THE Swans Reserves’ season has come to an end after they went down to Eastlake by 21 points in the AFL Canberra Preliminary Final at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
The Swans led by 19 points at quarter time after kicking five goals to Eastlake’s two in the first term. Their first goal came two minutes into the game when Kieran Emery marked a Gary Rohan kick and goaled from 20 metres.
By the 12 minute mark of the quarter Emery had two goals, when he took a strong pack mark and goaled again from 20 metres out. Eastlake kicked the next goal but Nathan Gordon received a free kick and kicked the Swans’ third at the 20 minutes mark.
Two minutes later Dylan McNeil made it four with a mark and goal from 50 metres and after Eastlake kicked their second, Patrick Veszpremi goaled after the siren from 55 metres. The Swans were on top in the first quarter but wasted a number of opportunities.
By halftime Eastlake led by 11 points with the Swans kicking just one goal in the second term. That came two minutes into the quarter when Byron Sumner received a quick handball from McNeil and goaled on the run.
Brett Meredith left the field after ten minutes with a hip injury and Eastlake piled on six goals throughout the remainder of the quarter.
The third quarter was more even with Eastlake only extending the margin to 14 points. The Swans and Eastlake kicked two goals apiece, with the Swans’ goals coming through Kristin Thornton and McNeil.
Thornton kicked a bouncing goal from the boundary while McNeil goaled from 40 metres after playing on after a mark. The scores were almost level until two goals to Eastlake, at the 19 and 25 minute marks, gave them back their lead going into the final term.
The Swans were trying to lift, with Daniel Currie and Sam Reid leading the way.
But it was a tough last term for the Swans players, with the loss of Meredith and Rohan at different stages of the game taking its toll.
The Swans kicked two goals - top-up player Samuel Trevillian kicked the Swans’ first goal from 30 metres after a free kick from a marking contest and fellow top-up Jake Oram goaled at the 26 minute mark from 30 metres out.
But Eastlake came home with three goals in the final term, which sealed their 21 point win and their place in the Grand Final against Ainslie next weekend.
Ruckman Currie was again the Swans’ best while Reid, centre half forward, Thornton, half back, and McNeil, on ball, were also named among the best players. Centre half back Campbell Heath and top-up player Ryan Price, who played in the back pocket, were also noteworthy.
Eastlake will now meet Ainslie in the AFL Canberra Grand Final next weekend.
Final Score
Swans Reserves - 5.3 (33) 6.5 (41) 8.5 (53) 10.8 (68)
Eastlake - 2.2 (14) 8.4 (52) 10.7 (67) 13.11 (89)
Goals
Emery, McNeil 2; Gordon, Oram, Sumner, Thornton, Trevillian, Veszpremi
Best
Currie, Reid, Thornton, McNeil, Heath, Price
