All Together Now
NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final
Sydney Swans Reserves v Belconnen Magpies
Sunday 15th September 2013
Kippax Oval
Note: Match being streamed on neafl.com.au!
The Reserves will be hoping that the third time's a charm having succumbed on Grand Final Day in the past 2 years to Ainslie and Queanbeyan respectively. They will go into the match with confidence, assured in the knowledge they've had the better of the Magpies in their 2 meetings this year. Belconnen on the other hand will try and utilise their 'home ground advantage' with the match being fortuitously scheduled for Kippax Oval due to some renovations currently taking place at the usual Manuka Oval venue.
Another factor to take into consideration is the difference between the finals schedules of both sides. The Swans are well rested after earning 2 byes in the 3 finals weeks, the Magpies have had to back up each week and were almost run over by a fast finishing Ainslie side last week in the Preliminary Final. Will the rest be a hindrance or a help to the Swans or will the battle-hardened Magpies be in the right mindset to cause the upset.
Eastern Conference Ladder
Team Played Wins Losses Draws Byes For Against Percentage Points Sydney Swans Reserves 18 12 6 0 4 1990 1393 142.86% 48 Belconnen 18 12 6 0 4 2133 1568 88.24% 24 Ainslie 18 11 7 0 4 1737 1573 110.43% 44 Eastlake 18 10 8 0 4 1441 1554 92.73% 40 UWS Giants 18 9 9 0 4 2107 1605 131.28% 36 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queanbeyan 18 9 9 0 4 1616 1779 90.84% 36 Hills Eagles 18 7 11 0 4 1637 1847 88.63% 28 Sydney Uni 18 6 12 0 4 1587 1865 85.09% 24 Tuggeranong 18 2 16 0 4 936 2262 41.38% 8
Past Meetings
2013
R11 Reserves 20.20 (140) defeated Belconnen 6.13 (49) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
Goals: White 5, Jack 3, Kilpatrick 3, Towers 2, Sands 2, Weir, Hadden, Pola-Smith, Membrey, Lamb
Best: Biggs, Jack, Lamb, Richards, Armstrong, White
SF2 Reserves 23.12 (150) defeated Belconnen 10.9 (69) @ Blacktown International Sports Park
Goals: Membrey 6, Towers 2, Perris 2, Naismith 2, Lamb 2, Armstrong, Jetta, Wray, Green, Hoctor, Spinks, Head, Zoppo, Lloyd
Best: Lamb, Lloyd, Robinson, Membrey, Armstrong, Perris
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012
R21 Reserves 31.11 (197) defeated Belconnen 10.6 (66) @ Sydney Cricket Ground
The Reserves were in devastating form, bouncing back from their previous week's defeat to the Lions Reserves, to crush former powerhouse Belconnen by 131 points. Thanks to some fantastic conversion in front of the sticks, the Reserves led by 43 points at half time and pulled away convincingly in the premiership quarter with a 12 goals to 2 showing to put the result of the match beyond doubt. Trent Dennis-Lane continued his superb form playing both up forward and in the midfield and finished with 7 goals while Jesse White had his best showing of the season playing as the primary ruckman.
Goals: Dennis-Lane 7, White 6, Lamb 3, Morton 2, Cunningham 2, Gordon 2, Spangher 2, Naismith, Roos, Mitchell, Lynch, Brown, Potter, Broome
Best: Dennis-Lane, White, Parker, Brown, Lamb, Moore
Recent Form
Reserves
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 BYE R2 UWS Away WIN 107 102 R3 Gold Coast Home WIN 110 65 R4 Tuggeranong Away WIN 237 40 R5 Hills Eagles Home WIN 148 86 R6 BYE R7 Brisbane Home LOSS 81 104 R8 UWS Away WIN 127 78 R9 Queanbeyan Home WIN 151 38 R10 Ainslie Away WIN 123 49 R11 Belconnen Home WIN 140 49 R12 Gold Coast Away LOSS 50 70 R13 BYE R14 NT Thunder Away LOSS 59 112 R15 Brisbane Home LOSS 57 125 R16 Eastlake Away WIN 109 49 R17 UWS Home LOSS 79 142 R18 Gold Coast Away WIN 85 64 R19 BYE R20 Brisbane Away LOSS 86 119 R21 UWS Home WIN 110 45 R22 Sydney Uni Away WIN 131 56 SF2 Belconnen Home WIN 150 69
Belconnen
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 Eastlake Home LOSS 67 113 R2 Sydney Uni Home WIN 152 117 R3 Tuggeranong Home WIN 118 63 R4 BYE R5 UWS Home LOSS 127 137 R6 Mt Gravatt Away WIN 164 48 R7 Queanbeyan Home WIN 136 73 R8 BYE R9 Hills Eagles Away WIN 141 88 R10 Broadbeach Home WIN 119 83 R11 Sydney Away LOSS 49 140 R12 BYE R13 Sydney Uni Away WIN 114 81 R14 Ainslie Away LOSS 96 130 R15 Tuggeranong Away WIN 118 47 R16 Hills Eagles Home WIN 152 89 R17 Queanbeyan Away WIN 136 72 R18 Eastlake Away LOSS 53 162 R19 Ainslie Home WIN 118 72 R20 BYE R21 Queanbeyan Away LOSS 82 107 R22 Tuggeranong Home WIN 191 46 QF Ainslie Home WIN 124 86 SF2 Sydney Away LOSS 69 150 PF Ainslie Home WIN 123 107
Last Round
See above for details of the Swans win over Belconnen 2 weeks ago.
Belconnen 18.15 (123) defeated Ainslie 16.11 (107) @ Kippax Oval
Goals: Lokan 4, York 3, Dess 3, Bunyan 2, Sharp 2, Love, Posch, Harper, Hector
Best: Turnbull, A.Bennett, Harper, Curtis, J.Bennett, Jansen
Team List
Listed players
Changes
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 1 Tim MEMBREY 15 38 5 Kicked a season high 6 goals against Belconnen, the combination of his size and pace proving too much to handle 11 Jed LAMB 8 11 30 (seniors emergency) Strong BOG performance last time, the key man in the midfield who Belconnen will be targeting. 16 Gary ROHAN 4 7 0 Reportedly struggled in the Thursday training session, so his place in the team is not guaranteed. 19 Tony ARMSTRONG 13 3 22 With Biggs out, his run and carry out of defence will be critical. 22 Dean TOWERS 17 29 5 (seniors emergency) Continues to be a goal threat, having kicked at least 2 goals in his last 9 games. 23 Jordan LOCKYER 19 1 13 Finished the H&A season in good form. 27 Daniel ROBINSON 18 9 17 After a bit of a lull midseason, played well against Belco 2 weeks ago. 28 Matthew DICK 15 4 0 Plays mainly in defence but can be swung forward if a spark is needed. 30 Lewis ROBERTS-THOMSON 0 0 0 Joins that illustrious club of "Making your season debut (NEAFL) in a Grand Final". 33 Brandon JACK 11 14 9 (seniors emergency) Has only played one reserves game since Round 14. 35 Sam NAISMITH 2 2 0 Resumed the primary ruck role in his second game back, and managed 2 goals while resting. 36 Alex BROWN 19 3 20 Showed a side of his game not witnessed before hand by drifting down from defence to mark in the forward 50 42 Xavier RICHARDS 16 0 13 Played on Lokan in the semi 44 Jake LLOYD 18 15 54 Continues to tally up the numbers with his hard running and great contested work. Has featured in the best list in 15 of his 18 games.
In: Rohan, Roberts-Thomson, Jack
Out: Lewis JETTA (seniors)
14 listed players have been named but 2 will have to be cut on the day to meet the competition rules. It will be dependent on the result of the seniors game against Carlton. If the Swans are knocked out, there wouldn't little point in playing LRT and Rohan, and they may also be ineligible anyway. If the Swans do beat the Blues, it will be a tough decision to cut 2 players, especially ones who have played the majority of the NEAFL season. At a guess, Dick looks the most likely given our abundance of defensive players in the team. Naismith may also face the chop given he's only played the 2 games this year but it would be difficult to replace his role in the ruck.
LRT more likely to play forward than back, and even though it's a Grand Final his game time will be carefully managed as with all other long-term injury returnees. He could even possibly come into the game at quarter or half time. Rohan has also played forward during his 4 game stint this year and coupled with Jack junior's return this week and the height of Naismith resting in the goalsquare suddenly the forward line has an increased potency about it. This may release Towers to play further up the ground after spending the second half of the year as a key forward target.
There are unlikely to be other major changes. Lamb, Lloyd, Robinson and Perris will form the core of the midfield brigade while Richards, Lockyer, Brown and Armstrong will be the generals in the defensive 50.
Academy Players/Topups
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 47 Lloyd PERRIS 8 3 5 Equal 3rd possession winner in the semi and chimed in with 2 goals 48 Yarran JAFFER-WILLIAMS 7 4 1 Quick pacy winger/half-forward with an eye for goal. 49 Matthew SPINKS 2 1 0 You can't miss him with his massive afro. Didn't have many touches in the semi but was creative with 1 goal and 2 score assists from his 6 disposals. 50 Stephen WRAY 15 3 1 Experienced topup who did an amazing job as a small defender in the semi against last year's Mulrooney medalist Shane Harris 51 Matt VICIC 1 0 0 Tall, lanky type. 52 Jack HISCOX 1 0 0 Swans Academy and NSW/ACT U-18 RAMS representative 53 Jack CODD-MILLER 0 0 0 Swans Academy and former Hawthorn NSW scholarship holder. Tall. 54 Doug HADDEN 10 2 5 One of the better topups this year, flexible enough to be played forward or back. 58 Will STRATFORD 0 0 0 from Sydney Uni, has kicked 18 goals in 15 games in the Sydney AFL. 59 Thomas HEAD 10 11 1 Tall forward/relief ruck who has impressed with his strong hands and long left foot. 60 Jordan WEIR 17 7 1 The topup who has played the most games. Usually stationed in defence but can play in attack too.
In: Hadden, Hiscox, Jaffer-Williams, Statford, Vicic
Out: Jacob BROOKFIELD, Thomas GREEN, Benjamin HOCTOR, Brad PLUG, Josh ZOPPO
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Tim Membrey 38 (15)
- Mitch Morton 33 (8)
- Dean Towers 29 (17)
For full list: 2013 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Jake Lloyd 54 (18)
- Shane Biggs 33 (17)
- Jed Lamb 30 (8)
For full list: 2013 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Belconnen Squad
B: 24. Nick COLLINS 12. Cameron CAMPBELL 16. Chris JANSEN HB: 46. Ryan TURNBULL 23. Joshua HEGARTY 35. Jack BAKER C: 8. Simon CURTIS 6. James BENNETT 34. Damien HECTOR HF: 15. Andrew DESS 26. Dominic BUNYAN 7. Jordan HARPER F: 33. Chris YORK 17. Matthew LOKAN 13. Jye BOHM Foll: 19. Matthew PORTER 27. Matthew SHARP 11. Lexie BENNETT Int: 45. Andrew BROWNING 18. Shane HARRIS 43. Isaac TAYLOR 37. John LOVE 49. Logan AUSTIN 44. Patrick DELANEY 22. Daniel POSCH
In: Austin, Browning, Delaney
Out:
James Bennett has had a quiet 2 weeks by his 2013 amazing standards, even though he's still managed to lead their team in clearances in that period. He will be geared for a big performance in this big match. The Swans' usual tagger in Harrison Marsh is missing through injury so we'll probably have to go head-to-head with Lloyd, Lamb or Robinson. The other prominent midfielders in their side are Matt Sharp, Jordan Harper and Simon Curtis.
Shane Harris continues to struggle in his comeback, adding 2 behinds to his solitary goal against us in the semi final. He'll still have to be closely watched as he can still kick a big bag of goals if he gets a sniff. Topup Stephen Wray did a fantastic role that day and should get first crack at Harris again.
Player-coach Matthew Lokan was the standout forward for the Magpies in their preliminary final win, kicking 4.4 and seems to be their major avenue to goal at the moment. Despite not being an obvious matchup in size, Richards was solid on Lokan in the semi although the former Collingwood player didn't have much quality ball coming his way that day.
Bookmarks