Membrey keen for grand final glory
By James Matthey
The Sydney Swans reserves will be keen to reverse their finals fortunes this weekend when they take aim at the 2013 NEAFL Eastern Conference premiership.
The Swans reserves will be up against Canberra side Belconnen, who finished level with the Swans on 48 points at the end of the home-and-away season.
Swans reserves player, Tim Membrey, is hoping to cap off his debut year at the club with a premiership, excited about displaying his talent in the biggest game of the season.
“I guess it’s a grand final so it will be good to get out there with the boys who’ve played a good brand of footy this year and it’ll be good to get out there and display it on the biggest stage in the grand final,” said Membrey.
The Sydney side finished the regular season as minor premiers due to their superior percentage, and have won 12 of their 18 games under the tutelage of former Swans premiership player Jared Crouch.
The Swans should head into Sunday’s encounter with plenty of confidence, having booked their place in the decider courtesy of an 81-point win over Belconnen two weeks earlier in the semi-final.
“You do take a bit of confidence out of that but even though it’s late in the year there’s still things that we can improve on individually and also as a team so we’re looking forward to getting out there and playing a Swans brand of footy and hopefully coming away with a good win,” said Membrey.
However, they will have to break a worrying trend if they are to be crowned 2013 champions, with the Swans finishing as runners-up in the past two seasons after stumbling at the final hurdle in the previous two finals.
Membrey, though, is confident that his side won’t be suffering from any mental scars that may have developed as a result of those two painful experiences.
“We haven’t really spoken too much about that (losing their past two finals), I think there are maybe 10 or so new guys in the team so we’re looking forward to getting out there.
“This year is a new team and we’re looking forward to getting out there and playing a good brand of footy and we won’t be too worried about what’s happened previously.”
Swans reserves coach, Jared Crouch, encouraged as many people as possible to come down and support the next wave of AFL stars coming through the system.
“Come down and cheer the boys on,” said Crouch.
“I know they love to see lots of red and white and whether you’re a Sydneysider or one of the many great Canberra supporters we have down there, the boys really appreciate the sea of red and white that we do get when we play down in Canberra.
“Hopefully they all get along to Kippax on Sunday.”
The Swans reserves will line up for their chance to capture the 2013 NEAFL Eastern Conference premiership on Sunday September 15 at Kippax Oval in Canberra.
