The Swans Reserves have dropped to third place on the AFL Canberra ladder after losing by 17-points to Ainslie in Canberra on Sunday. Ainslie have now moved to second position.
The Swans entered the game with their youngest and least experienced team for the season with just 11 listed players and 12 top-up players.
Aaron Bruce and Ryan Brabazon were the best for the Swans playing on ball and Jared Crouch played some of his best football on return from injury.
Bruce was drafted at number 58 in the 2007 Rookie Draft from Eastlake while Brabazon was drafted from Claremont, Western Australia, at number 59 in the 2005 National Draft.
First-year player Patrick Veszpremi was also good in the midfield and in the forward line. In the Swans’ half-back line Luke Brennan and Brendan Murphy were both strong.
At the first break the Swans trailed by 17-points after Ainslie’s strong defence only allowed them two goals to Brabazon and Bruce.
With heavy rain falling in the second term Ainslie kicked three goals to the Swans’ two and extended their lead to 23-points. The Swans’ though won more clearances at stoppages than in the first quarter. Top-up players Nathan Gordon and Daniel Spiteri were the Swans’ goal kickers.
By three quarter time the Swans had cut the margin back to 13-points with a goal from Crouch two minutes into the quarter followed by goals from Veszpremi and top-up player Andreatta. Crouch also kicked a goal from 50 metres on an angle while Ainslie only managed to kick two goals for the quarter.
In the final quarter the inexperience of the young Swans was showing against the stronger bodies of Ainslie. Both sides only managed one goal in the heavy rain. Crouch kicked his third goal to see the Swans end the game 17-points down.
After a week off the Swans will meet last placed Tuggeranong on Saturday 2 August at 2pm at Greenway Oval. The Swans have beaten Tuggeranong both times they have met this season.
Final Score:
Swans Reserves: 2.2 (14) 4.6 (30) 8.7 (55) 9.9 (63)
Ainslie: 5.1 (31) 8.5 (53) 10.8 (68) 11.14 (80)
Goals:
Crouch 3; Andreatta, Brabazon, Bruce, Gordon, Spiteri, Veszpremi 1
Best:
Bruce, Brabazon, Crouch, Veszpremi, Brennan, Murphy
