The Swans Reserves have given themselves the chance to secure a third straight premiership in the AFL Canberra competition by beating Belconnen by 74 points, advancing directly to the Grand Final.
The game, played in slippery conditions at Manuka Oval on Saturday, began horribly when the Swans’ Matthew Laidlaw injured his hamstring in the opening minute of the game.
The first quarter was tight and both teams remained goalless until halfway through the term when Amon Buchanan scored the Swans’ first goal. Ryan Brabazon followed suit, kicking another Swans goals and giving them a 13 point lead at quarter time.
By halftime the Swans had extended their lead to 40 points, keeping Belconnen to just two behinds. The Swans were dominating the ruck and the penetration of the forward line from the Swans’ on-ballers resulted in goals from Buchanan, Tim Schmidt, Heath Grundy and Matthew Davis in the second quarter.
Once again Belconnen were kept goalless while two goals to Davis and singles to Buchanan, Jarred Moore, Schmidt, Grundy and Aaron Monk extended the Swans’ lead to 84 points. Buchanan continued to dominate and the performances of Smith and Kieran Jack in the backline kept the ball moving quickly to the midfield.
The Swans had limited options in the final quarter and it was reflected on the scoreboard. Smith came off after a knock on his arm, while Jack and Moore were rested. Although Belconnen had failed to kick a goal until this point, they managed to kick four goals in the final term. Goals to Schmidt and Josh Keen however, topped off an unexpectedly easy win for the Swans.
Belconnen will now play again next week to see if they qualify to play the Swans for the third time in four weeks in the Grand Final.
The Swans have a week off to rest and then head straight into the Grand Final on Sunday September 23. The game will be played at Manuka Oval at 2.30pm.
Final Score:
Swans Reserves: 2.5, 6.10, 13.14, 15.20 (110)
Belconnen Magpies: 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 4.12 (36)
Goals: Davis, Buchanan, Schmidt 3; Grundy 2; Keen, Monk, Moore, Brabazon 1
Best: Buchanan, Smith, Simpkin, Jack, Davis, Vogels
Team: Jesse White, Matt Laidlaw, Jonathan Simpkin, Amon Buchanan, Jarred Moore, Ryan Brabazon, Tim Schmidt, Luke Vogels, Heath Grundy, Nick Smith, Matt O’Dwyer, Matt Davis, Earl Shaw, Sam Rowe, Simon Phillips, Kieren Jack, Craig Bird, Luke Breust, Josh Keen, Ned Mortimer, Aaron Monk, Sam Brassington.
