NEAFL Round 3
Sydney Swans Reserves v Gold Coast Suns Reserves
Saturday 7th April 2011 10.35am
Sydney Cricket Ground
After a bye that was designed to coincide with the seniors' week off, the Ressies return to the SCG for the first of many cross-conference clashes, coming up against a strong Suns Reserves outfit. The Reserves didn't play many matches at the SCG last year due to the unbelievable amount of rain that saw their matches moved off to Lakeside Oval and players, coaches and fans alike will be praying the rain stays off in the coming 2 days. The return of Ryan O'Keefe and Rhyce Shaw to the senior side and the injury returns of Tony Armstrong and Jordan Lockyer has resulted in a very strong lineup named and as there are no restrictions on listed players (as both teams are AFL reserve grade side) this is a match that many are looking forward to.
Eastern Conference Ladder
Team Played Wins Losses Draws For Against Percentage Points Queanbeyan 2 2 0 0 341 170 200.50% 8 Reserves 1 1 0 0 151 34 444.12% 4 Eastlake 1 1 0 0 135 75 180.00% 4 Belconnen 2 1 1 0 241 243 99.18% 4 Hills Eagles 2 1 1 0 214 222 96.40% 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ainslie 2 1 1 0 193 250 77.20% 4 Sydney Uni 2 0 2 0 180 221 81.45% 0 Tuggeranong 2 0 2 0 127 335 37.91% 0 UWS 1 0 1 0 34 151 22.52% 0
Northern Conference Ladder
Team Played Wins Losses Draws For Against Percentage Points Labrador 2 2 0 0 228 138 165.22% 8 NT Thunder 2 2 0 0 268 168 159.52% 8 Brisbane Lions 1 1 0 0 124 61 203.28% 4 Suns Reserves 1 1 0 0 131 65 201.54% 4 Aspley 2 1 1 0 244 201 121.39% 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southport 2 1 1 0 224 231 96.97% 4 Redland 2 1 1 0 233 242 96.28% 4 Broadbeach 2 0 2 0 150 218 68.81% 0 Mt Gravatt 2 0 2 0 158 264 59.85% 0 Morningside 1 0 1 0 55 142 38.73% 0
Past Meetings
2011
R7 Reserves 18.12 (120) defeated Gold Coast Reserves 3.10 (28)
Another relocated wet-weather game to Lakeside Oval saw the Reserves defeat the Suns with surprising ease. Jarred Moore starred in the damp conditions with his grunt work out of the middle while Trent Dennis-Lane destroyed Suns defenders Josh Toy and Harley Bennell with a 7 goal haul.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 7, Johnston 3, Meredith 2, Malceski, McKaigue, Robinson, A.Moody, Bevan, Seaby
Best: Moore Dennis-Lane Meredith White McNeil Bevan Seaby
R15 Gold Coast Reserves 21.15 (141) defeated Reserves 9.8 (62)
A few late withdrawals were compounded with in-game injuries and an unusual 'sending off' for Nathan Gordon resulted in a smaller than expected squad playing out the majority of this game. After an encouraging first quarter when they only trailed the Suns by a goal, the Reserves lacked the offensive sharpness that we've often come to associated with them and only managed another 5 goals in the last 3 quarters.
Goals: Everitt 3, White 2, Gordon, Sumner, McNeil, E.Moody
Best: Seaby White Sumner McNeil
Recent Form
Reserves
R1 UWS Away WIN 151-34
R2 BYE
Gold Coast Reserves
R1 BYE
R2 Southport Away WIN 131-65
Last Round
The Reserves officially had a bye but organised another matchup with the UWS Giants as a practice match. The match was much closer than the events that transpired 6 days previously with the Swans winning through their accurate kicking 15.3 (93) 9.13 (67)
Southport 10.5 (65) defeated by Gold Coast Reserves 19.17 (131)
Goals: Magin 3, Gillbee 3, McKenzie 2, Stanley 2, Patrick 2, Toy, Napiorkowski, Weller, McNamara, Fraser, Day, Klessens
Best: McQualter, Coad, Horsley, McKenzie, Fraser, Gillbee
Team List
Listed players
Changes
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 1 Mark SEABY 1 2 6 Senior emergency 8 Trent DENNIS-LANE 1 6 5 10 Mitch MORTON 1 1 0 11 Jed LAMB 1 2 0 13 Andrejs EVERITT 0 0 0 Senior emergency 17 Tommy WALSH 1 0 0 18 Jesse WHITE 1 4 3 Senior emergency 19 Tony ARMSTRONG 0 0 0 23 Jordan LOCKYER 0 0 0 28 Dylan McNEIL 1 1 1 33 Jarred MOORE 1 2 4 35 Campbell HEATH 1 0 0 38 Mike PYKE 1 2 0 42 Jack LYNCH 1 0 2 44 Harry CUNNINGHAM 0 0 0 45 Nathan GORDON 1 0 0
In: Everitt (senior demotion), Armstrong (injury return), Lockyer (injury return), Cunningham (senior demotion)
Out: Brett Meredith (Unknown?), Shane Biggs (Unknown?)
The first official run for Armstrong in the red and white and we've only had a glimpse of Lockyer in the first NAB Cup match. The balance of the side will be interesting with Seaby, TDL, Morton, Everitt, Walsh, White, Pyke and Gordon all very capable players in the forward line, and with a senior spot more likely in the forwards than in the backs, coach Jared Crouch will have to make switches throughout the match to provide an opportunity for all. Walsh and Morton spent time in defence against UWS and Gordon was seen further upfield than the forward role he occupied in the second half of the 2011 season.
Pyke has shown Wolverine-like qualities in recovering from what sounded like a serious PCL injury. The absence of Meredith and Biggs robs us of some run with McNeil, Lamb and probably Gordon, Moore and Lockyer likely forming the nucleus of the midfield.
Heath and Lynch will have their hands full as undersized defenders against the (very) tall forwards named by the Suns. It is likely one or more of Everitt, White, Walsh or even Pyke will be assigned defensive roles to counter the height of the Suns.
Academy Players/Topups
Changes
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 47 Jackson POTTER 1 0 0 51 Daniel ROBINSON 0 0 0 52 Stephen WRAY 0 0 0 53 Brandon JACK 0 0 0 54 David LYCAKIS 0 0 0 55 Lachlan KILPATRICK 0 0 0 60 Rory PRYOR 0 0 0
In: Jack, Kilpatrick, Lycakis, Pryor, Robinson, Wray
Out: Bryce Addison, Josh Cass, Andrew Gulden, Beau Heeney, Nathan Kenny, Monty Krochmal, Tim Wales
Academy kids return after being unavailable against UWS due to their match against the GWS academy. All bar Kilpatrick and Lycakis played for the reserves last year
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Trent Dennis-Lane 6
- Jesse White 4
- Josh Cass, Jed Lamb, Jarred Moore, Mike Pyke, Mark Seaby 2
For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Mark Seaby 6
- Trent Dennis-Lane 5
- Jarred Moore 4
For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Talking points
- In parts of the UWS game, Dennis-Lane was seen further up the field than his usual station deep in the forward 50. Playing as a pure forward and kicking bags of goals against substandard defences will not teach us anything new about his game. A different role either in the midfield or even in defence, for TDL may be a coaching masterstroke. It will allow him to work on his tackling and his fitness - 2 areas of his game that have been criticised by the coaches.
- Mitch Morton has been disappointing since his transfer from the Tigers. He has failed to have any real impact, firstly in the NAB Cup and recently in the 2 reserves matches. It wouldn't surprise to see him assigned an on-ball role as the named team is lacking a little in the midfield department and it will also allow Mitch to get his hands on the ball.
- Tommy Walsh hasn't been much better than Morton and Swans fans will be keen to see him replicate the barnstorming performances when he led the Irish forwards in the International Rules series. Having continually switched him between defence and attack during the pre-season, a settled position may help Tommy adjust and contribute to the team.
- Jesse White has started the season well kicking 3 goals in each of the 2 games against the Giants. He has led well and provided a strong option up forward and will need to continue this form if he is to force his way into the seniors.
- Very keen to see Armstrong in action, he looked very lively in the highlights package against the Giants at Blacktown. Has been continually praised for his kicking skills and if/when he gets into the senior team, this accuracy will improve the standard of the sometimes slipshod kicking amongst our otherwise solid back 6.
GC Squad
- 1. Jaeger O'MEARA
- 6. Alik MAGIN
- 10. Jarryd KLESSENS
- 12. Sam DAY
- 13. Hayden JOLLY
- 15. Jamie SKENNAR
- 16. Keiran BRENNAN
- 17. Josh FRASER
- 19. Charlie DIXON
- 20. Josh TOY
- 22. Tom NICHOLLS
- 25. Danny STANLEY
- 27. Michael COAD
- 29. Taylor HINE
- 31. Jackson ALLEN
- 34. Jack HUTCHINS
- 36. Sam ILES
- 37. Alex SEXTON
- 38. Joel WILKINSON
- 42. Kyal HORSLEY
- 46. Josh HALL
- 49. Jacob GILLBEE
- 50. Henry SCHADE
- 51. Andrew McQUALTER
A very strong squad with 21 listed players and just 2 topups. There is a good mixture of young up-and-comers intermingled with senior bodies such as Fraser, Coad, Stanley, Iles and McQualter. Besides those mature players, names to keep an eye out for include:
- O'Meara - still a year from being officially added to the Suns' list, he has impressed in the NAB Cup with his lighting pace and exquisite (alright delicious) foot skills.
- Dixon - Giant forward/ruckman who gave us some trouble last year in the corresponding match last year. Struggles to get into their senior side due to a combination of their surfeit of tall forwards/ruckmen but also because of his inconsistency. He can dominate periods of a game with his strong grabs and goalkicking but is just as likely to go missing for long periods without touching the ball.
- Day - Number 3 pick in the 2010 draft, he only managed 7 senior matches last year. An athletic player with a great leap but doesn't accumulate enough posessions to impact games.
- Schade - The Suns first pick in the 2011 draft (#24 overall), a no-nonsense defender who will have his hands full against White, Walsh, Pyke or Seaby.
Summary
These are two very strong teams who should provide an entertaining battle on Saturday morning. While the Suns may have more listed players at their disposal, the Swans have more mature bodies, whose experience and physical strength at the contested situations may provide the edge for the Swans.
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Originally Posted by Triple B
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