A host of Swans on the brink of AFL selection have propelled Sydney to a 51-point win over Sydney University at the SCG on Friday.
Dan Robinson, Darcy Cameron and Aliir Aliir were the best of the experienced cattle as the Swans charged to a 14.14 (98) to 7.5 (47) victory.
Dean Towers and Colin O’Riordan also played starring roles, while never-say-die Swan Alex Johnson made a successful return from a groin injury in the Round 9 fixture.
A gallant seven-goal-to-two third term saw the Swans pick the lock on a wet-weather arm wrestle which had seen the sides struggle to gain ascendancy over the course of the opening half.
Robinson gathered a Swans-high 31 possessions and a game-high 13 tackles, while Cameron tallied 54 hit-outs in a dominant performance in the ruck and brought the ball to ground when rotating through the forward line.
Aliir was a barnacle in defence in producing a number of outstanding spoils and helping drive the Swans’ slick ball movement from the back half.
Towers finished with 26 touches and a goal and provided strong for support for Cameron in the ruck, while O’Riordan (22 touches) also fired.
The Swans last week shot from eighth to fourth on the ladder and consolidated their position in the top four on Friday as they brought in the senior side’s match against Calrton, the Sir Doug Nicholls Round opener.
The win also consigned the first-placed Students to their first loss of the season and saw the Swans bank their fourth win on the trot.
Sydney had shrugged off the Southport Sharks in Round 7, who ahead of the game had sat atop the ladder, and the Swans again relished another chance to knock off the competition’s front-runners.
Uni drew first blood but the Swans would strike back at the eight-minute mark of the opening term, QBE Sydney Swans Academy star Josh Stern reeling off a right-foot snap from congestion in his fourth NEAFL game to boot his first of three goals
Sydney University took a five-point lead into quarter-time and Johnson was eased into the game from the start of the second term.
The 2012 premiership defender collected his first possession at the six-minute mark of the second quarter off an Aliir handball, before Robbie Fox goaled shortly after to hand the Swans the lead.
Sydney booted four second-term goals to the opposition’s one to take a 15-point buffer into half-time, before throwing caution to the wind in the game-breaking third quarter.
The Students resisted in a three-goal final stanza but the Swans would cruise home for the win.
Forward James Rose was another of the Swans’ stars in a return of 29 touches and a goal, while blossoming ruckman-forward Joel Amartey booted a pair of goals but finished the game under an injury cloud.
Young forward Tom McCartin collected two goals and brought the ball to ground for his smaller and speedier teammates on his return to the NEAFL, while Academy star Bailey Stewart backed up an exceptional display against the Brisbane Lions with three goals and 25 touches.
The young forward was one of the best in the Round 8 win over the Lions and earned himself a Rising Star nomination.
Sydney Swans 2.3 6.6 13.11 14.14 (98)
Sydney University 3.2 4.3 4.4 7.5 (47)
Goals – Sydney: J Stern 3, B Stewart 3, J Amartey 2, T McCartin 2, D Towers J Rose, J Schumack, R Fox
