NEAFL Eastern Conference Finals Review

By Todd Davey

SWANS COME UP TRUMPS

The Sydney Swans have scored a huge win over long time rivals Ainslie to move on to face Queanbeyan.

The second meeting of the two powerhouses this year saw the Swans regain the bragging rights over the Tri-colours, surviving an early scare to run out 79 point winners.

The Swans have been fast starters this year, so Ainslie knew they’d have their work cut out for them if they were to remain in touch at the first change, but it was the visitors who started the better of the two sides.

The Tri-colours came out and stunned the home side with a 5.1 display of incredible goal kicking which handed them a three point lead at the first change and palpable momentum.

As they have done so often when challenged this year, the Swans struck back. A blistering seven goals to two second term did the damage for Sydney, handing them a 25 point advantage going into the main interval.

Although the Swans were without their dominant forward in Mitch Morton again who was with the senior squad, a few unlikely candidates stepped up in his absence. Andrejs Everitt was dynamic up forward with four goals but it was ex-Adelaide backman Tony Armstrong who was the most surprising goal kicker of the match, booting four.

For Ainslie, Ken McGregor fired in his first final in the red, white and black, nailing five goals in a brilliant display up forward. Unfortunately Nic Paine couldn’t replicate his late season form, and finished the afternoon with only one major to his name.

The third quarter is when the Swans really pulled away. The margin pushed past 50 points with a seven goals to one quarter which left Ainslie reeling and the Swans in a position of power.

With the game effectively over the Swans were able to add a further seven goals to their total, while Ainslie added five.

The win sets up a re-match of early season sparring partners Queanbeyan and Sydney, who finished first and second on the ladder respectively. The match earlier in the season saw Sydney survive a surging Queanbeyan outfit missing a host of stars. The winner of the match will go directly into the Grand Final.

Ainslie also remain alive despite the loss, and will meet fellow Canberran powerhouse Eastlake after the Demons progressed past the Hills Eagles in their elimination final.

Sydney Swans   4.4   10.9   17.12   24.17 (161)

Ainslie                5.1     7.2       8.2        13.4 (82)

EASTLAKE ALIVE AFTER CLOSE-FOUGHT CONTEST

Eastlake’s premiership dreams remain alive after they were able to hold off a determined Hills Eagles outfit by 15 points on Sunday.

The lead changed throughout the afternoon and the margin never pushed out to anything unmanageable for either side, but it was Eastlake who had all the answers when it mattered and they will meet Ainslie next week for a shot at a preliminary final berth.

The first quarter saw a disappointingly low-scoring affair from two teams with significant goal scoring fire-power, with only three goals combined scored for the quarter. It was Eastlake who took a one point lead going into the first change, with the Hills Eagles poor showing in front of goal giving the visitors plenty to think about at the first change, kicking 1.6.

It was the Hills Eagles who took control of the game in the second quarter though, kicking three goals to one in a term that threatened to define the game. Again Eastlake’s wayward goalkicking threatened to derail their chances of advancing past the eliminating final, kicking eight behinds.

The third quarter saw Eastlake wrestle back the momentum in the game, kicking 4.3 to the Hills Eagles 1.3. The Demons took a 13 point lead into the last quarter, but with the game still up for grabs they could not afford to take their foot off the pedal.

The Eastlake coaching staff did not need worry though as the Dees were able to match their opponents goal tally of two for the final quarter. The margin pushed out to 15 points courtesy of some late behinds but Eastlake’s win sets up a dramatic semi-final against arch rivals Ainslie, were the winner will progress to play the loser of the Tigers v Swans match.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Hills Eagles in front of goal, with no mulitple goal kickers for the match. The two main focal points for a Hills Eagles victory, Ross Tungatalum and Ryan Houlihan did not feature among the best players, and last week’s four goal hero Scott Reed did not register a major for the afternoon.

Conversely for the Demons, Aaron Bruce was among the best with two goals to his name, Mitch Taylforth played his part up forward with three goals and Justin Mesman played a vital role down back, earning himself best-on-ground honours.

Eastlake        2.1   3.9   7.12   9.15 (69)

Hills Eagles   1.6   4.9   5.11   7.12 (54)

Photo by Ben Southall