Last September the Swans beat Belconnen, who were heavy favourites to win the flag, by one point.
New recruit Lewis Johnston was the best for the Swans, playing at centre-half forward. He was drafted from North Adelaide, although originally from Port Pirie, in the first round of the 2008 AFL draft at number 12.
Brett Meredith, who was drafted in 2007 and suffered an injury-plagued 2008, was also good playing on ball along with Ryan Brabazon in the midfield. Kristen Thornton and Jake Orreal were also among the Swans’ best.
The first half of the game was fast paced, but the warm conditions made it hard for both teams to keep it up after half time. Brabazon worked hard for the Swans in the last quarter when they were reduced to a 15-man side after Brendan Murphy suffered a shoulder injury, and a number of other Swans had played their pre-agreed maximum time.
Belconnen were 21 points up at quarter-time after kicking six goals in the first term to the Swans’ three. Brabazon kicked two while Johnston kicked the other. In the second term the Swans managed another three but Belconnen also kicked three majors and had extended their lead to 23 points by half time. Two of the Swans’ goals were kicked by top-up players, Telda and Nulley, and the other by Luke Ablett.
Ablett had been picked to play for the Swans’ seniors against St Kilda but was a late withdrawal due to personal reasons.
Mike Pyke kicked both the Swans’ goals in the third term and after Belconnen also kicked three the Swans were trailing by 30 points at the last break. The 25-year-old, in his first season playing AFL, was previously a Canadian rugby representative who also lived and played in France.
Belconnen’s four goals in the final quarter sealed their 45 point win although Thornton and Matthew O’Dwyer goaled for the Swans.
The Swans will meet Eastlake in round two of the AFL Canberra competition next Saturday, 4 April. The game will be played at ANZ Stadium at 3.50pm as the curtain raiser to the Swans v Hawthorn game.
Final Scores:
Swans Reserves – 3.2 (20) 6.2 (38) 8.4 (52) 10.5 (65)
Belconnen – 6.5 (41) 9.7 (61) 12.10 (82) 16.14 (110)
Goals: Brabazon, Pyke 2; Johnston, Telda, Ablett, Nulley, Thornton, O’Dwyer 1
Best: Johnston, Meredith, Brabazon, Thornton, Orreal
