The Sydney Swans reserves have marched into their second successive NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final after defeating minor premiers Queanbeyan by 55 points in this afternoon’s 2nd Semi Final at Manuka Oval.
In perfect conditions in Canberra, the Swans had to overcome a skilful and committed Tiger outfit who had the better of the opening exchanges and limited the visitors’ ability to get their best players on the ball early in the match.
The Swans went to the first change down by a solitary goal, before falling further behind in the second term as Queanbeyan’s talls began to wreak havoc, especially on the lead. With the clock ticking into time-on just before the half-time break, the Swans were 15 points down and staring down the barrel after some missed shots at goal.
But the class of the Swans shone through in a ten-minute burst that wrestled the game back on an even keel.
It all started just inside the Swans forward 50 as a clever side-step by Jarred Moore opened up a pocket of space for the dual Mulrooney medallist to swing on to his right boot and kick the Swans sixth goal of the game and bring the margin back to within single figures.
Quick goals to Nathan Gordon, Harry Cunningham and a long Dylan McNeil snap out of a pack turned the game on its head as the Swans went from 15 points down to 12 points up in the blink of an eye. Queanbeyan did get a goal back from a set-shot after the half-time siren, but all the momentum leading into the main break was with the second-placed Swans.
The Swans took full advantage in the second half as they restricted an extremely accurate Queanbeyan side to just four goals for the final two quarters, while piling on 12 goals of their own.
However, the Tigers kept fighting throughout and did close to within 20 points early in the final term before a four-goal Trent Dennis-Lane final-quarter cameo pushed the margin out past nine goals and secured the Swans’ passage through to this month’s Eastern Conference decider.
Jed Lamb again put in an outstanding performance with two goals and continued his great recent form of breaking the lines from stoppages. And while the likes of Moore, McNeil and Jesse White were again key players for the reserves, it was the step-up in performance of Cunningham - who missed last weekend’s Qualifying Final - which was one of the most pleasing aspects of the game.
The Swans reserves will enjoy a break next weekend and will face the winner of the Preliminary Final between Queanbeyan and Eastlake, on Sunday September 16 at Canberra's Manuka Oval.
Sydney Swans reserves 3.2 9.8 15.10 21.12 138
Queanbeyan 4.2 9.2 11.2 13.5 83
Goal Kickers: T. Dennis-Lane 5, M. Morton 3, J. Lamb 2, B. Plug 2, J. Moore 2, D. McNeil 2, H. Cunningham, E. Sertbas, N. Gordon, J. McKinlay, M. Spangher
Best Players: J. Lamb, N. Gordon, J. White, D. McNeil, J. Moore, H. Cunningham
