The QBE Sydney Swans Academy is eyeing a strong finish to the U/18 National Championships, according to head coach Jared Crouch.
The Swans remain undefeated in the Division 2 competition having defeated GWS, Northern Territory and - as of Saturday - the Gold Coast Suns in consecutive weeks.
Over the next two weekends the competition takes a hiatus, allowing teams to regroup ahead of the final two rounds (April 29/May 6) where the Academy will take on the Brisbane Lions Academy in Sydney and Tasmania in Hobart.
Instead of rest of their laurels and take the next fortnight easy, Crouch plans to make the most of the footy-free weekends to refocus his side's attention and hammer home the importance of finishing the tournament in the same manner in which they began.
"It will be training as normal on Thursday night, the boys will take a little break over Easter before we're back into it," Crouch said.
"I guess it gives us the perfect opportunity to do more individual stuff, look back at vision from the past few weeks and go through it with the boys one-on-one.
"My aim is help them improve so we can finish off our last two games strongly."
Crouch will hope his side can replicate the same intent of that shown in Saturday's win over Gold Coast at Blacktown International Sportspark.
In a contest that was closer than what the scoreline suggested, Crouch expressed his pride at the way his playing group responded to the challenges put to them by "a very talented Suns outfit".
Particularly his defenders which have, according to the coach, been the linchpin of their campaign so far.
"Our defence has been fantastic all year, they've really stood up," he said.
"Just when the Suns looked threatening it was your Mitch Rogers, Michael Carroll and Joey Reinhard who led the charge."
"They work really well together as a unit down there and provide some real drive for us."
Nick Blakey helped consolidate a handy lead in the second quarter, kicking four goals for the term, while it was the last quarter where the Swans' fitness really came to the fore.
Leading by 40 points at three-quarter-time, the home side stormed home with five goals to one in the final term to run out 15.11 (101) to 5.5 (35) victors.
Crouch hopes his side can keep that momentum going leading into the April 28 clash with Brisbane.
"What's impressed me the most about this group is that everyone is playing their role and there's a hunger to develop," he added.
"Their ability to learn from their mistakes and get better throughout this whole tournament has to be commended.
"The last two weeks has been extremely challenging. You can't underestimate how hard it is travelling to Darwin then backing up less than a week later with a performance like that.
"Our strength and conditioning guys do a power of work but the boys still have to go out there and get the job done."
Brisbane are also undefeated having got the better of the Gold Coast and NT, while its Round 2 encounter was postponed for a later date due to bad weather.
The Lions recorded a big win in Darwin against NT on Saturday.
Sydney Swans v Gold Coast, Blacktown International Sportspark
QBE Sydney Swans Academy 4.3 8.5 10.9 15.11 (101)
Gold Coast Academy 3.2 3.3 4.5 5.5 (35)
GOALS - Sydney Academy: Blakey 4, Skrivanic 3, Carroll 2, Brown 2, Wicks, Rankin, Carr, Stewart
Gold Coast Academy: Arnold, Foster, Watson, Scott, Beaman
BEST - Sydney Academy: Carroll, Skrivanic, Wicks, Stewart, Osborne, Rogers
Gold Coast Academy: Nutting, Heron, Foster, Smith, Arnold, Davidson
