The Sydney Swans reserves will travel to Brisbane this Sunday to take on reigning premiers the Brisbane Lions reserves at the Gabba in the opening round of the 2014 NEAFL season.
Sunday’s clash with be a grand final rematch for the two teams, with the Lions claiming an eight point win over the Swans in last season’s decider to claim back-to-back NEAFL premierships.
While both teams will have very different line-ups to the teams that faced off last September, Swans reserves coach Jared Crouch said he still believed the Lions would be the team to beat this season.
“Brisbane are a lot like us in that there is always a high turnover of players and they will have a lot of new, young players coming into their side like us,” Crouch told SwansTV.
“I expect them to be very tough and very well coached, and they have been the benchmark in the reserves competition for the last couple of years and will be again.”
Six young Swans will play their first official match for the reserves this weekend, including draftees Zak Jones, George Hewett, Aliir Aliir, Toby Nankervis as well as rookies Lloyd Perris and Patrick Mitchell.
Crouch said he would be easing his new players into the team’s structures and wasn’t expecting game-changing performances from his young charges.
“First of all, it’s about just getting out there and enjoy playing for the Sydney Swans,” he said.
“We’re not expecting for them to come out in their first official game and dominate.
“It’s about a player like Toby Nankervis getting a feel for the on-ballers and Zak Jones playing in defence and getting a feel for the other defenders.
“It’s as much about those guys getting out there and feeling comfortable as it is about the guys who have been around a little while to build up those new combinations.”
Sunday’s match will be played as a ‘curtain closer’ to the AFL’s round two clash between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong at the Gabba.
Crouch said the match would present an exciting atmosphere for his young players.
“I’m excited about the boys finally getting out and playing a game for four points,” he said.
“It’s a bit different and a ‘curtain closer’ is what I think they’re calling it.
“We’re looking forward to playing on the Gabba, which is a fantastic ground with a great surface, and hopefully some of the crowd that’s there for the Brisbane vs Geelong match stay around to watch the good young talent.”
Match Information
Sydney Swans reserves vs Brisbane Lions reserves
Sunday March 30
3:15pm
Gabba
