Full back Sam Reid was the Swans’ best player, with Matthew O’Dwyer also dominant - he collected a staggering 54 disposals playing on the ball. Dylan McNeil, also on-ball, was impressive, along with Trent Dennis-Lane, who kicked seven goals, ruckman Daniel Currie, and centre-half-forward Lewis Johnston.
The win was the Swans’ fifth from six games and cements their place on top of the AFL Canberra ladder for at least another week.
The Swans kicked five goals in the first term to lead by 20 points at quarter time. The first two goals came within six minutes of the start, after a free kick to Johnston and a goal on the run from Ed Barlow, before Belconnen kicked their first at the 12 minute mark.
The Swans replied two minutes later through Nathan Gordon, who goaled from the goal square after a pass from Patrick Veszpremi. Dennis-Lane kicked his first at the 22 minute mark after some clever foot passing down the ground from the Swans and Johnston kicked his second a minute later on the run. Belconnen ended the quarter with their second goal.
In the second term the Swans’ extended the lead to 28 points despite Belconnen kicking two goals in the first five minutes. McNeil marked and goaled in the seventh minute before top-up player Kane Morris had a shot from 40m that bounced over everyone’s heads and went through for a goal. It took until 15 minutes into the quarter for Belconnen to goal for the third time. After some strong tackling Veszpremi kicked his first goal before Dennis-Lane kicked his second to end the quarter.
Belconnen opened the third quarter with two goals before the Swans’ re-established themselves, booting four goals. O’Dwyer kicked a goal on the run from 50 metres out, after a handball from McNeil, before Dennis-Lane kicked three goals in a row. The first two were from snaps and his third after a mark, showing the versatility that got him drafted last year. At three quarter time the Swans had extended their lead to 40 points.
Two minutes into the final term McNeil kicked his second goal, but Belconnen replied a minute later. Morris kicked his second from the goal square and Dennis-Lane goaled again after a clearance from Kristin Thornton, who was playing his first game for the season after coming back from long-term injury.
Then a long arm wrestle ensued, during which both teams failed to score, before Veszpremi snared his second goal out of some scrappy play. The last goal of the match was scored by Dennis-Lane, to take his tally to seven for the day.
The Swans Reserves’ round seven game will be played against Ainslie, at Ainslie Oval, on Saturday May 29 at 2pm. Last time they met, in round three, the Swans’ won by 43 points.
Final Scores:
Swans Reserves - 5.3 (33) 9.7 (61) 13.8 (86) 18.9 (117)
Belconnen - 2.1 (13) 5.3 (33) 7.4 (46) 8.6 (54)
Goals:
Dennis-Lane 7; Veszpremi, Morris, McNeil, Johnston 2; Barlow, Gordon, O’Dwyer
Best:
Reid, O’Dwyer, McNeil, Dennis-Lane, Currie, Johnston
