The Swans qualified for their first AFL Canberra competition Grand Final on the weekend after a nine point win over Ainslie in a toughly fought game with the winner moving directly into the grand final with a weeks break.In the first quarter Ainslie kicked four goals before the Swans had even a point on the board but after a goal from Nick Malceski at the 14 minute mark and another not long after plus additional goals from Mark Powell and Jarrad McVeigh the Swans were trailing by only three points at quarter time.The Swans’ number one ruckman, Earl Shaw, badly twisted his ankle on the first centre bounce and was injured for the remainder of the game despite playing on.The Swans kicked three goals in the second term to Ainslie’s two, with one each to Nick Potter, Tim Schmidt after a melee and Malceski and were one point clear of a relentless Ainslie by the main break.The third quarter was tough with both teams playing disciplined football and the Swans were 11 points up at three quarter time after goals from Andrew Schauble and Schmidt and keeping Ainslie goalless for the term.Ainslie scored in the first minute of the third term and opened the game up but goals to Schmidt and Ryan Quade and excellent team work gave the Swans their nine point win and their ticket to the Grand Final.In the second semi final Belconnen defeated Queanbeyan by 75 points and will meet Ainslie in the Preliminary Final on Sunday 11 September to determine the Swans’ opponent for the Grand Final.The Grand Final of the AFL Canberra competition will be held at Manuka Oval, Canberra on September 18.Final Score:Swans Reserves 4.3 (27) 7.5 (47) 9.8 (62) 11.9 (75)Ainslie Kangaroos 5.0 (30) 7.4 (46) 7.9 (51) 9.12 (66)Goals:Swans Reserves: Malceski, Schmidt 3; McVeigh, Potter, Powell, Quade, SchaubleAinslie Kangaroos: Doherty, Kavanagh 2; Barber, Forsyth, Lehmann, McSporran, MatthewsBest:Swans Reserves: Malceski, Campbell, McVeigh, Schmidt, Bevan, WilloughbyAinslie Kangaroos: Knowles, D Jacques, Pullford, R Jacques, MathewsTeam:McVeigh, Willoughby, James, Schauble, Powell, Moore, Campbell, Sundqvist, Schmidt, Grundy, Malceski, Bevan, Shaw, Clarke, Potter, Hayes, Quade, Addison, Bartlett, Goodrem, Twomey
Undefeated Reserves claw their way to Grand Final
The Swans qualified for their first AFL Canberra competition Grand Final on the weekend after a nine point win over Ainslie in a toughly fought game with the winner moving directly into the grand final with a weeks break.In the first quarter Ainslie kicked four goals before the Swans had even a point on the board but after a goal from Nick Malceski at the 14 minute mark and another not long after plus additional goals from Mark Powell and Jarrad McVeigh the Swans were trailing by only three points at quarter time.The Swans’ number one ruckman, Earl Shaw, badly twisted his ankle on the first centre bounce and was injured for the remainder of the game despite playing on.The Swans kicked three goals in the second term to Ainslie’s two, with one each to Nick Potter, Tim Schmidt after a melee and Malceski and were one point clear of a relentless Ainslie by the main break.The third quarter was tough with both teams playing disciplined football and the Swans were 11 points up at three quarter time after goals from Andrew Schauble and Schmidt and keeping Ainslie goalless for the term.Ainslie scored in the first minute of the third term and opened the game up but goals to Schmidt and Ryan Quade and excellent team work gave the Swans their nine point win and their ticket to the Grand Final.In the second semi final Belconnen defeated Queanbeyan by 75 points and will meet Ainslie in the Preliminary Final on Sunday 11 September to determine the Swans’ opponent for the Grand Final.The Grand Final of the AFL Canberra competition will be held at Manuka Oval, Canberra on September 18.Final Score:Swans Reserves 4.3 (27) 7.5 (47) 9.8 (62) 11.9 (75)Ainslie Kangaroos 5.0 (30) 7.4 (46) 7.9 (51) 9.12 (66)Goals:Swans Reserves: Malceski, Schmidt 3; McVeigh, Potter, Powell, Quade, SchaubleAinslie Kangaroos: Doherty, Kavanagh 2; Barber, Forsyth, Lehmann, McSporran, MatthewsBest:Swans Reserves: Malceski, Campbell, McVeigh, Schmidt, Bevan, WilloughbyAinslie Kangaroos: Knowles, D Jacques, Pullford, R Jacques, MathewsTeam:McVeigh, Willoughby, James, Schauble, Powell, Moore, Campbell, Sundqvist, Schmidt, Grundy, Malceski, Bevan, Shaw, Clarke, Potter, Hayes, Quade, Addison, Bartlett, Goodrem, Twomey
