The Swans led by 75 points at half-time but a 10-goal third quarter to Tuggeranong brought them back into the game.
Top-up player Ryan Bottin-Noonan opened the scoring two minutes into the first term after a free kick 40 metres from goal. A minute later Daniel O’Keefe kicked his first from the goal square and consecutive goals to Matthew Laidlaw, one from a strong mark 30 metres out and the other from a free at 40 metres, had the Swans four goals up before Tuggeranong could manage their first.
Another four to the Swans before the first break resulted in a 43-point lead at quarter-time. Top-up player Sam Crichton snapped a goal from 15 metres, Nathan Gordon, Thornton and O’Keefe all added to the tally.
In the second term the Swans kept Tuggeranong goalless until the 24 minute mark, adding seven themselves. Laidlaw took a mark on the lead 30 metres from goal, two minutes into the quarter before Thornton kicked his second a few minutes later. Seven minutes in Jake Orreal put his name on the board with a mark and goal from 40 metres and Nick Malceski joined in two minutes later with a goal from 35 metres. Laidlaw marked and goaled twice from 35 metres in three minutes and top-up player Michael Atkinson snapped a goal at the 22 minute mark. Two minutes later Tuggeranong added their two for the quarter to bring the margin to 75 points at the main break.
During the second quarter the Swans lost Patrick Veszpremi, who was their best player in the first half with 17 possessions from half back, after he was hit behind play. He will undergo x-rays during the week on a suspected cracked jaw.
The third quarter was all Tuggeranong. Although Laidlaw and O‘Keefe goaled from free kicks, they were no match for Tuggeranong’s 10-goal blitz and by three quarter time the margin had been narrowed to 27 points.
Tuggeranong continued their run, kicking the first two goals of the final term, and then adding another two. Laidlaw kicked his eighth from a free kick 50 metres from goal and Orreal kicked two, one from a mark at 20 metres and one from a free at 30 metres. Tuggeranong had the final say with another two goals before the final siren, but it was not enough, with the Swans ending the game 11-point winners.
Laidlaw was the Swans’ best, kicking eight goals from full forward while Thornton and Crichton, an 18-year-old centre half forward from Sydney Uni, were also named. Daniel O’Keefe, forward, Nick Malceski, on ball, and Jake Orreal, ruck and forward, were also good.
The AFL Canberra top four was decided by half time of the Swans match with Belconnen, Eastlake, Ainslie and Queanbeyan reaching the finals.
Final score
Swans Reserves – 8.2 (50) 15.5 (95) 18.7 (115) 22.7 (139)
Tuggeranong – 1.1 (7) 3.2 (20) 13.10 (88) 19.11 (128)
Goals
Laidlaw 8; O’Keefe 4; Orreal 3; Thornton 2; Malceski, Crichton, Gordon, Bottin-Noonan, Atkinson
Best
Laidlaw, Thornton, Crichton, O’Keefe, Malceski, Orreal
