A Sydney Swans outfit streaked with a host of young debutants has fallen to the Aspley Hornets in a gripping one-point loss at the SCG on Saturday.
Five QBE Sydney Swans Academy players made their first NEAFL appearances in the AFL curtain-raiser as the hosts succumbed to an 11.6 (72) to 9.17 (71) loss.
Behemoth Academy ruck-forward Hamish Ellem was one of the Swans’ best in a return of two goals and 13 touches on debut, while the Academy’s Nick Eynaud kicked the opening major of the game off a left-foot snap.
The young stars looked to be helping the Swans to a tenacious victory as they clung to a three-point lead late in the final stanza.
But the Hornets would surge from one end of the ground to the other to steal a 25th-minute goal and seal victory at the death.
The Swans led the fourth-term territory battle and were able to continually enter their forward 50.
But the waywardness in front of goal which cost them in the loss to the Gold Coast last week again proved their downfall.
Ellem and Eynaud headlined a raft of Academy top-ups who punched above their weight, but it was the Swans’ experienced cogs who stood out in the Round 5 fixture.
Dan Robinson recorded a game-high 34 disposals and finished with a pair of goals, while Nic Newman (33) and captain Colin O’Riordan (25) also fired.
Robinson featured in the senior side’s win over Geelong last Saturday and has impressed on NEAFL duty this season through his prolific ball-winning ability and strong radar in front of goal.
Defender Riley Stoddart gathered 22 possessions and provided strong rebound off half-back and blistering outside run, while Darcy Cameron and Aliir Aliir finished with 21 touches each and rallied in the ruck all day.
Youth and experience combined for the Swans’ first goal of the game as Robinson linked up with Eynaud for the young gun to thread his snap at the 16-minute mark of the opening term.
A soaring Tom McCartin punt found Cameron at the top of the goal square later in the quarter and the big man made no mistake from the ensuing set shot for the Swans’ second goal of the game.
But Aspley ran in five opening-term goals to Sydney’s two to take a 16-point buffer into quarter-time.
The visitors led by 18 points at the main break and nine points at the final change, but the sides would pocket a pair of goals each in the last quarter as the Swans challenged through to the final siren.
The Swans are now set for a clash with the Giants at Spotless Stadium next Saturday as they again eye their first win of the season.
ASPLEY 5.1 7.6 9.6 11.6 (72)
SYDNEY 2.3 4.6 7.9 9.17 (71)
GOALS – Aspley: H Pearce 3 B Batchelor 2 J Nelis 2 R Holman M Payne B Warren J Ives. Sydney: D Robinson 2 H Ellem 2 D Soffe N Eynaud H Maguire J Amartey D Cameron.
BEST – Aspley: A Swallow L Hampton J Arnold H Pearce G Grose W Gowers. Sydney: D Robinson D Cameron N Newman R Stoddart C O’Riordan.
