The Swans Reserves posted their second win of the season in round five of the AFL Canberra Competition after a 22 point win over Queanbeyan at the SCG on Sunday.
With just twelve listed players available in the side, the win came with a very good performance from the 10 top-up players.
Luke Brennan started the scoring for the Swans with a goal off the ground from the goal square, eight minutes into the first term. After Queanbeyan kicked three goals Matthew Beckmans replied with two of his own, one off the ground and one from a snap. Ryan Brabazon and Aaron Bruce also goaled for the Swans to put them 15 points in front at quarter time.
Queanbeyan had kicked three goals before the Swans posted one in the second term and it was not until twenty minutes in and after scoring six points that the Swans goaled through Beckmans who kicked his third for the game. He ended the quarter with his fourth after a free kick behind play and at half time the Swans led Queanbeyan by 26 points.
Top-up player Daniel Spiteri was important in maintaining the Swans lead; kicking two goals in the third term. His first came after a Queanbeyan goal, from a snap, and the second from a free kick after a chase and tackle. Alex Sneddon, another top-up player, was the Swans other goal kicker for the quarter with a goal from 30m after a free kick. Queanbeyan goaled at the 27 minute mark of the quarter to bring the margin to 21 points at the break.
Queanbeyan opened the final term with their ninth goal but Nick Davis, who spent the day at half back, goaled three minutes later from 40m. Queanbeyan answered with another goal but it was the 10 minute patch when Ryan Brabazon, Ryan Bottin-Noonan, Mitch Rawson and Spiteri goaled for the Swans that sealed their win. Queanbeyan kicked three unanswered goals at the end of the quarter but the Swans were too far in front.
Matthew O’Dwyer was the Swans’ best playing on the wing while Davis and Aaron Bruce were handy at half back. Brennan, who played at full forward and moved to full back after Jesse White hurt his ankle in the second quarter, was also a stand out performer. Peter Faulks at centre half back and Spiteri were also in the Swans’ best.
The Swans had nine goal scores for the game, four of them top-up players. Beckmans, who was drafted at number 53 in the 2007 Rookie Draft from the Murray under 18s, led the pack with four goals from full forward and Spiteri kicked three.
The Swans now sit fifth on the AFL Canberra ladder with two wins and three losses and face Tuggeranong, who are currently sitting below them, after a week off coinciding with the break in the AFL season.
The game against Tuggeranong will be played on Sunday May 18 at 10.50am at ANZ Stadium as the curtain raiser to the Swans and Essendon game.
Swans Reserves – 5.5 (35) 7.12 (54) 10.15 (75) 15.18 (108)
Beckmans 4; Spiteri 3; Brabazon 2; Bottin-Moonan, Brennan, Bruce, Davis, Rawson, Sneddon
O’Dwyer, Davis, Bruce, Brennan, Faulks, Spiteri
