The QBE Sydney Swans Academy’s undefeated U18s will strive for their fifth win when they travel to Launceston for the final round of the Division 2 National Championships.
Under coach Jared Crouch’s guidance, the squad remain unbeaten after four matches with only Tasmania standing in the way of a clean sweep in this year’s competition.
Last weekend, it took a dogged effort but the Swans outlasted the Brisbane Lions Academy at Blacktown International Sportspark – 13.11 (89) to 8.10 (58) – to go top of the table and be crowned this year’s champions.
One more win, against the Mariners on Saturday, will mean an untarnished record in the revamped series.
“The boys have really enjoyed the new format,” Crouch said.
“The first four games they’ve played a good brand of football. It has been a good team effort that have enabled us to play good football and have team success.
“We’re certainly looking forward to getting down to Tassie, (play) one more game and finish off on a high.”
A four-quarter effort is what Crouch is demanding from his players.
The closest they’ve got to that was against the Gold Coast Academy prior to the Easter break, when his side stormed home to a 15.11 (101) to 5.5 (35) win at BISP.
They were made to work harder against the GWS Academy (Round 1), Northern Territory (Round 2) and Brisbane (Round 4) they were almost undone, according to the coach, by a drop in intensity and drop in concentration.
“Everyone of those games we’ve played has offered great learnings for the boys,” Crouch added.
“It continued to show when we play our style we’re a good football side.
“But if we drop off – when it be intensity, pressure, or start being a bit cute – we’re playing against some really good sides who can come back into (the game).
“We’d love to have a really strong four-quarter performance…that’s what every team is string for, a good, solid four quarters in the last game.”
What has been a constant throughout the competition has been the spread of contributors each week.
James Bell, a tall athletic wingman who featured for the NEAFL Swans in one match last year, believed the synergy within the group was the key to the team’s success.
“There’s a great bunch of boys here, I think that (reflects) how well we’ve come together and why we’re winning,” he said.
“At training before the nationals were starting off, (Jared) put it to us and asked us what we wanted out of it.
“We all said we wanted to win the whole thing so it’s a credit to everyone.”
Round to the Division 2 Championship
Round 1
Swans Academy 5.4 6.9 8.11 12.14 (86)
Giants Academy 1.1 6.3 9.10 12.10 (82)
Goals - Swans: Blakey 3, Osborne, Bell, Skrivanic, Tegg, Stern, Rogers, Hardman, Maze, Eynaud
Giants: Owen-Auburn, Lane 4, Shipley 2, Spargo, Edwards
Best – Swans: Blakey, Osborne, Stern, Robertson, Rogers, Maze
Giants: Shipley, Spargo, Fitzgerald, Owen-Auburn, Conlan
Round 2
Northern Territory 3.1 5.8 6.8 9.9 (63)
Swans Academy 2.3 2.5 12.8 18.12 (120)
Goals - Swans: Hardman 5, Skrivanic, Blakey 3, Maze 2, Rankin, Carr, Kilpatrick, Stern, Loone
NT: Schwarze 5, Derksen, Bricknell, Bailey, Prowse
Best – Swans: Rogers, Stern, Bell, Maze, Robertson, Hardman
NT: Bailey, Scrutton, Baird, Schwarze, Bricknell, Althouse-Cooper
Round 3
Swans Academy 4.3 8.5 10.9 15.11 (101)
Suns Academy 3.2 3.3 4.5 5.5 (35)
Goals – Swans: Blakey 4, Skrivanic 3, Carroll, Brown 2, Wicks, Rankin, Carr, Stewart
Suns: Arnold, Foster, Watson, Scott, Beaman
Best - Swans: Carroll, Skrivanic, Wicks, Stewart, Osborne, Rogers
Suns: Nutting, Heron, Foster, Smith, Arnold, Davidson
Round 4
Swans Academy 4.4 5.5 9.5 13.11 (89)
Lions Academy 2.0 4.6 7.7 8.10 (58)
Goals – Swans: Skrivanic 3, Hardman, Stern, Reinhard 2, Brown, Wicks, Tegg, Kinasch
Lions: Aston, Ballenden, Lambert, Clayton, Tomkinson, Johnson, Sloan, O'Sullivan
Best – Swans: Skrivanic, Osborne, Brown, Rogers, Wicks, Robertson.
Lions: Franks, Aston, Tomkinson, Marsh
