In an historic day for football in Sydney, the Swans reserves have got the club, and their season, off to an ideal start with a convincing 118-point win over UWS at ANZ Stadium this afternoon.
The well-drilled Swans proved too strong for their young opponents from the outset and rarely relented for the full four quarters.
The Swans were able to create space and overlap throughout the match which opened up the forward line and made it easier to hit targets, they were also devastatingly effective out of stoppages, the centre square especially.
The tall trio of Mark Seaby, Mike Pyke and Jesse White caused all sorts of headaches for UWS, taking contested marks and converting their chances in the forward 50, while also showing agility and a willingness to present a target around the ground. The three combined for eight of the Swans 23 goals.
Individually, however, they were out done by reigning Eastern Conference leading goalkicker Trent Dennis-Lane who picked up where he left off from last season with six goals. The sharp-shooting forward made the most of his opportunities in the forward line with a variety of set-shot and classy snapped goals. Dennis-Lane also went back into defence in the second half, laying a couple of effective tackles.
Jed Lamb continued on his good form in second halves, getting more of the ball as the game went on and getting on the end of a couple of goals, as did Jarred Moore who did well defensively in the first half before having an impact in the final two quarters with two majors.
The Swans defence was marshalled well by two rookies, with Jack Lynch and Campbell Heath barely giving an inch over the four quarters. The Swans kept UWS scoreless until the 14 minute mark of the second quarter, while piling on 11 goals of their own during the same time.
Same as in the seniors, the Swans reserves will have next weekend off before tackling the Gold Coast Suns reserves as the curtain-raiser to the Swans round 2 clash against Fremantle at the SCG on April 7.
Swans 8.3 15.6 18.11 23.13 151
UWS 0.0 1.1 3.7 4.9 33
Goals - Dennis-Lane 6, White 4, Seaby 2, Pyke 2, Lamb 2, Moore 2, Cass 2, Biggs, Morton, McNeil
Best - Seaby, Dennis-Lane, Moore, White, Lynch, McNeil
