AAP reports that a youthful Sydney team withstood a final quarter barrage from Essendon to win by eight points in an AFL pre-season trial at North Sydney Oval today.
The Swans led at every break, but surrendered a 32 point last quarter advantage before kicking the final two goals of the game to win 19.13 (127) to 19.5 (119).
Sydney's Barry Hall kicked five goals in the first half while fellow forward Scott Stevens also bagged five for the Swans. Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd kicked four goals.
The Bombers briefly hit the front in the final term by kicking six straight goals, but Sydney regained the lead through Stevens' fifth goal and youngster Adam Schneider booted another major to secure the victory.
Essendon Football Club's official website
(http://www.essendonfc.com.au/2003/live.asp?round_no=-5)
provided live coverage of the Sydney v Essendon practice match at North Sydney Oval.
The site reports that a crowd of about 8000 saw a first quarter of football dominated by Swans' big man Barry Hall who kicked four goals at full forward. Essendon youngster Sam Hunt took on Tony Lockett in this corresponding game last year and he got an equally tough job today. It was a quarter of football he would prefer to forget but undoubtedly all a part of the learning process.
At the other end of the ground, Matthew Lloyd also looked in very good form kicking two goals, and it could have been three had he not unselfishly passed the ball on one occasion.
Early in the second quarter Sydney looked set to run all over Essendon. Adam Goodes was controlling the ruck and despite the best efforts of Joe Misiti, the Sydney midfield got on top. But Essendon finished the quarter hard and look capable of reeling in Sydney in the second half.
At half time, Sydney 12.7 led Essendon 10.2
In the third quarter, it was once again a case of Essendon playing catch-up football. Sydney kicked the first two goals and looked to be running away with the match before the Bombers again clawed their way back into the match.
At three-quarter time, Sydney 15.11 led Essendon 13.4
A see-sawing final quarter saw Sydney hang on by 8 points.
Final score:
Sydney 19.13 (127) defeated Essendon 19.5 (119)
Goalkickers:
SYDNEY: Barry Hall 5, Scott Stevens 4, Jude Bolton 2, Stuart Maxfield, Paul Williams, Matthew Nicks, Josh Thewlis, Sean Dempster, Daniel McPherson, Nick Malceski, Adam Schneider
ESSENDON: Matthew Lloyd 4, Jobe Watson 2, Adam McPhee 2, Jason Laycock 2, Mark McVeigh, Adam Ramanauskas, Cory McGrath, Joe Misiti, Mark Bolton, Ben Haynes, Ken Hall, Damian Cupido, Ted Richards
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