THE SWANS Reserves have moved another game clear on top of the AFL Canberra ladder, beating Eastlake by 35 points at Manuka Oval on Saturday.
The game, played in fine conditions, was close all day and just four points separated the teams at half time but in the end the Swans created more scoring opportunities.
Kristin Thornton was the Swans’ best, playing at centre half-back, while Lewis Johnston and Trent Dennis-Lane, who kicked five and four goals respectively, also stood out. Brett Meredith (on-ball), Matthew O’Dwyer (half-back and on ball) and Nathan Gordon (wing) were also named in the best players.
Eastlake led by seven points at the first break, scoring three goals to two. They scored the first two goals of the game before Johnston marked and goaled from 40 metres out, 13 minutes into the term. He kicked his second five minutes later on the run, but at the 23 minute mark Eastlake put through their third. Lewis Jetta and Thornton were playing well across the Swans’ half-back line.
Sam Reid left the field early in the term after a knock to the sternum, and he did not return until the third quarter.
Eastlake again opened the quarter with two quick goals and by the nine minute mark Johnston had also kicked two for the quarter, his first a snap over his shoulder from a long way out and his second from a mark. A few minutes later Jarred Moore snapped another one for the Swans and Ed Barlow ended the quarter with a terrific mark, taken next to the point post, and a banana goal. The Swans had lifted their intensity throughout the second term and led by four points at half time.
Eastlake put themselves in front at the start of the third quarter, kicking their sixth goal for the game, but the Swans managed four more while keeping the Demons goalless for the remainder of the quarter. Meredith and Daniel Currie marked and goaled at the 12 and 16 minute marks, Dennis-Lane goaled on the run a few minutes later and at the 28 minute mark he scored his second from the goal square after a 50 metre penalty. By three quarter time the Swans had blown the margin out to 19 points.
After a beautiful pass from Meredith, Dennis-Lane had his third two minutes into the final term. An arm wrestle ensued that saw both teams unable to kick goals until the 18 minute mark when Eastlake kicked their seventh. But the Swans were not done, piling on three more goals in five minutes. Top-up player Jake Oram tumbled a goal through; Johnston kicked his fifth after taking a mark and playing on from outside 50 metres and Dennis-Lane earned a free kick, and goal, after running down his opponent. Despite Eastlake kicking the last goal of the game, the Swans were 35 point winners.
It was a solid performance from the young Swans and a good win.
The Swans Reserves’ Round 10 game against Queanbeyan is on Saturday June 26 at ANZ Stadium at 3.50pm. It is the curtain-raiser to the blockbuster Swans versus Collingwood clash. There is no game this week for either the reserves or seniors due to the split round of the AFL.
Final Scores
Swans Reserves - 2.3 (15) 6.5 (41) 10.7 (67) 14.12 (96)
Eastlake - 3.4 (22) 5.7 (37) 6.12 (48) 8.13 (61)
Goals
Johnston 5; Dennis-Lane 4; Barlow, Currie, Meredith, Moore, Oram 1
Best
Thornton, Johnston, Dennis-Lane, Meredith, O’Dwyer, Gordon
