The Swans Reserves now sit three games clear of second placed Ainslie on the AFL Canberra ladder, after beating Belconnen by 24 points at Manuka Oval on Sunday in good conditions.
The Swans led by 44 points at three quarter time. However they had lost a number of players through injury throughout the game, and that took its toll in the final term.
Kristin Thornton left the ground in the first quarter with a back and hamstring complaint and did not return, while Brett Meredith, Matthew O’Dwyer and Jesse White all suffered shoulder injuries.
The Swans’ best player was centre-half forward Lewis Johnston who had more than 30 possessions and kicked two goals.
Ted Richards, who showed good leadership at centre-half back, was also impressive, as was Meredith in an on-ball role, despite his injury.
Sam Reid is developing well and had another strong game at full-back. Other players named in the best were on-baller Nathan Gordon and Irishman Chris McKaigue who spent time in the half back and half forward lines.
The Swans trailed by nine points at quarter time after kicking just one goal in the first term while Belconnen piled on three.
The Swans only goal came from Kristin Thornton on the run in the first minute of the game. Meredith injured his shoulder during the quarter but was to return later in the game. The quarter was fast paced and Belconnen had more run and made better use of the football.
The second term was tight and by half time the Swans were three points in the lead. Johnston kicked his first goal two minutes into the quarter after taking a mark 40 metres out and at the 17 minute mark Gary Rohan goaled after taking a strong overhead mark.
Top-up player Daniel Dickerson joined the scoring a few minutes later with a smart goal from the boundary. O’Dwyer left the ground in the second term after injuring his shoulder.
The third term was a decisive one from the Swans, and they set up the win with a seven goal to one quarter.
Hayden Armstrong, a top-up player, kicked the first from a mark after receiving the ball from Byron Sumner, then White goaled from strong play in the goal square, and top-up player Taylor Lee marked and goaled at the nine minute mark.
After Belconnen kicked their only goal for the term, Johnston nailed his second on the run.
At the 22 minute mark Rohan kicked the goal of the day, intercepting the ball on the halfback line, taking three bounces and goaling from outside 50 metres.
Two minutes later Sumner kicked one himself after smart play from Veszpremi.
And there were celebrations when Lewis Jetta kicked the final goal of the term, from 50 metres on the run. At three quarter time the Swans had turned the game around and led by 44 points.
The Swans were down to just 12 listed players in the final term, after White hurt his shoulder and left the field.
They could only managed three goals for the quarter but it was enough to hold Belconnen at bay.
McKaigue kicked one on the run in the first minute before Belconnen kicked four in a row. At the 18 minute mark Rohan kicked his third goal from 30 metres out after a free kick paid for an incident behind play.
A few minutes later Belconnen kicked their final goal while Lee kicked a clever goal for the Swans from the boundary on the siren to bring the margin to the final 24 points.
The Swans now face Tuggeranong on Sunday 11 July at the SCG at 9.50am. The game is the curtain-raiser to the Swans and North Melbourne game at 1.10pm.
Final Scores
Swans Reserves - 1.5 (11) 4.7 (31) 11.12 (78) 14.13 (97)
Belconnen - 3.2 (20) 4.4 (28) 5.4 (34) 11.7 (73)
Goals
Rohan 3; Johnston, Lee 2; Armstrong, Dickerson, McKaigue, Sumner, Thorton, White, Jetta
Best
Johnston, Richards, Meredith, Reid, Gordon, McKaigue
