Queanbeyan have caused an upset in this year’s NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final, posting a 30-point win over the Sydney Swans reserves.

After a fast start by the Swans, which saw the side hold a nine-point lead at quarter time, the Tigers dominated the final three quarters to take out the Conference premiership at Manuka Oval.

Perfect conditions set the scene for the decider, with the Swans likened as favourites following their 55-point win over the Tigers a fortnight ago in the 2nd Semi-Final.

The Swans burst out of the blocks with two goals within the opening five minutes to Trent Dennis-Lane and top-up player David Lycakis.

Jed Lamb was also lively for the Swans early, with plenty of run through the middle and accurate disposal, including a near-perfect kick to the advantage of Matt Spangher, who converted Sydney’s third goal late in the term.

The Tigers worked their way back into the game in the first quarter through leading forward James Kavanagh and dynamic midfielder Jarrod Atkinson, to see the Swans margin reduced to the nine-point lead at quarter time.

Queanbeyan upped the pressure in the second term and got the better of the Swans for the majority of the quarter.

While Dennis-Lane opened the Swans’ account early in the term, the ball spent the majority of the next 20 minutes in the Tigers’ forward 50 as the Canberra side continued to push forward.

The Tigers then surged late in the second quarter to put four unanswered goals on the board and hold an 18-point lead at the half-time break.

Queanbeyan opened the scoring in the third term to extend their lead to a 22 points, before Lycakis scored a much-needed goal for the Swans reserves only moments later.

With the Swans struggling to keep up with the Tigers’ intensity, Sydney midfielder Harry Cunningham took the game on, storming down the middle of the ground from half-back to kick a stunning 60-metre goal to put the Swans back in the game.

Consecutive goals to the Tigers kept the Swans at arm’s length, before two late quarter goals to Dennis-Lane and top-up Doug Hadden kept the Swans in touch heading into the final term.

In the opening of the final term, Dennis-Lane continued to shine up forward, kicking the first goal of the quarter and his fourth for the match within the first minute of play before Cunningham lessened the margin to under three goals with another huge goal from outside 50 moments later.

A third goal to Lycakis brought the margin to under 10 points, before Queanbeyan responded with a five-goal surge to claim the NEAFL Eastern Conference honours for 2012 and progress to the NEAFL Championship game.

Swans reserves  4.3  5.6    9.10     13.13 (91)
Queanbeyan       3.1  8.5  13.10   18.13 (121)

Goal kickers: Dennis-Lane 5, Lycakis 3, Cunningham 2, Spangher, Meredith, Hadden