Canberra has not been a happy hunting ground for the Sydney Swans Reserves on NEAFL Grand Final Day, but coach Jared Crouch hopes this year the Swans will come out on top.
The Swans Reserves will line up against Canberra side Belconnen in this year’s Eastern Conference Grand Final at Kippax Oval, after winning through to the decider with an 81-point win over the Magpies in the semi-final a fortnight ago at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Despite the Reserves recent dominance over Belconnen, history shows that Canberra teams step up on grand final day, with the Swans reserves falling short in the last two Eastern Conference grand finals against Canberra sides.
“We beat Ainslie two years ago in the semi and then got beaten in the grand final and then beat Queanbeyan in the semi and got beaten in the grand final,” Crouch told SwansTV.
“The Canberra sides certainly do bring pressure and do bring a real physicality to grand final day and it means a lot to them and so it should.
“I’m expecting what we normally get from the Canberra sides come grand final day, and it’s going to be a physical, tough pressure built game.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for Belconnen and the way they go about their football and they’ve got some very good players and I’m sure they are going to try to test out our young players.”
Standing in the way of the Swans reserves and premiership glory is the much-improved Belconnen side, who have been the stand out Canberra team in this year’s NEAFL competition.
While the Swans have won both contests against the Magpies this year by an average of 86 points, Crouch said Belconnen would have plenty of talent on field in this Sunday’s grand final who would test the Swans reserves young list.
“The brothers Bennett, they’ve come back to Belconnen and they’ve had a big year, both Lexie as their captain and James who racks up the possessions,” Crouch said.
“Their big ruckman Matthew Porter can give them first use of the ball, and it’s a good test for young Sam Naismith who finally has gotten onto the field.
“It’s a good test for him up against someone who I regard as a pretty good ruckman at this level and in this competition.
“Then they’ve also got Matty Lokan, who is their coach/captain.
“He’s got AFL experience and he’s kicked lots of goals for them and he’s certainly dangerous up forward.”
The Swans reserves will also have talent on field this weekend, with the coach identifying the team’s young midfield and defence as the stand out performers over the last month.
“Dan Robinson and Jake Lloyd have both been good, consistent midfielders for us, while Shane Biggs has obviously been in pretty good form down in defence and got his opportunity at senior level and played pretty well,” he said.
“The defensive trio of Alex Brown, Xavier Richards and Jordan Lockyer have also done a lot of good work back there with Matty Dick.”
After taking out the minor premiership and setting up a third grand final appearance in as many years, Crouch said he expected his team would leave nothing to chance this Sunday at Kippax Oval.
“It could possibly be their last game of the season, so they will go out there and just give it everything and just give it a crack and I’m looking forward to those boys just giving it all they’ve got possibly just one last time.”
Crouch encouraged all Swans fans to make the trip down the highway to support the Swans Reserves in front of a hostile Belconnen home crowd.
“Come down and cheer the boys on,” he said.
“I know they love to see lots of red and white and whether you’re a Sydneysider or one of the many great Canberra supporters we have down there, the boys really appreciate the sea of red and white that we do get when we play down in Canberra.
“Hopefully they all get along to Kippax on Sunday.”
NEAFL Eastern Conference
Sydney Swans Reserves v Belconnen
Sunday September 15
2.15
Kippax Oval, Canberra
