Missing players due to injury at both senior and Reserves level, the Swans Reserves found themselves with just nine listed players on the field, four fewer than allowed under the AFL Canberra rules.
On a challenging day, centre half forward Sam Reid was again the stand-out. On-ballers Nathan Gordon, 35 possessions, and Dylan McNeil, 34 possessions, were impressive and Matthew O’Dwyer, who played at half back, also performed well. Top-up player David Linsen, who played on ball, was also named in the best players.
The Swans trailed by seven points at quarter time, managing just three behinds in a tight quarter,
The Swans sprung to life after the first break and had two goals by the five minute mark of the second quarter. Reid goaled in the first minute from 30 metres after a pass from Lewis Johnston. Then, after a centre clearance from McNeil, Reid had his second after taking a strong pack mark in the goal square.
At the 10 minute mark Johnston goaled from the goal square after a pass from Reid and had his second a minute later after taking a mark when Linsen played on from a free kick.
Ainslie then goaled twice before O’Dwyer put his name on the board with a goal on the run. The Swans were playing good running football and McNeil and Gordon were dominating the centre clearances.
By half time the Swans were 12 points up after kicking five goals to two in the second term.
The Swans opened the third term with a goal after a chain of handballs ended in Johnston’s third goal. Ainslie kicked goals at the two and six minute mark but a few minutes later the Swans had another one when pressure from Daniel Currie caused a turn over and Reid goaled on the run.
McNeil kicked the Swans’ last goal of the quarter after a free kick and a 50 metre penalty. After Ainslie kicked the final goal of the term, the Swans held the lead by 11 points at the last break.
The young Swans started to tire in the final term and were eventually overrun by a more experienced team. Ainslie kicked the first two goals of the quarter before Kieran Emery for the Swans marked 20 metres out and kicked truly. Ainslie then piled on four more goals before the end of the game to run out 22 point winners.
The Swans will now meet fifth placed Belconnen in the final round of the AFL Canberra home and away season. The game will be played on Saturday 28 August at Manuka Oval at 2pm.
Final Score
Swans Reserves - 0.3 (3) 5.5 (35) 8.7 (55) 9.7 (61)
Ainslie - 1.4 (10) 3.5 (23) 6.8 (44) 12.11 (83)
Best
Reid, Gordon, McNeil, O’Dwyer, Linsen
Goals
Reid, Johnston 3; O’Dwyer, McNeil, Emery 1
