The Swans Reserves have taken second place on the AFL Canberra ladder, from Ainslie, after beating Queanbeyan at the SCG on Saturday in fine conditions. The Swans’ skill level was too high for the hard working Tigers and they consistently increased their lead to be 45 points in front at the final siren.    

Queanbeyan opened the first quarter with a goal but two goals in two minutes to Ed Barlow, followed by one from Daniel Currie from the goal square had the Swans in the lead halfway through the first term. Queanbeyan kicked their second 20 minutes into the quarter which was followed by another to the Swans through Matthew O’Dwyer on the run from 20 metres. After Queanbeyan goaled for the third time, the quarter ended with the Swans six points up.

Again Queanbeyan opened the scoring with a goal three minutes into the second term that levelled the score but before they could manage their fifth for the game the Swans piled on four. The first came from top-up player Reilly on the run and their second from ruckman Jesse White. Scholarship Player Nathan Gordan kicked their third after taking a mark 40 metres from goal and at the 18 minute mark Jake Orreal snapped and goaled. In the last 10 minutes of the half Queanbeyan and the Swans each goaled twice, with the Swans’ goals coming from Currie and White. At half time the Swans had extended their lead to 22 points.

By three-quarter time the lead had been extended by another six points, in a quarter that saw only five goals kicked. The Swans kicked three before Queanbeyan ended the quarter with two. White kicked his third for the Swans after just one minute of play and within five minutes they had their second through Dean Terlich. By the end of the quarter White had four after goaling from 35 metres at the 8 minute mark.

Eleven goals were kicked in the final term, with seven going to the Swans and Queanbeyan managing only four. At the five minute mark of the quarter the Swans had kicked two, through Matthew Beckmans and Terlich. A minute later the Tigers kicked their ninth goal for the game but before they kicked the tenth the Swans kicked another three. Terlich goaled on the run from 40 metres out, Barlow marked and goaled from 45 metres and top-up player Mill kicked one from the goal square. Queanbeyan then kicked three in a row before the Swans ended the game with another goal from Mill and one from Brendan Murphy.

Murphy was the best on ground for the Swans, defending and attacking well from centre half back while Nic Fosdike and Matthew O’Dwyer were also impressive. White, who played at full forward and kicked four goals, Nick Smith and Ben Mathews, who both played on ball, and Barlow in the half-forward line were also in the Swans’ best.

In the final round of the AFL Canberra competition the Swans Reserves meet top-placed Belconnen. The game will be played on Sunday 17 August at Manuka Oval at 2pm. The Swans Reserves have played Belconnen three times this year and had their only win in round two in April.

Final Score:

Swans Reserves:    4.3 (27)    10.4 (64)    13.10 (88)    20.11 (131)