Swans reserves tame UWS
The Sydney Swans reserves proved too strong for UWS, running out 49-point victors at Blacktown on Sunday morning
The Swans reserves led at every change to claim their fifth win for the season, with major goal-kickers Tommy Walsh, Andrejs Everitt, Tim Membrey, and midfielder Tom Mitchell all among the Swans reserves’ best for the match.
After a disappointing loss to the Brisbane Lions reserves the previous week, the Swans reserves shot out of the blocks in Sunday’s game and booted three goals through Mitchell, Jake Lloyd and Dan Robinson to get the jump on UWS early in the match.
The home side responded with back-to-back goals, before Membrey and Mitch Morton added their names to the Swans goal-kicking list to extend the Swans lead to 20 points at the first change.
UWS stepped up the pressure in the second term, kicking three goals in the opening 15 minutes of play to reduce the margin to just seven points, before Morton again responded with two late goals to see the Swans reserves hold a 26-point lead at half time.
UWS set the tone early in second half and applied pressure on the ball, which resulted in a number of turnovers for the Swans and two early goals to the hosts.
After UWS’ dominant start, Swans forward Tommy Walsh broke the momentum with two goals in two minutes. Andrejs Everitt also added to the Giants’ woes, making the most of UWS’ errors to kick back-to-back goals midway through the third quarter.
Once again, UWS refused to back down, kicking three late quarter goals, before poor discipline resulted in a 50-metre penalty to defender Alex Brown, who goaled and gave the Swans reserves some breathing space heading into the final change.
The Swans reserves showed their strength in the final term, and managed to run away with the match, outscoring UWS seven goals to three.
Two final quarter goals to Membrey saw the 18-year-old finish as the leading goal-scorer with five for the match, while Everitt (three), Morton (three) and Walsh (two) also finished the game with multiple goals.
The Swans defensive group of Xavier Richards, Matt Dick and Dean Towers also stepped up to the challenge under pressure in Sunday’s match, while Shane Biggs was again impressive off the half-back flank.
The Swans reserves will now turn their attention to next Saturday’s match, when they take on the 2012 Eastern Conference premiers Queanbeyan at the SCG from 4pm.
Sydney Swans reserves 5.3 9.7 15.12 19.13 (127)
UWS Giants 2.1 5.5 10.8 11.12 (78)
Goal Kickers: T. Membrey 5, M. Morton 3, A. Everitt 3, T. Walsh 2, J. Lloyd , D. Robinson , T. Mitchell, S. Wray , L. Kilpatrick , A. Brown
Best: T. Walsh, A. Everitt, S. Biggs, T. Membrey, J. Lloyd, T. Mitchell