The Swans Reserves have moved to second place on the AFL Canberra ladder after posting their fourth win of the season, beating Ainslie by 34-points at Ainslie Oval on Sunday. Queanbeyan, who were previously in second place, have dropped to fourth after a 64-point loss to Eastlake.
Luke Brennan was once again in the Swans’ best players, playing a very strong game in the air at centre half back. Nick Davis, who played on the half back flank ball, kicking two goals, was also good. Peter Faulks, at fullback, Daniel Currie, in the ruck and Heath Grundy at centre half forward also played very well.
Jesse White was another named in the best and was also the Swans’ leading goal kicker for the game with three goals. The 20-year-old was drafted from Southport in the 2006 draft at selection 79.
The Swans opened the game with a six goal to nothing quarter but Ainslie was a much better side in the first term than the 29 point quarter time margin suggests, having missed a number of shots at goal. Grundy kicked two for the Swans and Nic Fosdike, White, Aaron Bruce and top-up player Jordan Foster also goaled.
Ainslie started the second quarter with two goals and had four by the main break but the Swans kicked another six to increase the margin to 41-points by half time. Nick Smith was fantastic under pressure and the highlight of the quarter was a goal to White, his third for the game, after a big mark. Fosdike and Bruce kicked their second goal for the game in the second quarter and the remaining goals came from Smith and Matthew Beckmans.
Although the third quarter was Ainslie’s best, it was matched point for point by the Swans with both teams kicking six goals and two behinds. Davis played the entire quarter on the ball and kicked two great goals from outside 60 metres. Ryan Brabazon kicked his first goal and Smith and Foster made it two each. Top-up player Stuart Gilchrist kicked the Swans’ final goal for the quarter.
In the final quarter the Swans used all their available top-up players for a number of reasons including Fosdike having injured his knee and Grundy playing his maximum time allowed. The win was a good team performance and the players did everything asked of them by coach Brett Allison.
The Swans Reserves’ next game is against Eastlake at the SCG prior to the Swans and Richmond game on Saturday June 1 at 9.50am. The last time the two sides met was in round four and the Swans were beaten by 18 points.
Final Score:
Swans Reserves – 6.0, 12.5, 18.7, 19.11 (125)
Ainslie Kangaroos – 0.7, 4.12, 10.14, 12.19 (91)
Goals:
White 3; Davis, Fosdike, Grundy, Smith, Beckmans, Bruce, Foster 2; Brabazon, Gilchrist
Best:
Brennan, Davis, Faulks, Currie, Grundy, White
Team:
Nick Davis, Ben Mathews, Luke Brennan, Nic Fosdike, Jesse White, Peter Faulks, Ryan Brabazon, Daniel Currie, Ryan Johnson, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Matt O’Dwyer, Jake Orreal, Nathan Gordon, Matthew Beckmans, Aaron Bruce, Dean Terlich, Jordan Foster, David Oakeshott, Matthew May
