Preliminary Final: Eastlake v Sydney Swans Reserves
AFL Canberra Preliminary Final
Eastlake Demons v Sydney Swans Reserves
Saturday 11th September 2010 2.00pm
Manuka Oval
Spare a thought for Swans Reserves coach Daniel McPherson. While his senior colleagues were basking in the glory of a famous finals win, accomplished in front of a large crowd on a glorious Sydney Sunday afternoon, poor "Frosty" had to witness his bedraggled group of youngsters (+ one very prominent senior) battle in vain in Canberra's atrocious conditions on the Saturday. While the seniors have embarked on an unexpected late-season turnaround with 5 consecutive wins, the reserves have headed in the opposite direction and have crashed to their 5th straight defeat.
McPherson will have to find a way to reverse this alarming form slide - be it through shrewd tactics, an inspirational pre-game speech, or perhaps even a few home truths to the players about their AFL futures - as there will be no next week if the Reserves lose again. Two years ago, the Reserves suffered a big loss at the semi final stage, but bounced back to win the flag with consecutive 1 point victories.
Final Regular Season Ladder
Team Wins Losses Draws Points For Against Percentage Reserves 11 6 1 46 1962 1596 125.05% Ainslie 10 7 1 42 1675 1416 118.29% Eastlake 9 9 0 36 1582 1536 102.99% Queanbeyan 9 9 0 36 1683 1786 94.23% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Belconnen 8 10 0 32 1498 1596 93.86% Tuggeranong 6 12 0 24 1350 1847 73.09%
Past Meetings
2010
R4 Reserves 18.10 (118) defeated Eastlake 17.9 (111) @ SCG
In an entertaining and competitive match, the Reserves managed to hold on against a fash-finishing Demons outfit. Top-up player Kieran Emery and Matthew O'Dwyer both booted 3 majors while Mike Pyke, Gary Rohan and Dylan McNeil were the standouts.
R9 Eastlake 8.13 (61) defeated by Reserves 14.12 (96) @ Manuka
The Reserves completed their 5th straight away game with a comfortable victory over the Demons. Kristin Thornton and forwards Lewis Johnston (5 goals) & Trent Dennis-Lane (4 goals) were the Swans best players.
R14 Reserves 21.15 (141) defeated Eastlake 15.12 (102) @ SCG
A slow start to the game saw the Reserves trailing at quarter time, but once they clicked into gear, they were never really threatened by Eastlake on the scoreboard. Lewis Johnston starred with 5 goals at CHF, ably assisted by Pat Veszpremi and Trent Dennis-Lane's 4 goal hauls. Exciting South Australian Byron Sumner earnt his first BOG nomination, with sole ruckman Daniel Currie and Johnston also earning plaudits.
2009
R2 Reserves 11.9 (75) defeated by Eastlake 27.13 (175) @ ANZ
R8 Reserves 16.10 (106) drew with Eastlake 16.10 (106) @ SCG
R12 Eastlake 17.16 (118) defeated Reserves 8.10 (58) @ Manuka
R17 Eastlake 18.11 (119) defeated Reserves 10.13 (73) @ Manuka
Recent Form
Eastlake - LWWWW
Reserves - LLLLL
Last Round
Reserves 3.7 (25) defeated by Ainslie 9.11 (65)
Played at a flooded Manuka Oval, Ainslie took full advantage of a dominant second quarter where they kicked 5 goals to 2. The other 3 quarters were fairly even on the scoreboard. Daniel Bradshaw kicked 2 in 3 quarters of football while the returning Kristin Thornton, Daniel Currie and Byron Sumner shone in the wet.
Eastlake 15.9 (99) defeated Queanbeyan 12.12 (84)
What a difference a day makes. Just 24 hours after the flood, the Demons and the Tigers played out an entertaining duel in sunshine. Dean Roulstone kicked 5 and Aaron Bruce 3 goals.
Team List (number of 2010 AFL Canberra games in brackets)
Listed players
- 10. Daniel Currie [17]
- 13. Patty Veszpremi [16]
- 16. Gary Rohan [8]
- 20. Sam Reid [16]
- 22. Byron Sumner [14]
- 23. Lewis Johnston [18]
- 27. Kristin Thornton [8]
- 28. Dylan McNeil [18]
- 35. Campbell Heath [13]
- 36. Chris McKaigue [17]
- 43. Matthew O'Dwyer [13]
- 45. Nathan Gordon [19]
In: Rohan (Non playing senior emergency), Reid (Non playing senior emergency)
Out: Daniel Bradshaw (Senior promotion)
12 listed players will suit up. It looks like Ed Barlow has failed a fitness test on his hamstring injury. No word on Taylor Gilchrist who misses for the second week in a row
Scholarship Players
- 48. Jackson Potter [11]
- 49. Jack Lynch [8]
In: Lynch
Out: Blake Guthrie
A like-for-like swap as both Guthrie and Lynch have played predominantly in the backline.
Top ups
- Lachlan Felsman [2] (Tuggeranong)
- Mal Fernie [1] (Tuggeranong)
- Kieran Emery [10] (North Shore)
- Tim Cleaver [1] (Tuggeranong)
- Sam Trevillian [1] (Tuggeranong)
- Jerome Farrell [3] (Balmain Dockers)
- Ryan Price [2] (Queanbeyan)
- Jake Oram [1] (Queanbeyan)
Continuity is the order of the day as all but Price and Oram played for the Reserves last week. Price and Oram have played for the Reserves previously this year. Hopefully having the same bunch of top-ups will help the cohesion of the side. Farrell has been named in the best lists twice in the past 2 weeks, playing in defence.
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Lewis Johnston 39 (18 games)
- Trent Dennis-Lane 37 (11 games)
- Pat Veszpremi 24 (16 games)
For full list: 2010 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Sam Reid 39 (16 games)
- Daniel Currie 38 (17 games)
- Dylan McNeil 36 (18 games)
For full list: 2010 Best votes - RWOwiki
Talking points
- Currie - He matched up against Demons captain Chad Gibson in Round 14, with both ruckmen playing good games. Currie was impressive in his tapwork working well with McNeil, Sumner and Gordon. Likely to go solo in the ruck again, with perhaps brief spells from topup Emery, he will again need to give his midfielders good service with his taps and compete well at ground level.
- Reid - If there was a B&F medal for the Reserves (I don't think there is, is there
), Reid and McNeil would be the raging hot favourites for the award. Despite being the youngest listed player at the club, he has attained the status as one of the most important cogs in the Reserves structure. Reid played as a defensive tall in the first half of the year and despite having excelled at it, the coaches have deployed him forward in his past few reserves outings.
- Sumner - By all reports, Sumner excelled in the wet and was effective with his clean handling skills. With more rain forecast for Saturday, "Uncle Byron" could be the key to the Swans winning the crucial midfield battle.
- Rohan - Classified as an utility who has yet to discover his best position, he has been played in the forwards and in defence at both senior and reserves level. While his stints up forward at seniors level have been mainly as a defensive forward, he'll be given a more offensive role if he is stationed up forward on Saturday. Rohan has proven his worth as a goalkicker, having nailed 6 goals in Round 15 against Queanbeyan. He proved deadly in his one-on-one contests proving too agile for his opposing defender. Rohan could also play in the midfield - his desperation and hardness for the ball would be an asset in the wet.
- Thornton - Don't underestimate the influence that he has around this team and his return last week will be crucial. One of the on-field leaders and his versatility will be important. Played as a rebounding half back flanker in the loss to Ainslie, but would also be comfortable playing on-ball or up forward as a marking target.
Summary
At one stage during the season, Eastlake were in grave danger of missing out on a finals spot. A late surge elevated the Demons into the Top 4 and on the back of four consecutive victories, their confidence will be sky-high. Aaron Bruce has been Eastlake's best player throughout the season, playing in a variety of roles. He ran through the midfield last week, but played as a forward in the last Demons-Swans clash.
At first glance, the Reserves do not have much going for them. Injuries have robbed them of key players and with a string of big losses, it will be hard to reverse the losing momentum especially playing away from home. On the other hand, Eastlake are the only side in the competition that they have not lost to this year. With 12 listed players named in the squad, they will have a chance as history has illustrated. The 2008 team played all 3 finals with 12, proving that while it is a difficult task it is by no means an impossible one.
The coaches have not been pleased with the team's recent efforts, as highlighted by the fact only 5 players have been listed in the best lists for the past 4 weeks. (and from the last 2 games has included a topup, Farrell). So while the players may want to use the lack of listed players as an excuse for the slump, the fact remains that many of those playing aren't performing the tasks as set out by their coaches.
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