Blakey stars as Swans overcome GIANTS in Academy Series Sydney Derby

Nick Blakey has so far lived up to the hype he is receiving, beginning the 2018 NAB AFL Academy Series with 11 goals over two games.

With the Sydney Swans Academy taking on the GIANTS Academy in a Round 2 Sydney Derby match-up yesterday, Blakey slotted seven goals with three of those coming in the opening term.

While the GIANTS started slow in what one member of the crowd had dubbed ‘The Nick Blakey Show’, they fought back over the second quarter, setting up a close game.

Brother of GWS GIANT Harry Perryman, Edward Perryman kept the GIANTS in with a chance, booting three goals, while Kieren Briggs kicked two to three quarter-time where the margin stood at 19 points. Though, to make matters difficult in the final term for the GIANTS, Cameron Edwards was helped off the field with a shoulder injury just prior to the final break’s siren.

As two of the GIANTS’ shining lights for the day, Perryman and Briggs were silenced in the final term, the Swans piled on 23 points to ten, sealing victory for the red and the white.

Sydney Swans Academy – 12.13 (85)
GIANTS Academy –  8.15 (63)

GOALS
Sydney Swans Academy – Blakey 7, Barkley 2, Bartholomaeus, Maguire, Stern
GIANTS Academy – Perryman 3, Briggs 2, Corbett, Budd, Kelly

BEST
Sydney Swans Academy – Blakey, Wicks, McKellar, Stern, Carroll, Reinhard
GIANTS Academy – Briggs, Driscoll, Budd, Perryman, Richardson, Beaumont

In the Under 16s, the Sydney Swans and GIANTS Academies played once more in their internal Academy Series where following, players will be selected to represent the AFL NSW/ACT Rams in the 2018 NAB AFL Under 16s Championships.

After a demoralising loss to the Swans last week by 86 points, the GIANTS bounced back to take the Round 2 victory.

Having not been able to train together as a group more than once this year due to geographical difficulties, getting over the top of the Swans in this match proved the resolve of the young GIANTS.

It was a close match that went down to the wire, but the GIANTS left Blacktown victorious by just three points.

Sydney Swans Academy – 9.8 (62)
GIANTS Academy –  9.11 (65)

GOALS
Sydney Swans Academy – Dignam 2, Gulden, Wright, Adams, Sheather, Rossmann, Tikkeros, Hallett
GIANTS Academy – Melksham 2, Byrne 2, Monaghan, Parnell, Green, Dunstall, Organ

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