight at half time, left knee iced up. Before his injury, Fossie was BOG.
With Fosdike and then Mathews absent from the midfield, Ainslie started to dominate the centre clearance in the third quarter, and this led to a rush of goals and midway through the quarter, the margin had been halved. Allison?s response was to bring Nick Davis up from half back onto the ball. Nick obliged by immediately slotting two lovely goals that totally took the wind out of Ainslies sails. Come three quarter time the lead had been restored to the same margin as at half time.The last quarter was a matter of the tired and injury depleted Swans hanging on to what they had. With Fosdike, Mathews and Faulks out of action there was virtually nothing in the way of interchange to the remaining listed players. Brennan?s courage and contested marking saved a pile of dangerous Ainslie attacks.
Nick Davis was my BOG. While his disposal has remained immaculate, his attack on the ball and work off it has steadily improved over the last three weeks. His move up to the midfield in the third quarter was the game breaker.
Mocca White played the best game I have seem him play as a forward. Playing deep forward, he has previously had little effect. This time he was the roaming Richo type CHF and shone. Like Richo, he has wonderful mobility for a big bloke. My only criticism is that he needs some Tarzans grip for those hands ? drops far too many marks. One huge speccy that brought the house down.
Of the other midfielders, O?Dwyer and Smith both had good games and won a lot of ball. Pleased to see some improvement in O?Dwyer?s disposal too.
Brennan marked everything in sight, but contributed to his workload up back by turning the ball over with almost monotonous regularity. So frustrating.
Faulks was solid but unspectacular, he does dispose of the ball well and his spoiling work was terrific. Very courageous too, and copped a nasty blow to the head diving to save a dangerous situation early in the last quarter.
Beckmans continues to impress with his ball winning and teamwork up forward. He belied his new tag of ?Butcher? by not slaughtering his chances this week. Reg Grundy was steady but not spectacular. Faded in the second half.
The ruck duo of Currie and Orreal had (as usual) a lot of their taps sharked by the opposition. But the skill is there; Curries tap to Davo to create a goal in the third quarter was rucking perfection. Orreal saw much more of the ball in general play this week, and it was nice to see that he has clean hands and good instinct.
Ainslie: 0-7, 4-12, 10-14, 12-19-91
Defeated by
Sydney Swans: 6-0, 12-5, 18-9, 19-11-125
AINSLIE FOOTBALL CLUB
Goal Kickers: B. MONTAGUE 3, D. LOVE 2, M. CROOK, M. LAWLESS, J. WILSON, J. Holmes, R. TUOHEY, E. Stone, A. HARRIS
Best Players: R. LEWIS, E. Stone, J. Holmes, B. MONTAGUE, M. GHOBRIAL, A. HARRIS
SYDNEY SWANS
Goal Kickers: J. WHITE 3, A. BRUCE 2, M. Beckmans 2, H. GRUNDY 2, N. FOSDIKE 2, N. DAVIS 2, N. SMITH 2, J. Foster 2, S. Gilchrist, R. BRABAZON
Best Players: Davis, White, Smith, O?Dwyer, Beckmans, Brennan
Qtr by Qtr
Swans off to a bright start, Fossie picks up the crumbs after a good Swans tackle and nails the first goal from 45 out. The next followed in short order when the centre clearance is marked by Reg who pots the goal from 40. The Fossie set up Terlich, his poor kick falls short, Reg wins the ground ball and goals. Soon after Bruce marked on the lead and goaled from wide out on the 50 arc. Ball transferred to the fat side; pass a bit off but Beckmans wins the contested footy and handballs to T/U 49 who kicks a great snap. Beckmans and his mate 49 then combine again for Mocca White to mark on the lead. He nails the easy shot. The Swans out to a good lead ? six goals straight. In contrast Ainslie have the woes, plenty of pressure from the Swans backs but they also murdered a couple of easy shots. Nick Davis now taking the kick ins after Brennan turned the ball over twice kicking in. Fosdike dominant in the first quarter.
? time: Ainslie 0-7-7 Sydney 6-0- 36
Reg blots the copybook by missing his set shot after being set up by Mocca White. But the kick in is inaccurate and Butcher Beckmans cleans up the scraps and goals from 40. Ainslie finally get on the board when their midfielders read Currie?s tap, their full forward marks on the lead and goals. Then T/U 53 is turned inside out and his opponent goals. Good work from the Caravan, gets a difficult handball away under pressure, Nick Smith latches on and snaps the goal from 40. Soon after Nick Davis sends a long bomb forward and Mocca goes into the stratosphere for a screamer. Jessie picks himself up and most deservedly converts. Columbo then initiated good move from up back, his dash and accurate (and penetrating) kick releases Matty O for several bounces and a running goal. Ainslie win the centre clearance and reply immediately. But Fossie, showing good judgement marks a long kick forward and converts. Then disaster, Fossie limps off after getting smashed. Undeterred, Nick Davis bobs up in the forward line to set Mocca up for his third goal of the day. Columbo and Brennen then stuff up under pressure, luckily Ainslie fail to convert. Ainslie finish off the scoring after Mathews was beaten in a marking contest.
? time Ainslie 4-12-36 Sydney 12-5-77
Fossie a sorry sight at half time, sitting alone with his left knee heavily iced. When asked he said he does not know what the problem is, only that it was bad. I guess we?ll find out in a day or two. A great pity, Fossie was getting back in the groove, and was clearly BOG when he went down.
Ainslie hit the ground running, goal from a Swans turnover (missed culprit), then by sharking the Caravan?s tap and another on the lead after switching to the fat side. Swans finally reply good work by Faulks leads to goal by T/U 54. But Ainslie get the next two ? they are dominating the centre breaks and clearly have the momentum. Enter Nick Davis, called up into the midfield after Mathews went off injured. First he accepts a sublime ruck tap from Currie and kicks a long snap. Immediately after he got a handball from Beckmans for a long goal on the run. Ainslies momentum is lost, and The Swans bang on another 3 through T/U 49 from a free, Matty O on the run and Brabazon, with only one in reply by Ainslie. Entertaining quarter.
? time Ainslie 10-14-74 Sydney 18-7-115
In his ? time address, Brett Allison PRAISED Davo for his good work, also Brennen for some suicidal saves he made. He reminded the troops that in the earlier fixture this year Ainslie had come from behind and stolen the points and demanded they keep up the pressure.
Good start, Davo hits Mocca on the lead, but his long shot just grazed the inside of the post. But then another disaster, Faulks dives and saves a tricky situation but is accidentally kicked in the head and is in Disneyland. At this stage we are down to 11 listed players on the field, and Ainslie pile on the pressure. Three times Brennan takes fearless contested marks to defuse attacks. The first two times he turns it over, so it?s like kick to kick. Ironic cheers from the Swans fans when he finally hits a target five minutes later. The defensive dam eventually breaks after more than 20 minutes when Ainslie divert around Brennan and win a contest against one of the kids, and then get another quickly from the centre break. But all too late. Faulks returned in the last 5 minutes to stagger around in the forward pocket and and the Swans have the last score when Mocca passes to Beckmans on the lead and he goals from 40.
Final Ainslie 12-19-91 lost to Sydney 19-11-125
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