The Swans Reserves are AFL Canberra Premiers for the fourth year in a row after beating Belconnen by one point at Manuka Oval on Sunday.
The scores were level when the final siren sounded but a shot at goal from Swans’ forward Matthew Beckmans put the Swans in the lead for the first time all day and gave the Swans the Premiership.
The win was a great effort by a young team, with an average age of 18, in fairly good conditions after it rained all day until 30 minutes prior to the start.
Showing the depth of the young side, the Swans named eight players in their best including Nick Smith who won the Alex Jesaulenko Medal as the best on ground.
The listed players included were Peter Faulks (fullback), Ryan Brabazon (midfield) Daniel Currie (forward/ruck), Aaron Bruce (midfield/forward), Ed Barlow (wing) and Matthew O’Dwyer (wing).
Swans’ Scholarship player Nathan Gordon, who played his junior football at Baulkham Hills and kicked two goals, was also in the best.
The Swans were trailing by 14 points at quarter time after Belconnen opened the scoring three minutes into the quarter and kicked another three goals throughout the term. Currie kicked the Swans’ first goal seven minutes in after a mark 30 metres from goal. O’Dwyer was the Swans’ only other goal kicker for the quarter, kicking a goal on the run from 35 metres.
Just one goal apiece was scored in the second term with Gordon goaling for the Swans 10 minutes into the quarter, on the run from 25 metres, and Belconnen scoring at the 24 minute mark.
Belconnen wasted opportunities in the third quarter, kicking two goals and eight behinds to the Swans’ three goals straight. By three quarter time the margin was 16 points after Jesse White goaled for the Swans from a free kick in the goal square, Jake Orreal kicked his first after a strong lead and mark and Currie goaled from a mark in the goal square.
Belconnen opened the last quarter with their eighth goal before Beckmans kicked a goal from 5 metres out after a mark and 50 metre penalty. Gordon kicked his second from the goal line and Beckmans goaled again from 25 metres. At the 20 minute mark Belconnen kicked their last goal for the game but the Swans kicked another two through White, from a snap and Currie who marked, played on, had four bounces and goaled from 40 metres. A five goal to two final quarter had the scores level at the final siren before a pressure shot from 40 metres out, on a slight angle from Beckmans pushed the Swans over the line for their fourth premiership in a row.
Final Scores:
Swans Reserves – 2.0 (12) 3.2 (20) 6.2 (38) 11.4 (70)
Belconnen – 4.2 (26) 5.4 (34) 7.12 (54) 9.15 (69)
Goals:
Currie 3; White, Gordon, Beckmans 2; O’Dwyer, Orreal 1
Best:
Smith, Faulks, Brabazon, Currie, Bruce, Gordon, Barlow, O’Dwyer
