The Sydney Swans reserves went down to a well-drilled Ainslie outfit by 26 points at Ainslie Oval over the weekend.
Seven successive Ainslie goals towards the end of the second quarter saw the defending Eastern Conference premiers go from 17 points down to 26 points up on the verge of half time - a lead the Swans could never penetrate in the second half.
Having played the first couple of games in defence, rookie Jack Lynch started forward for the Swans and finished the game as the team’s leading goalkicker with four majors. He goaled either side of the seven-goal run from Ainslie, the latter of which was a classy soccer goal which stemmed the tide for the visitors.
But the Swans couldn’t make any inroads on the scoreboard in the second half, with the Ainslie defence holding strong and locking the game down.
The Tricolours can thank their attack however for setting up the unassailable first half lead, with their accuracy in front of goal exceptional. Ainslie had nine goals on the board before they registered a behind - when the ball hit the inside of the post from a Nicholas Paine set shot from 50 metres out on the boundary - and kicked 12.1 in the first half.
Mike Pyke rucked all day for the Swans and was one of the side’s better players, while Jarred Moore at his feet and Tommy Walsh pushing up from centre half-back were also strong contributors.
Walsh and Campbell Heath battled manfully in an undersized Swans defence but the defensive unit struggled to contain Ainslie’s tall targets, with Paine and former Adelaide Crow Ken McGregor combining for seven goals.
The Sydney Swans reserves will return to the SCG this Sunday morning to face Tuggeranong from 11.35am as the curtain raiser to the seniors clash against North Melbourne.
Sydney Swans Reserves 4.2 8.6 10.6 12.13 85
Ainslie 4.0 12.1 14.7 17.9 111
Goal Kickers: J. Lynch 4, T. Dennis-Lane 2, M. Pyke 2, J. Moore , J. Weir , J. Lockyer , J. Lamb
Best Players: T. Walsh, J. Lynch, J. Moore, M. Pyke, B. Jack, T. Armstrong
