The game was played at Dairy Farmers Park in Canberra on Sunday in perfect onditions and was strongly contested by both teams until the final siren. The Swans led at every break and increased their lead throughout every quarter except the last, in a high-scoring game that saw 35 goals kicked.
Nick Smith was the Swans’ best playing on ball on Sunday. He collected 37 possessions and used the ball well. The other players who featured in the best were Mike Pyke (centre half-back), Daniel Currie (ruck), Patrick Veszpremi (half-back, half-forward, on ball), Dylan McNeil (on ball) and Sam Reid (centre half-forward, ruck).
The Swans opened the first quarter with a snapped goal from Matthew O’Dwyer and a minute later Queanbeyan replied with their first. Six minutes into the term Gary Rohan goaled on the run and it took until the 15 minute mark for the next goal to come when Queanbeyan levelled the scores. The Swans managed two goals before Queanbeyan could kick their third, with McNeil goaling from a mark and Nathan Gordon kicking one over his shoulder. Henry Playfair took a strong mark and converted just prior to quarter time to put the Swans in front by 7 points at the first break.
By half time the Swans had extended their lead to 13 points, kicking four goals to three in the second term. Sam Reid and Campbell Heath both goaled from 50 metres within the first 10 minutes and after Queanbeyan kicked their fifth, Playfair took a strong mark on the lead and kicked truly. Top-up player Anthony Miles kicked the Swans’ ninth on the run from 50 metres but Queanbeyan kicked the last two goals of the half. Big man Pyke was impressive throughout the second quarter.
Gary Rohan kicked the first goal of the second half running 60 metres from just back of the wing and goaling from 50 metres. A minute later Queanbeyan replied. Jeremy Hirst, a top-up player, kicked the next goal for the Swans while Paul Bevan, Trent Dennis-Lane, McNeil and Smith all scored throughout the third term. Bevan goaled after a mark and 50 metre penalty, Dennis-Lane snapped from the goal square, McNeil kicked his on the run from 40 metres and Smith kicked his first for the game after the siren from a free kick. At three quarter time the margin was out to 27 points but the Swans players were tiring from the tough competition, and Queanbeyan just kept coming at them.
Queanbeyan kicked five goals to the Swans four in the last term. Veszpremi mark and goaled from 50 metres and Campbell Heath kicked one from 40 metres on the run. At the 11 minute mark Smith kicked his second from 50 metres on the run from a centre clearance but Queanbeyan replied with their third goal for the quarter from the next centre bounce. Dennis-Lane kicked the Swans last goal after taking a strong mark.
The Swans Reserves round three game against Ainslie will be played at the SCG at 10.45am as the curtain raiser to the Swans and West Coast game (2.10pm) on Saturday 24 April.
Final Scores
Swans Reserves - 5.4 (34) 9.7 (61) 15.10 (100) 19.14 (126)
Queanbeyan - 4.3 (27) 7.6 (48) 11.7 (73) 16.9 (105)
Goals
Dennis-Lane, McNeil, Playfair, Rohan, Smith 2; Bevan, Gordon, Heath, Hirst, Miles, O’Dwyer, Reid, Veszpremi.
Best
Smith, Pyke, Currie, Veszpremi, McNeil, Reid
HMAS Sydney II Commemorative Football Game
Sydney Swans v West Coast Eagles
Saturday 24 April, 2010, SCG, 2:10pm
Tickets from Ticketek
