Despite winning their last two encounters against Canberra side Queanbeyan, midfielder Jarred Moore said history means nothing when it comes to Sunday’s ‘big one’.
The Sydney Swans reserves will face off against the Tigers in the NEAFL East Conference Grand Final at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, and will go into the game confident after defeating Queanbeyan by 41 and 55 points in their last two meetings.
But Moore said the team needs only to remember last year’s Grand Final loss to Ainslie to know that nothing’s a given this weekend.
“It’s a Grand Final, and we know from last year that it doesn’t matter what the lead up is if you lose the granny,” Moore told sydneyswans.com.au.
“We’re playing Queanbeyan this weekend and they have had a really good season.
“We were only a goal up at half time (in the semi-final), and the last couple of times we’ve played them they’ve been right with us right up to the last quarter.
“They are going to come out pretty solid and I’m expecting it will be a pretty close game.”
The last time the two sides met Moore was among the Swans best along with Jed Lamb and Dylan McNeil, while Trent Dennis-Lane and Mitch Morton combined for eight goals.
Moore said he had a lot of confidence in his team mates this season, and attributed their performance to the strengthened NEAFL competition.
“Our form overall has been really good,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot more games against senior players with Brisbane, Gold Coast and GWS in the competition.
“Throughout the year Trent Dennis-Lane and Mitch Morton have been pretty good up forward and the big fellas (Tommy) Walsh and (Matt) Spangher have been pretty solid.
“Dylan McNeil has had a pretty consistent year as well and has been really good through the midfield and down back Campbell Heath has been leading the way pretty much all season.”
This season Moore, who is part of the Swans leadership group, has acted as a mentor for a number of the team’s young, up-and-coming players.
While Moore’s form on field has been consistent this year - which was recognised last week with the midfielder named in the NEAFL Eastern Conference Team of the Year - the 26-year-old said he valued his role as a team leader within the reserves group.
“(Leadership) is part of my role basically,” he said.
“If I’m not playing seniors, then I’ve got to lead the way and try and help the other boys out too.
“My form has been consistent, and I’m hoping to continue that for this week and help the boys get away with a win.”
Moore praised the work of coach Jared Crouch, who the midfielder said has been a great support to him and his team mates throughout the season.
“(Crouch) has been good this year and I’ve worked really closely with him for most of the year,” he said.
“He’s been a great help for me and a bit of support when it hasn’t been the easiest year at times.
“He’s been really good and I couldn’t thank him enough.”
NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final
Sydney Swans Reserves v. Queanbeyan
Sunday, September 16, 2012
2.15pm
Manuka Oval, Canberra
No Player
7 MEREDITH, Brett
8 DENNIS-LANE, Trent
11 LAMB, Jed
17 WALSH, Tommy
18 WHITE, Jesse
19 ARMSTRONG, Tony
27 SPANGHER, Matt
28 MCNEIL, Dylan
33 MOORE, Jarred (c)
35 HEATH, Campbell
42 LYNCH Jack
43 KRUGER, Eugene
44 CUNNINGHAM, Harry
45 GORDON, Nathan
47 POTTER, Jackson
50 MCKINLAY, Jack
51 SERTBAS, Erol
52 LYCAKIS, David
53 GREEN, Tom
54 PRYOR, Rory
55 HADDEN, Doug
56 GUTHRIE, Blake
57 KENNY, Nathan
58 WEIR, Jordan
59 HEENEY, Beau
You can follow all of the action from Canberra on Sunday from the Official Sydney Swans social media accounts via our interactive hub SwansCentral.
For a full match report and SwansTV reaction from Canberra, re-visit sydneyswans.com.au on Sunday afternoon and Monday for full coverage.
The NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final will be streamed live on www.neafl.com.au.
