Saturday was a successful day all round for the Sydney Swans, with the senior side, reserves and the NSW/ACT Rams all posting victories.

The Rams set the tone in the morning, with the NSW Under 18s side upsetting the top-of-the-table Calder Cannons 15.13 (103) to 12.5 (77) at Blacktown International Sports Park.

The match, which was relocated from the SCG to Blacktown due to wet weather, was always going to be a test for the Rams, with the Cannons having only lost one match for the season prior to the game.

Despite trailing by eight points at quarter time, the Rams were dominant after then and produced an impressive team effort to outscore the Cannons 13 goals to eight and run away 26-point win.

QBE Sydney Swans Academy tall Abe Davis was the standout up forward for the Rams, with the 18-year-old kicking a match-high five goals from centre-half-forward.

Through the midfield, bottom-age Swans Academy player Callum Mills impressed with his attack on the ball and hard running, while Isaac Heeney rarely wasted a possession and showed poise and class throughout the match.

Nelson Bay player Nathan Vaisey was also among the best afield, and was solid in defence for the home side.

The Rams win was the perfect preparation for a number of young NSW and ACT players who will line up in next Saturday’s AFL Under-18 National Carnival clash against the Northern Territory.

NSW/ACT Rams  2.4   7.7   10.10  15.13 (103)
Calder Cannons  4.0   7.1       8.3       12.5 (77)

Goals: Davis 5, Finlayson 3, Steele 3, Mills, Hiscox, Foster, Flagg.

Best: Mills, Davis, Finlayson, Steele, Heeney, Flynn.

The Rams’ big win was followed by another successful result, with the Sydney Swans posting a 20-point win over a gallant Sydney University side.

The match was a scrappy affair for both teams from start to finish, with the Swans showing enough in the final term to get over the line and post their eighth consecutive win.

The Swans reserves were without a number of regular contributors, with Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Tom Mitchell, Aliir Aliir, Harry Marsh and Xavier Richards all sidelined with injury resulting in the team fielding nine top-up players from the QBE Sydney Swans Academy.

The Swans started the match strongly, but struggled to capitalise in front of goal, kicking just one goal in the opening term.

Sydney Uni, on the other hand, made the most of their chances and played with enthusiasm, as they held a four-point lead at the first change.

It was an arm-wrestle for the next two quarters, and it was clear that Sydney Uni went into the match with a defensive game plan, which they stuck to throughout the match.

Despite not showing as much polish as they had in previous weeks, the Swans reserves managed to outscore Sydney Uni in both the second and third terms to hold a nine-point lead at the final change.

Sydney Uni hit back in the final quarter, hitting the lead early on, before the Swans showed some gritt and kicked away in the final ten minutes.

Young ruckman Toby Nankervis, who played the majority of the match deep inside forward 50, was a major contributor for the Swans and finished the match with five goals and a number of contested marks, while Tim Membrey, who played higher up the ground, had an uncharacteristically wayward day in front of goal and booted 3.5 for the match.

Swans rookie Shane Biggs was the standout for the side, working extremely hard out of defence and set up opportunities up forward for his team.

Academy players Michael Dickson and Joel Bottin-Noonan also impressed, with Dickson standing tall in defence while Bottin-Noonon played a dynamic game as a small forward.

Sydney Swans reserves   1.3   3.4   6.7   9.13 (67)
Sydney University               2.1   3.3   5.4      7.5 (47)

Goals: T. Nankervis 5, T. Membrey 3, J. Bottin-Noonan

Best: J. Bottin-Noonan, V. Roser, T. Nankervis, S. Biggs, T. Membrey, M. Dick