Wow, Blacktown is an awful long way to go (from the CBD where I live and travelling on public transport), but that is a damn good team, one I'd like to see play! Hmmm!
Wow, Blacktown is an awful long way to go (from the CBD where I live and travelling on public transport), but that is a damn good team, one I'd like to see play! Hmmm!
Yes come along it's good fun and you may find yourself sitting next to a coach or player, you can listen to the instructions being shouted from the benches and you may be allowed to stand and listen to the quarter and three quarter time huddles
It's also on live stream, if you trust it
Looking forward to watching this on Sunday as welcome distraction from the stupid uni assignment I need to get started on.
A really strong looking team, shoul dbe a good game.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
Yes I went to the reserves match at Drummoyne some weeks ago and enjoyed it tremendously for most of those reasons. (Didn't get the huddle experience.) I was sitting in front of Marty Mattner and just behind the bench. And it was great to hear all the talk on the field, something I have no chance of hearing where I sit at SCG or ANZ.
I was close to the fence at the 2012 QF against Adelaide though and it was an eye opener just how much direction the defenders give each other on the field.
I would love to go out to Blacktown and watch my local team as well as the Swans Reserves. Unfortunately it won't happen on Saturday as my team plays at Henson on Saturday.
Hopefully my local team and the Swans Reserves can be on the same day at Blacktown.
My four year old loves going onto the local oval during the breaks and having a kick and a run around with Dad. He loves tackling me and always gets his eight tackles in.
Would my four year old be able to have a run on the Oval during the intervals in the Swans Reserves games? Would he get in trouble if he ran up to the Swans interchange bench and grabbed a footy to play with at the intervals ? He does that with my team but they know us.
The ones at Blacktown I have seen a few kids kicking the footy at the breaks, but obviously not at the SCG or ANZ. Not sure if anything changes now that it's a final.
That is a pretty ominous reserves team...wouldn't mind seeing it line up against St. Kilda or Melbourne!
You'd have to think that if conditions permit we should really beat the NT by close to 15 goals, if not more. Especially with 5-6 blokes playing for a place in the seniors should we have injuries.
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NEAFL 2014 Preliminary Final 2
Sydney Swans Reserves v NT Thunder
Sunday 7th September 2014
12.45 pm
Blacktown International Sportspark
No second chances in the NEAFL's Top 6 finals format, the winner of this game goes to the Grand Final to play the winner of UWS v Aspley while the loser will see their 2014 season come to an abrupt halt.
The Thunder have been one of the strongest teams in the NEAFL since they joined the competition a few years ago, and they hold a winning 3-1 record against the Swans. However, all 3 wins have come at one of their home grounds (they have 2 - TIO and Traeger Park), where visiting teams have found it difficult to adjust to the humid and hot conditions. When the Swans hosted the Thunder for the first time earlier this year at Drummoyne Oval, the Reserves ran away comfortable winners in an entertaining top of the table clash. That result was slightly misleading because the Thunder were missing several important players that day who couldn't travel to Sydney due to work and family commitments. There are no such issues for this final, with the Thunder pretty much bringing a full strength squad to Sydney, and with a Richmond-like 9 game winning streak on their backs
The Swans, meanwhile, will enjoy not being shackled by the listed player restrictions that applies when they play other NEAFL sides that aren't AFL reserves sides or the Thunder. A season high 18 listed players will take the field at Blacktown, complemented by the 4 Academy prospects likeliest to be drafted in the next 2 years by the Swans. It's a well balanced side with a good mixture of talls, inside players and outside runners that will take some beating.
NEAFL Ladder
Position Team Played Wins Losses Draws FF For Against Percentage Points 1 UWS Giants 18 15 3 0 0 2020 1097 184.14% 60 2 Sydney Swans 18 15 3 0 0 1664 1006 165.41% 60 3 NT Thunder 18 15 3 0 0 1810 1397 129.56% 60 4 Aspley 18 13 5 0 0 1876 1117 167.95% 52 5 Redland 18 13 5 0 0 1815 1438 126.22% 52 6 Ainslie 18 12 6 0 0 1738 1353 128.46% 48 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Sydney University 18 10 8 0 0 1518 1495 101.54% 40 8 Southport 18 8 10 0 0 1573 1266 124.25% 32 9 Brisbane Lions 18 6 12 0 0 1432 1652 86.68% 24 10 Sydney Hills Eagles 18 6 12 0 0 1371 1695 80.88% 24 11 Belconnen 18 6 12 0 0 1279 1742 73.42% 24 12 Queanbeyan 18 4 14 0 0 1329 1932 68.79% 16 13 Eastlake 18 3 15 0 0 999 1931 51.73% 12 14 Gold Coast Suns 18 0 18 0 0 954 2257 42.27% 0
Recent Form
Reserves
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 Brisbane Lions Away WIN 89 35 R2 UWS Giants Away LOSS 78 86 R3 Queanbeyan Home WIN 167 30 R4 Gold Coast Suns Home WIN 131 31 R5 Brisbane Lions Away WIN 51 50 R6 BYE R7 UWS Giants Home WIN 100 25 R8 Eastlake Away WIN 156 25 R9 BYE R10 NT Thunder Home WIN 150 83 R11 Gold Coast Away WIN 85 66 R12 Sydney Uni Away WIN 67 47 R13 UWS Giants Home LOSS 38 81 R14 Ainslie Away WIN 70 64 R15 Belconnen Away WIN 71 47 R16 BYE R17 NT Thunder Away LOSS 59 92 R18 Brisbane Home WIN 65 38 R19 Gold Coast Home WIN 92 46 R20 UWS Giants Home WIN 78 77 R21 Sydney Hille Eagles Away WIN 117 83
NT Thunder
Round Team Venue Result F A R1 UWS Giants Home WIN 95 69 R2 Aspley Home WIN 114 94 R3 Gold Coast Away WIN 102 65 R4 Sydney Hills Eagles Home WIN 146 24 R5 Redland Home WIN 105 71 R6 Southport Home WIN 86 68 R7 Aspley Away LOSS 34 159 R8 Brisbane Lions Home WIN 128 59 R9 BYE R10 Sydney Swans Away LOSS 83 150 R11 UWS Giants Away LOSS 50 154 R12 Gold Coast Suns Home WIN 142 63 R13 Sydney University Home WIN 125 15 R14 Redland Home WIN 151 78 R15 Brisbane Lions Away WIN 107 106 R16 BYE R17 Sydney Swans Home WIN 92 59 R18 Southport Away WIN 80 43 R19 Aspley Away WIN 97 58 R20 Redland Away WIN 73 62 R21 BYE EF Ainslie Home WIN 53 36
Past Meetings
2014
R10 Reserves 23.12 (150) defeated NT Thunder 12.11 (83) @ Drummoyne Oval
Goals: Membrey 4, Jack 3, Naismith 3, Davis 2, Hewett 2, T.Mitchell 2, Robinson 2, P.Mitchell 2, Nankervis 2, Heeney
Best: Robinson, Membrey, Lockyer, Jack, Jones, Hewett
R17 NT Thunder 13.14 (92) defeated Reserves 8.11 (59) @ TIO Stadium
Goals: Nankervis 3, O'Keefe 2, Walsh, Hadden, Biggs
Best: Nankervis, O'Keefe, Biggs, Dick, Marsh
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013
R14 NT Thunder 16.16 (112) defeated Reserves 9.5 (59) @ Traeger Park
Goals: Towers 3, Jack 2, Dick 2, Plug, Wheeler
Best: Lloyd, White, Biggs, Cunningham, Towers, Membrey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Round
Sydney Hills Eagles 12.11 (83) defeated by Reserves 18.9 (117) @ Bruce Purser Reserve
Goals: O'Keefe 6, Robinson 2, Bottin-Noonan 2, Hiscox, Naismith, Davis, Lockyer, Walsh, Hebron, Hey, Dick
Best: Hewett, Naismith, Jones, O'Keefe, Robinson, Hebron
NT Thunder 7.11 (53) defeated Ainslie 5.6 (36) @ TIO Stadium
Goals: Patrick 3, Ewing 2, Djerrkura, Ilett
Best: Djerrkura, Patrick, Ilett, S.Rioli, Beugelaar, Motlop
Team List
Listed players
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 1 Tim MEMBREY 15 41 32 Hasn't replicated his early season form when he kicked at least 2 goals in each of the first 10 rounds. Only 6 goals in the past 5 matches 5 Ryan O'KEEFE 14 18 17 Played more in the forward line in recent weeks. Finished the season as the NEAFL's second leading tackler with 109. 6 Tom MITCHELL 9 10 26 (seniors emergency)Unluckily squeezed out by the returning Bird, although many suspect he'll be a late in in the seniors. 10 Zak JONES 11 0 17 Could see a role either in the back half or in the midfield. 11 Jeremy LAIDLER 1 0 0 (seniors emergency)Edged out of the defensive set up by the improving Rohan, it'll be just his 2nd NEAFL game of the year. 13 Toby NANKERVIS 16 29 23 Playing ruck/forward, he finished the season second to Membrey on the Swans' goalkicking list with 29. 17 Tommy WALSH 13 4 22 Impressive in the 2nd half of the season, playing as a key defender but with stints in the forward line as well. 18 Jordan LOCKYER 18 2 13 Accumulated some large disposal numbers after being shifted to the wing during the year. 22 Dean TOWERS 10 12 13 (seniors emergency)Since breaking into the seniors, has only played 3 NEAFL games in the 2nd half of the year. 27 Daniel ROBINSON 17 14 27 A lull in the middle of the year after a bright hot start has been overcome, has received votes in 4 of his past 5 games. 28 Matthew DICK 16 5 24 His best NEAFL year to date, earning votes in 9 of his 16 games. 29 George HEWETT 15 10 14 Receiving more midfield time as of late due to injuries in the seniors, might be pushed back to half forward for this game. 31 Harrison MARSH 14 7 9 A move to halfback has seen improved results 33 Brandon JACK 9 6 8 Has overcome an ankle injury that saw him miss the Hills Eagles game. 35 Sam NAISMITH 15 12 14 Faced a baptism of fire in the Richmond game but will be better for the experience. 42 Xavier RICHARDS 14 0 2 Confidence will be high after his contract extension and promotion to the senior list. 45 Patrick MITCHELL 18 4 0 Plonk the Yank? Will see most of this game time in the goalsquare. 46 Shane BIGGS 15 3 31 1 of 2 Swans named in the NEAFL team of year, showed he could have a future as a tagger in the seniors, but likely to slot back in defence for this game.
Changes
In: Biggs, Jack, Laidler, Membrey, T.Mitchell, Naismith, Towers
Out:
The return of the 5 seniors has had a cascading effect with the 5 players they've replaced strengthening the side. Walsh and Richards will hold down the key defensive posts and will be assisted by the likes of Laidler, Dick, Biggs, Marsh and Jones. Naismith and Nankervis will rotate through the ruck and up forward with the former likely to take the number 1 role. Pat Mitchell might also join this rotation if required. There is flexibility in the midfield with the main midfielders Tom Mitchell, O'Keefe, Hewett and Robinson being ably supported by wing-half/forward types in the likes of Lockyer, Jack, Towers and Marsh.
Academy Players/Topups
# Name Games Goals Votes Notes 50 Doug HADDEN 7 1 5 Emergency 51 Jack HISCOX 12 10 0 53 Callum MILLS 4 0 0 58 Isaac HEENEY 4 3 0 59 Michael DICKSON 8 1 0 Emergency 60 Abe DAVIS 8 5 0
In:
Out: Joel BOTTIN-NOONAN, Michael DICKSON, Ryan HEBRON, Nick HEY, Nathan VAISEY, Oli WETZLAR, Mitch WRIGHT
These 4 should need no introduction to the followers of the Academy, but with 18 listed players might not see a lot of playing time.
Reserves leading goalkickers
- Tim Membrey 41 (15)
- Toby Nankervis 29 (16)
- Ryan O'Keefe 18 (14)
For full list: 2014 Goalkickers - RWOwiki
Reserves leading votegetters
- Tim Membrey 32 (15)
- Shane Biggs 31 (15)
- Daniel Robinson 27 (17)
For full list: 2014 Best Votes - RWOwiki
Reserves leading disposals (avg) min 7 games
- Shane Biggs 32.1
- Tom Mitchell 30.9
- Ryan O'Keefe 29.4
Reserves leading tackles (avg) min 7 games
- Ryan O'Keefe 7.8
- Tom Mitchell 4.5
- Jordan Lockyer 4.2
Reserves leading marks (avg) min 7 games
- Jordan Lockyer 6.2
- Tim Membrey 6.2
- Daniel Robinson 5.9
Reserves leading clearances(avg) min 4 games
- Tom Mitchell 6.7
- Daniel Robinson 6.1
- Ryan O'Keefe 5.5
Reserves leading inside 50s(avg) min 4 games
- Brandon Jack 5.2
- Tom Mitchell 4.9
- Ryan O'Keefe 4.5
Reserves leading rebound 50s(avg) min 4 games
- Shane Biggs 5.7
- Tommy Walsh 2.5
- Xavier Richards 2.3
For full list: 2014 Reserves Stats
NT Thunder
B: 9. Jack LONG 29. Justin BEUGELAAR 23. Errin WASLEY-BLACK HB: 33. Ben RIOLI 28. Julian LOCKWOOD 40. Hezekiah LAWRENCE C: 5. Shaquille McKENZIE 16. Cameron ILETT 17. Shannon RIOLI HF: 21. William RIOLI 37. Liam PATRICK 24. Chris DUNNE F: 3. Alwyn DAVEY 2. Darren EWING 25. Pierce LIDDLE Foll: 19. Seb GUILHAUS 14. Brad VASSAL 10. Nathan DJERRKURA Int: 38. Abe ANKERS 45. Neil VEA VEA 18. Mitch TAYLOR 4. Aaron MOTLOP Emg: 26. Jake ROE-DUGGAN 12. Jonathan PERIS 11. Jono MILES
In: Dunne, Guilhaus, Lawrence
Out: Miles, Peris, Roe-Duggan
Players to keep an eye out for:
- Darren Ewing - Finished 2nd in the NEAFL goalkicking (to make it 6 years in a row where he's finished in the top 2 of the QAFL/NEAFL goalkicking) and has proved a handful for our defenders in the past. While he plays at full forward, he doesn't have the height of your traditional key forward gorilla (183cm), instead relying on his smarts and body work to mark countless balls and finish with his deadly accurate kick. Richards has usually got the unenviable task on Ewing in the past with mixed results.
- Cam Illet - Thunder co-captain and leading disposal winner. Played predominantly in the midfield but has rests up forward and has a good return (13 goals 1 behind from his 18 games). Justifiably named in the NEAFL team of the year
- Chris Dunne - Named at HF in the NEAFL team of the year, finished 5th in the NEAFL goalkicking with 45.
- Alwyn Davey - The former Essendon Bomber has been named in the forward pocket where he will spend some time, but is also comfortable playing on-ball and along with Nathan Djerrkura are prime deliverers of the ball into their forward 50
- Seb Guilhaus - The Thunder smartly recruited the ruckman from the SANFL, allowing the undersized Julian Lockwood to move into a key defensive role. Guilhaus finished the regular season averaging 26.8 hitouts, just ahead of our own Sam Naismith with 26.3
From what I've read, it seems that if both the Swans and UWS win, the NEAFL GF will be at Blacktown next week. If the Thunder win it will be at Darwin regardless of their opponent, and if Aspley and Swans win, it will be in Brisbane.
So cheer hard for the Giants tomorrow!
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