NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final
Sydney Swans Reserves v Queanbeyan Tigers
Sunday 16th September 2012 2.15pm
Manuka Oval
The big day is finally here with the 2 best sides in the Eastern Conference rightly earning the privilege of squaring off in the decider at Manuka Oval. The Swans will be aiming to claim their first title since the 2008 one point thriller against Belconnen which sealed their 4th consecutive title and bounce back from last year's disappointing thrashing at the hands of Ainslie while Tigers fans will be hoping to celebrate their first flag in 12 years. These 2 sides also clashed in the 2007 decider which the Swans won by 28 points.
Final Eastern Conference Ladder
Team Played Wins Losses Draws For Against Percentage Points Queanbeyan 18 15 3 0 2121 1385 153.14% 60 Reserves 18 14 4 0 2520 1285 199.11% 56 Ainslie 18 12 6 0 1966 1652 119.01% 48 Eastlake 18 11 7 0 1733 1479 117.17% 44 Hills Eagles 18 10 8 0 1829 1784 102.52% 40 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belconnen 18 6 11 1 1603 1789 89.60% 26 UWS Giants 18 5 13 0 1390 2195 63.33% 20 Sydney Uni 18 3 15 0 1313 2411 54.46% 12 Tuggeranong 18 1 16 1 1365 2432 56.13% 6
Past Meetings
2012
R11 Queanbeyan 14.12 (96) defeated by Reserves 20.17 (137) @ Dairy Farmers Park
The Swans were fired up for the top-of-the-table clash and they stormed away to a 42 point half time lead. However the Tigers fought back to come within 2 goals during the 4th quarter before the Swans steadied to take home the points. Mark Seaby had yet another BOG performance while Mitch Morton kicked his 4th 6+ goal haul of the season.
Goals: Morton 8, White 2, Cunningham 2, Lycakis, McNeil, Wynn, Biggs, Jack, Cullen, Walsh, Potter
Best: Seaby, Cunningham, Moore, Morton, McNeil, Heath
Second Semi Queanbeyan 13.5 (78) defeated by Reserves 21.12 (138) @ Manuka Oval
The Tigers were the better for most of the first half with their maniacal tackling and chasing opening up plenty of scoring opportunities as the Swans struggled to counter their opponents' ferocity. However once they adjusted, a late flurry of goals in the time on period of the second quarter saw the Swans wrestle back the lead at half time, and despite Queanbeyan pulling back the margin to 20 points at the start of the last, the Reserves steadied through a captain's goal via Moore and pulled away for a comfortable victory, and direct passage in to the Grand Final.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 5, Morton 3, Lamb 2, Plug 2, Moore 2, McNeil 2, Cunningham, Sertbas, Gordon, McKinlay, Spangher
Best: Lamb, Gordon, White, McNeil, Moore, Cunningham
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2011
R11 Reserves 15.12 (102) defeated Queanbeyan 7.11 (53) @ Lakeside Oval
Poor ball use by the Swans and good pressure from the Tigers ensured a close contest for the majority of the game. The Swans' superior fitness came to the fore in the last quarter as usual and they buried Queanbeyan with 4 goals to none. Jesse White kicked 6 goals with Paul Bevan excelling as a leading forward.
Goals: White 6, Moore 3, Heath 2, Bevan 2, Thompson, Gordon
Best: Bevan, McNeil, Currie, Heath, Murphy, Sumner
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R13 Reserves 33.22 (220) defeated Queanbeyan 5.2 (32) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
A weakened Queanbeyan side, debuting a new coach and a few youngsters, were no match for a disciplined outfit. Trent Dennis-Lane ran riot in the first half with 8 goals, before ending with 9 while Nathan Gordon and Matthew Spangher also had days out with 7 and 6 goals respectively. Jarred Moore set the tone early with his forward half tackling and distribution while Luke Parker won plenty of ball in the midfield.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 9, Gordon 7, Spangher 6, Moore 3, E.Moody 2, Sumner 2, Parker, A.Moody, Currie, Pyke
Best: Gordon, Moore, Parker, Spangher, Currie, Sumner
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R20 Queanbeyan 4.13 (37) defeated by Reserves 21.24 (150) @ Dairy Farmers Park
A side with little to play for had little resistance for the rampaging Reserves who were still in contention for the minor premiership. Nathan Gordon continued his hot form with 6 goals and an all round BOG performance. Dylan McNeil and Jarred Moore dominated the midfield.
Goals: Gordon 6, Dennis-Lane 5, Spangher 2, Lamb 2, Moore 2, McNeil, Lynch, Malceski, Robinson
Best: Gordon, McNeil, Moore, Rohan, Lamb, Malceski
Recent Form
Reserves
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 UWS Away WIN 151 34 R2 BYE R3 Gold Coast Home LOSS 55 91 R4 Ainslie Away LOSS 85 111 R5 Tuggeranong Home WIN 213 41 R6 NT Thunder Away LOSS 90 112 R7 Sydney Uni Away WIN 239 36 R8 Brisbane Away WIN 120 86 R9 Eastlake Home WIN 144 43 R10 Gold Coast Home WIN 109 56 R11 Queanbeyan Away WIN 137 96 R12 BYE R13 Sydney Uni Home WIN 188 40 R14 UWS Home WIN 129 42 R15 Brisbane Home LOSS 103 122 R16 BYE R17 Belconnen Home WIN 197 66 R18 Gold Coast Away WIN 131 100 R19 UWS Away WIN 126 64 R20 Hills Eagles Away WIN 180 59 R21 Brisbane Away WIN 117 86 QF Ainslie Home WIN 161 82 SF2 Queanbeyan Away WIN 138 83
Queanbeyan
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 Tuggeranong Home WIN 200 52 R2 Hills Eagles Away WIN 141 118 R3 BYE R4 Eastlake Home WIN 121 85 R5 UWS Away LOSS 94 98 R6 Sydney Uni Home WIN 135 55 R7 BYE R8 Hills Eagles Home WIN 137 64 R9 Belconnen Away WIN 124 46 R10 Ainslie Home WIN 106 89 R11 Sydney Reserves Home LOSS 96 137 R12 Southport Home LOSS 60 115 R13 Ainslie Away WIN 114 67 R14 Belconnen Home WIN 83 62 R15 BYE R16 Tuggeranong Away WIN 130 61 R17 Eastlake Away WIN 102 59 R18 Broadbeach Away WIN 92 71 R19 Sydney Uni Away WIN 169 90 R20 Eastlake Home WIN 89 60 R21 Tuggeranong Away WIN 128 56 SF2 Sydney Reserves Home LOSS 83 138 PF Eastlake Home WIN 97 69
Last Round
Reserves last played Queanbeyan, see the report above for details.
Queanbeyan 19.14 (128) defeated Eastlake 10.9 (69)
Goals: Atkinson 3, Kavanagh 2, Fruend, Kirkwood, Irwin, Griggs, Daniher, Daniel, Dickinson, Stevens, King
Best: Kirkwood, Dickinson, Overs, Atkinson, Heaslip
Team List
Listed players
Changes
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 7 Brett MEREDITH 15 9 17 Comes back into the team after missing as the traveling emergency for the Geelong game 8 Trent DENNIS-LANE 12 40 28 Struggled for 3 quarters but came home with a wet sail kicking 4 in the last. Without Morton, will be relied upon to kick goals. 11 Jed LAMB 16 22 17 Best on ground with his explosive clearance work in the midfield. 17 Tommy WALSH 17 31 31 Last minute out for Mitch Morton but looks unlikely to regain his place in the seniors. 18 Jesse WHITE 15 25 29 The NEAFL Team of the Year ruckman looks set for another lone hand in the ruck. 19 Tony ARMSTRONG 11 1 6 Comes back into the team after playing in the Geelong game. 27 Matthew SPANGHER 13 32 17 Goals output has decreased in each of the past 4 games, but on the bright side it will be his 8th game in a row. 28 Dylan McNEIL 20 11 15 Adding goals to his usual glut of clearances and tackles, finishing the season and possibly his Swans career well. 33 Jarred MOORE 20 16 49 Another NEAFL Team of the Year selection but fell short in the Mulrooney count. 35 Campbell HEATH 20 0 25 Struggled at times with the height and reach of Ryan Quade but still proved his worth with his leadership in the backline. 42 Jack LYNCH 18 7 12 Great game against James Kavanagh, kept him to a solitary goal and will be looking to back up that effort. 43 Eugene KRUGER 11 1 0 Hasn't played any of the 2 finals. 44 Harry CUNNINGHAM 18 13 17 Came back after being omitted the first final and was amongst the best players in the semi. 45 Nathan GORDON 14 27 14 An impressive role in the backline, providing a lot of run and carry but may return to the midfield with Meredith's inclusion in the side.
In: Meredith (traveling emergency), Walsh (senior demotion), Armstrong (senior demotion), Kruger (rested)
Out: Mitch Morton (senior promotion), Andrejs Everitt (ineligible)
Everitt is ineligible because he has played too many senior games but not enough reserves games to meet the finals criteria set by the NEAFL. Longmire has also flagged that fringe senior players like Walsh, White, Armstrong and Spangher will have carefully managed game time in order to keep them fresh should they be required for the seniors' prelim final in 5 days time.
2 listed players will have to be omitted on the day to fit the criteria of 12 listed players in the match day squad. Kruger looks to be the most likely candidate having missed the 2 finals because of this exact same reason. The other player is harder to identify with possible candidates Meredith, Lamb, McNeil, Lynch, Cunningham and Gordon all having contributed in at least one of the finals so far. Lynch should survive due to his form and lack of other key defensive options while Lamb and McNeil have been excellent in their inside midfield roles, an area that the current squad is somewhat depleted in due to the injury to Tom Mitchell and Everitt's aforementioned ineligibility.
I don't expect coach Crouch to throw up many surprises in the lineup, as he has been a stickler for the players to stick to their structures and emulate the Seniors' style of play. White will contest the ruck with Moore, McNeil, Lamb, Cunningham and Gordon/Meredith at his feet. Heath and Lynch to hold up the key defensive slots assisted by Armstrong and Meredith/Gordon and a bunch of enthusiastic toppies. Walsh and Spangher will provide the tall targets up front and rely on TDL and a resting midfielder to crumb if they fail to mark it.
Academy Players/Topups
Changes
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 47 Jackson POTTER 20 6 1 50 Jack McKINLAY 3 1 0 51 Erol SERTBAS 3 2 0 52 David LYCAKIS 4 3 3 53 Thomas GREEN 2 0 0 54 Rory PRYOR 1 0 0 55 Douglas HADDEN 1 0 0 56 Blake GUTHRIE 2 0 0 57 Nathan KENNY 3 0 0 58 Jordan WEIR 6 1 0 59 Beau HEENEY 4 1 0
In: Guthrie, Hadden, Heeney, Kenny, Lycakis, Pryor, Weir
Out: Nathan Bosschieter, Daniel Cullen, James Dunn, Bradley Plug, Daniel Schacher, Thomas Thurgarland, Stephen Wray
Bosschieter, Dunn, Plug and Thurgarland have been amongst the best performed topups during the year and their absence will be felt. However, the Swans have chosen to go with experienced bodies in the likes of Guthrie and Kenny who may not have played much this year but were regulars in last year's team. Pryor and Weir add height to the side and at least one of them will be used in defence as a third tall to counter Queanbeyan's tall forward setup.
Sertbas has impressed with his defensive work at half-forward as well as his reading of the game and Lycakis has shown he is handy at kicking goals.
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Mitch Morton 75
- Trent Dennis-Lane 40
- Matt Spangher 32
For full list: 2012 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Jarred Moore 49
- Tommy Walsh 31
- Jesse White 29
For full list: 2012 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Queanbeyan
B: 7. Paul FRANCHI 13. Roy JAQUES 14. Alex OVERS HB: 18. Jeremy KIRKWOOD 16. Josh BRYCE 1. Kade KLEMKE C: 4. Toby CONROY 10. Kaine STEVENS 19. Steve JOLLIFFE HF: 30. Brett FRUEND 2. Ryan QUADE 11. Jarrod ATKINSON F: 48. Ben KLEMKE 5. James KAVANAGH 9. Will GRIGGS Foll: 8. Neil IRWIN 15. Mitch DANIHER 47. Ben KING Int: 24. Todd DICKINSON 20. Sam JENSEN 6. Sam DANIEL 38. Mitch HEASLIP 29. Daniel CAMPBELL 46. Beau WATTS 31. Matt LIDDLE 22. Tom HOLLIS
In: Liddle, Watts, Campbell
Kavanagh has had a quiet finals series thus far, following up his 1 goal effort in the semi with just 2 goals against Eastlake in the prelim, a significant fall given he was kicking bags of 5 or more goals regularly during the H&A rounds. Neil Kerlin played in the semi but was omitted for the prelim and his absence again means that Quade will spend some time in the ruck. Ben Klemke proved a tough matchup for the Swans last time, his height combined with his mobility meant an awkward matchup for the topup that was assigned the job. He might be more closely checked this time.
The Swans were very smart in limiting the influence of Kade Klemke in defence, with the topup he was playing on instructed to drag the Tigers captain-coach right back to the goalsquare to take him away from the play. It took a while for the Tigers to adjust by which time the Swans were holding a comfortable lead. Kirkwood's defensive clampdown on TDL was effective for 3 quarters whilst Jaques did a sound job at fullback on Spangher, keeping up with the Spang even as he led further and further away from the forward 50 arc in order to find the ball.
The midfield of Conroy, Griggs, Stevens, King and Daniher also presents a threat to the Swans with quick and precise ball movement to their tall forwards a hallmark of the Queanbeyan game plan.
The result of the game could be dependent on the amount of game time alloted to the Swans fringe players and also the number of injuries suffered during the game. The Swans were severely hampered in last year's Grand Final when Moore went off very early in the game and Heath followed him to the sidelines midway through the game.
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