NAB Challenge Recap: Swans vs. Eagles

The 0.5.7.37 to 0.10.12.72 defeat was the Swans’ first this pre-season, after they comfortably bested GWS GIANTS in Canberra last week.

The much-hyped debut of superstar recruit Lance “Buddy” Franklin proved somewhat ignominious, with the former Hawk, let down by poor delivery into the forward line, struggling to impact the contest.

Light rain fell on Blacktown in the hours leading up the game, but it wasn’t enough to deter more than 70 local club footballers from taking part in clinics on the ground, under the watchful eye of local product and Swans rookie Lloyd Perris.

When the main game got underway, a greasy surface and slippery football led to a scrappy opening stanza, with players from both sides battling to get a handle on the Sherrin.

The Eagles dominated possession in the early stages, but missed a handful of gettable shots on goal, before a major from youngster Callum Sinclair stopped the rot.

Gary Rohan got the home side on the board with a set shot from 50 metres, much to the delight of the Swans faithful, before Dean Towers added another – after a deft Brandon Jack handball – to nudge his side ahead by a single point at the first break.

Sydney speedster Lewis Jetta entered the fray early in the second term after starting as a substitute, replacing Luke Parker, who copped a bad poke to the eye, and the silky-skilled youngster immediately helped arrest the sloppy standard of football.

After a few classy touches to ease into the action, Jetta underlined why he’s one of the most exciting players in the competition; evading the grasp of four Eagles at a stoppage with some fancy footwork, before squeezing a pass to Sam Reid, who snapped truly around his body, to stretch his side’s lead to four points at half-time.

The visitors emerged from the sheds after the long break with intensity higher than anything they’d shown in the opening hour, moving the football with slickness and piling on three goals in quick time.

A Sharrod Wellingham special seconds before the three-quarter-time siren marked the Eagles’ sixth unanswered major, stretching their ascendancy to 36 points, and with light rain again falling, the result was all but sealed.

Both sides notched two goals apiece in the last term, but the highlight for Swans fans – and a rapturous crowd – was the introduction of Sudanese recruit Aliir Aliir (pictured).

After nearly entering the action late in the second term, the 19-year-old got his chance ten minutes into the fourth quarter, with a partially-smothered shot on goal his first touch in senior football.

Sydney will play one more practice match before opening its regular season campaign on March 15, against the GIANTS at Spotless Stadium.

WEST COAST          0.1.5    0.2.6    0.8.10   0.10.12      (72)          

SYDNEY SWANS     0.2.0    0.3.4    0.3.4        0.5.7       (37)                  

  

GOALS

West Coast: Sinclair 2, Colledge 2, Cripps, Darling, Selwood, McInnes, Masten, Wellingham

Sydney Swans: Rohan 3, Towers, Reid

BEST 

West Coast: Masten, Selwood, Sinclair, Rosa, Hutchings, Gaff, Colledge

Sydney Swans: Bird, Grundy, O’Keefe, Malceski, Rohan

INJURIES

West Coast: Nil

Sydney Swans: Parker (eye)

  

SUBSTITUTES

West Coast: Carter replaced Ellis in the second quarter; McGinnity replaced Wellingham in the second quarter; Carter replaced Masten in the fourth quarter; McGinnity replaced Darling in the third quarter.

Sydney Swans: Jetta replaced Parker in the second quarter; Aliir replaced Franklin in the final term.

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Findlay, Mollison, Pawley

Official crowd: 3,045 at Blacktown International Sportspark