Sydney Swans Reserves 17.13 115
GWS Giants 3.11 29

The Sydney Swans reserves remain undefeated after beating the GWS Giants by 86 points at Blacktown Olympic Park in their round 9 NEAFL match.

The Giants kicked the first goal of the game but then did not score their second goal until the fourth quarter as the Swans defenders, notably Chris McKaigue and Campbell Heath, combined to shut down their forwards.

Swans reserves coach Henry Playfair said the players had delivered a very good all-round team effort. “They structured up really well, adjusted their match-ups and got their communication right during the game,’’ Playfair said.

The game was evenly balanced in the first term as the Swans failed to make the most of their opportunities in attack.

But in the second term they started to use the kick longer and use the ball better, and were able to punish GWS on the turnovers.

In the forward line, Andrejs Everitt was able to hold his marks, and pulled down 12 for the day.

Dan Currie also went from the ruck to the forward line and proved dangerous, bagging four goals. “Crusher (Currie) has had a very good past month,’’ Playfair said.

Trent Dennis-Lane, who had been ill during the week, was quiet in the first half but started to tackle and apply pressure to his opponents in the second half, finishing with two goals.

With Currie playing forward, Jesse White went into the ruck and won plenty of the ball. “He worked really hard around the ground which was pleasing,’’ Playfair said.

Luke Parker also worked hard all day, and Playfair said he and Brett Meredith had been the standouts in the midfield.

Heath, who returned last month from a knee reconstruction, put in another impressive game. He started on the wing and was then switched to defence where he set up numerous plays with his run off half back. He ended the afternoon with 24 possessions.

“Campbell and Chris McKaigue were excellent in defence. Chris was rarely beaten one-on-one and was back to his best,’’ Playfair said.

Matt Spangher, who has been hampered by injury since being picked up in last year’s draft, played 90 minutes of the game.

The Swans sit clear on top of the NEAFL ladder Eastern Conference with a percentage of 260, while Ainslie are in second spot.

The Swans reserves return to Blacktown Olympic Park at 11.30am this Saturday morning as they play Queanbeyan in round 13 of the NEAFL competition.