On the back of a powerful second half performance, the Sydney Swans reserves have extended their lead at the top of the NEAFL Eastern Conference ladder after recording a 91-point win over second-placed Belconnen at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

The day’s twilight clash arrived early, with the lights coming on early in the match and then having to be amped up as the grey skies rolled in. And Belconnen certainly arrived ready for a contest as they matched the hosts in most aspects of the game in the first quarter, except for accuracy on the scoreboard.

Tim Membrey set the tone early for the Swans, leading up hard and presenting as a genuine target inside forward 50, and Brandon Jack pounced on any loose ball within his area. Jack had three of the Swans seven goals in the first half, and could have had a couple more if not for an inaccurate set-shot or another long point where passing to Jed Lamb running through on goal might have been a better option.

Where Jack took on the scoring burden in the first half, key position player Jesse White took over in the second half. With just one goal to his name halfway through the third term, a Xavier Richards run through the middle of the ground ended in a strong mark to White who converted from long range at the Paddington End. From there, White added three more to finish the game with five goals, while also playing the majority of the game in the ruck.

With injuries in the seniors, the Swans reserves relied heavily on the output of their top-up players and they all delivered across the four quarters. Lachlan Kilpatrick finished the game with three goals, including two outstanding snaps from the right-forward pocket at the Randwick end in the second and fourth quarters, while Jackson Pola-Smith intercepted a mark and goaled off a step from a tight angle late in the game to add the icing on the cake for the victors.

The reserves were boosted by the returns of Jed Lamb after senior duty last week and Harry Cunningham in his first game after recovering from a knee injury. Both provided a touch of class through the Swans midfield and hit targets going forward, while Dean Towers also provided another marking target and finished with two goals.

The Sydney Swans reserves will travel north next weekend when they face the Gold Coast Suns reserves at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sydney Swans reserves  4.2   7.7   13.13   20.20 140
Belconnen                        2.4   3.6    5.10       6.13 49

Goals – White 5, Jack 3, Kilpatrick 3, Towers 2, Sands 2, Weir, Membrey, Lamb, Hadden, Pola-Smith