The Sydney Swans reserves have started the 2011 season with a 50-point win over Eastlake in yesterday’s match at Canberra’s Ainslie Oval, finishing 12.11 (83) to 4.9 (33) to give coach Henry Playfair a win in his first official competitive outing.
Despite the comfortable final margin, for the second weekend in a row the Swans didn’t have it all their own way, coming from behind after a goalless first quarter to kick 12 of the last 14 goals of the game.
Eastlake adapted better to the wet conditions early and registered the first two goals of the game, before Ben Haren got the Swans first in the opening minute of the second quarter.
From there, the Swans lifted their work-rate and pressure around the ball to start dominating the clearances, and a goal from top-up player Kane Murphy in the fifth minute of the second quarter saw the visitors take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game.
Trent Dennis-Lane was a surprise inclusion to the side. He rolled his ankle on the eve of the AFL season and had been expected to miss up to a month, but he wasted little time getting back into goal scoring form. The small forward kicked three goals between the 18 minute mark of the second quarter and the 26 minute mark of the third - a spell that helped increase the margin from one-point just before half-time to 31-points at three-quarter time.
Nathan Gordon and Dylan McNeil continued on from their impressive 2010 and pre-season form, with the pair continually racking up possessions in the midfield and driving the Swans forward at every opportunity, while Murphy was also named amongst the Swans best, with his two goals and forward pressure important in turning the early tide.
Jarred Moore, who is also on the comeback trail from an ankle injury, got through the game without incident and capped off the victory with the final goal of the game from just inside the 50 metre arc.
After making his return to the field against GWS the previous weekend, Tadhg Kennelly got another game under his belt on the way back from an off-season knee injury.
The Sydney Swans reserves will play Belconnen in round two of the NEAFL season next Saturday afternoon at the SCG as a curtain-raiser to the seniors’ game against Geelong.
Visit sydneyswans.com.au tomorrow to hear from victorious Swans reserves coach Henry Playfair, while fans can follow the Swans Reserves action on twitter via @NEAFL_Eastern.
Eastlake 2.4 3.7 4.7 4.9 33
Swans 0.2 5.4 9.8 12.11 83
Swans Goals: Dennis-Lane 3, Haren 2, Guthrie 2, Murphy 2, Currie, Sumner, Moore
Swans Best: Gordon, McNeil, Murphy, Sumner, McKaugie, Currie
