Reserves back on winners’ board
The Swans reserves scored a big win and several players will now push for senior selection …
The Sydney Swans reserves returned to the winner’s list with a big win over Belconnen in Canberra on the weekend.
The Swans were boosted by the return of a number of players from injury, including Gary Rohan, Jed Lamb and Matt Spangher, and coach Henry Playfair says they all got valuable game time and got through the match unscathed.
Playfair says the Swans’ first quarter and a half was not fantastic but they got their act together in the second half to run out convincing winners, 17.15 (117) to Belconnen 1.11 (17).
The Swans are on top of the NEAFL Eastern conference, while Belconnen are languishing at the bottom of the ladder.
“We fumbled a fair bit in the first two quarters and our forward set-up wasn’t what we wanted, but after half time it was much more impressive,’’ Playfair said.
Jarred Moore kicked four goals, while Paul Bevan and Jesse White kicked three goals each.
White spent time in attack and in the midfield, both as a ruckman and even a ruck-rover while Mark Seaby was rucking, which was a changed role for him.
Playfair said Seaby was a standout, as was Brett Meredith in the midfield.
“Seabs rucked really well, dominated the hitouts and gave great service to the mids. His follow-up around the ground was also really good,’’ Playfair said.
Meredith, who has so far had only one senior game this year, had what Playfair said was probably his best game of the year.
“Mez had 32 possessions, three goal assists and kicked one goal himself. He ran well, found space and his inside work was also good,’’ Playfair said.
Moore and Bevan were also named in the best, and senior coach John Longmire said today that there were a number of reserves players pushing for senior selection.
Spangher, who injured himself during his senior debut against Gold Coast four weeks ago, played most of the game on Saturday and provided a strong contest in the forward line.
“He took three contested marks inside the forward 50 and kicked two goals so he did what we wanted him to do,’’ Playfair said.
Lamb, who has missed 14 weeks with hamstring problems, played 60 minutes, moving between the wing and the half forward line. “His touch was really good for his first game back,’’ Playfair said.
Rohan played off half back and had a solid first hit out after his injury absence.
The reserves play Queanbeyan next Sunday at Dairy Farmers Park in Canberra at 2pm.