An outstanding performance by AFL hopeful James Rose has propelled the Sydney Swans to a 22-point win over the Redland Bombers in Brisbane on Saturday.
The spirited forward is on a mission to build on the eight senior games he’s played and did his chances of an AFL recall no harm in leading the Swans to an 8.19 (67) to 6.9 (45) victory.
The 22-year-old burst out of the blocks to post 13 first-term touches and finished the game with 35 possessions and two goals as the Swans soared to a fifth win on the trot in the Round 10 fixture.
Rose kicked his first of two goals in the second term and it was a four-goal-to-one second quarter in favour of Sydney which blazed the trail for victory.
Midfielder Jordan Dawson tallied 21 disposals in a promising return from a quad injury, while Colin O’Riordan, Nic Newman, Aliir Aliir, Ryley Stoddart and Darcy Cameron all fired in pursuit of AFL call-ups.
O’Riordan collected 31 touches and 11 marks in another unblemished display in defence, while Newman (27 possessions) was important in a return to the NEAFL.
Aliir gathered 25 disposals and again showed his versatility in shifting between defence, the forward line and the ruck, and Ryley Stoddart (15 touches, one goal) troubled the Bombers with his searing pace off the back of two senior games.
Cameron again threw his hand in the air for an AFL debut in a return of 18 possessions, eight marks and two goals, and amassed 32 hit-outs in a strong showing against Redland big man Craig Malone.
The Swans took a 14-point buffer into quarter-time and led by 33 points at the main break.
They then added two goals to the Bombers’ one in a low-scoring second half en route to their second win in Brisbane in three weeks.
Sydney overcame the Brisbane Lions north of the border in Round 8 to spring from eighth to fourth on the ladder, before remaining on the heels of the competition’s high-flyers with ensuing wins over Sydney University and Redland.
Exciting Draft-bound midfielder Josh Stern was the best of the QBE Sydney Swans Academy stars in a return of 17 touches and a pair of goals in his fifth NEAFL game.
Sam Wicks (20 disposals, five tackles) continued to impress on the road to the Draft himself, while Academy graduate Jake Brown gathered 15 touches in a return from a shoulder injury.
The Swans are now set for a match with the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium next Saturday as they shoot for six straight wins.
Sydney Swans 2.5 6.10 8.15 8.19 (67)
Redland Bombers 0.3 1.7 5.9 6.9 (45)
Goals – Sydney: D Cameron 2, J Stern 2, J Rose 2, R Stoddart, J Schumack
