The Sydney Swans reserves have made it two wins from as many games to start the 2013 NEAFL season, as they recorded a 45-point win over the Gold Coast Suns reserves on their return to the SCG on Saturday morning.

In dull conditions, the Sydney Swans certainly made the brighter start. Tim Membrey and Mitch Morton combined for the opening four goals of the game, with Membrey’s two coming from tight set-shots after strong marks in the right forward pocket, while both of Morton’s goals came from snaps.

Midway through the first quarter, Jesse White perfectly palmed down a tap from a boundary throw-in to Harry Cunningham, who after attacking the ball at pace, snapped an outstanding goal on his left-foot from 45 metres out, giving the Swans a 35-point lead before the Suns could open their account.

A free kick against Tommy Walsh to Daniel Gorringe saw the Suns get their first goal in the latter stages of the opening quarter, before another mark and goal to Morton and a classy snap from a pack by Jed Lamb saw the Swans go to the first break up by 42 points.

The scoring dried up in the first part of the second quarter with a Dan Robinson free kick goal for the Swans the only major in the first 15 minutes of the term, before Membrey snapped his third. The Suns had an attacking window in the middle stages of the quarter, and looked to be frustrated by the no-nonsense, one-on-one defending of Xavier Richards, Tommy Walsh, Dane Rampe and Tony Armstrong, before a Kyal Horsley snap dribbled through for the Suns’ second goal. Undisciplined play from the Swans saw Gold Coast get back-to-back goals via a 50 metre penalty to Andrew Boston.

It would prove to be the only lapse of concentration by the Swans in the first half, however, as Alex Brown answered quickly with his first goal. White found Brown open inside the forward 50, but as the Swans’ number 36 wheeled around to quickly take his kick, he slipped, re-gathered his feet and converted nicely with an impulsive kick off a step. The goal saw the Swans take a 51-point lead to the final break.

The second half was a slower affair for the Swans as the Suns began to get more of the ball and moved it around more effectively. Josh Hall bobbed up with three quick goals to eat into the Swans’ advantage, but the hosts did enough to control the game and were never threatened by the young Gold Coast outfit.

The highlight for all Swans supporters who filed through the gates early was seeing Tom Mitchell’s return to the field in the second half as a replacement for Dane Rampe who was on senior emergency duties. After throwing himself at the bottom of packs for his early touches, Mitchell got on the end of a great piece of team play to snap home in the right forward pocket at the Paddington end.

After a heavy bump in the third term, Lamb returned to the field to play out the full game and finish as one of the Swans’ best players, while Cunningham and Robinson got plenty of the ball around the ground.

Brandon Jack’s tackling pressure in the forward line stood out – as well as his clean hands in the conditions – and his efforts were eventually rewarded with a goal in the final quarter.

Like the senior side, the Swans reserves will make their first road trip next weekend when they travel to Canberra to take on Tuggeranong at Greenway.

Sydney Swans reserves     7.6  10.12  12.16   15.20 (110)
Gold Coast Suns reserves 1.0      3.3      5.5       10.5 (65)

Goals:
Swans – Morton 4, Membrey 3, Cunningham 2, Lamb, Robinson, Brown, Mitchell, Jack, Sertbas
Suns – Hall 3, Gorringe, Horsley, Boston, Holland, Stanley, Cornish, Taylor