Belconnen has held off a fast finishing Swans outfit in the final round of the AFL Canberra competition at Manuka on Sunday to win by 10 points. In the top of the table clash the Swans, who were 31 points down at quarter time, had dramatically slimmed the margin by the final siren.
Kieran Jack was clearly the Swans’ best, notching up more than 40 possessions and showing great leadership. Queenslander Jesse White also had an impact from full forward kicking seven of the Swans’ 14 goals.
Nick Smith on the half back flank, Ben Mathews, who had 30 possessions in the midfield, Ryan Brabazon who played on ball and on the wing and Brendan Murphy at centre half back were also good in a game of high quality football.
Four minutes into the game both teams had kicked two goals but the Swans made some fundamental mistakes that allowed Belconnen to be 31 points in front by the end of the quarter. Belconnen kicked eight goals in the first term to the Swans’ three. White had two goals for the Swans by quarter time and Ed Barlow had also goaled.
In the second quarter the Swans kicked five goals while Belconnen managed just one. The Swans sent Luke Brennan back into defence and he had an immediate impact while Jack, Mathews and Brabazon provided the Swans with drive through the midfield. The Swans’ goal kickers in the second term were Patrick Veszpremi, White, Brabazon, Matthew Beckmans and top-up player Chase Grintell.
The third quarter saw the momentum swing back to Belconnen and they kicked five goals to the Swans’ two. Swans player Peter Faulks was stretchered from the field after injuring his shoulder in a marking contest and Jack continued to lead the way for the Swans. White was the Swans’ sole goal scorer in the third term, kicking two, and at quarter time Belconnen were in front by 29 points.
The Swans dominated the final term with a four goal to one quarter. White kicked another two for the Swans and Veszpremi and Daniel Currie also goaled. By the end of the game both teams were exhausted due to the intensity of the game. The Swans missed a number of opportunities in the final quarter that could have made the scores closer.
The Swans end the season in second place on the ladder and will have a bye before starting their finals campaign; the weekend of the 23rd - 24th is a bye across the AFL Canberra competition.
In the first week of the finals the Swans will play Belconnen again in the second semi final on Saturday 30 August at Manuka Oval. The winner will go straight to the Grand Final while the loser will play the winner of the first semi final.
Final Score:
Swans Reserves – 8.3 (51) 9.6 (60) 14.10 (94) 15.13 (103)
Belconnen – 3.2 (20) 8.2 (50) 10.5 (65) 14.9 (93)
Goals:
White 7; Veszpremi 2; Brabazon, Barlow, Currie, Beckmans, Grintell 1
Best:
Jack, White, Smith, Mathews, Brabazon, Murphy
