The 2011 North East Australian Football League fixture has been released and it is good news for the Sydney Swans Reserves.

In the inaugural season of the new NEAFL competition, the Swans Reserves will play a total of 11 curtain raiser matches to the senior team.

Sydney Swans development and reserves coach Henry Playfair, said the new NEAFL competition provided great opportunities for the Club’s reserves.

“With 11 curtain raiser matches, our younger players will gain valuable experience playing on  AFL grounds. It is also a great opportunity for our fans to see the Club’s up and coming players live in action,” he said.

“We are really excited about the new NEAFL competition, and the opportunity it provides to play a greater range of opponents, including other AFL reserves teams from the Brisbane Lions and the Gold Coast Suns.

“It is also fantastic that as part of this new league, we can continue our long association with Canberra,” Playfair said. 

The NEAFL competition will run across two conferences; the Swans Reserves will be part of the eastern conference, which comprises all of the former AFL Canberra Clubs, with the addition of the GWS Giants.  The northern conference will consist of all the former AFLQ Clubs, plus the Gold Coast Suns Reserves.

Like all Clubs, the Swans Reserves will  play the majority of matches within their division, but will also play four matches against clubs in the northern conference. There will be final in each conference, with the winners playing off in the NEAFL Grand Final on Sunday, Spetember 25. 

The Swans Reserves are scheduled to play three matches against new rivals the GWS Giants, and a further practice match prior to the senior team’s round two clash against Essendon at ANZ Stadium.  The Swans Reserves will play two further curtain-raisers against the Giants, prior to the senior team’s clashes against the Western Bulldogs in round seven at Manuka Oval, and round 18 at the SCG.

Click here to see the full fixture…