NEAFL GF: Swans v Ainslie

Sydney Swans reserves coach Henry Playfair says his team will not take Ainslie lightly as they prepare to face the Canberra side in Saturday afternoon’s NEAFL Eastern Conference final.

The Swans last two games have been wins over Ainslie – by 24 points in round 22, and 62 points in the second semi final – but Playfair insists his side will need to be at their best to win on Saturday at Manuka Oval.

Despite not beating the Swans in three attempts this year, Ainslie will come into the game full of confidence on the back of a 15-goal victory over Eastlake in last weekend’s preliminary final.

“They won by 90 points on the weekend, so there’s no way we will be underestimating them,” Playfair said.

“We know they’re a good side, they’ve got some really good players, and they play well as a team. They’ve had a great year and we certainly won’t be going in without an awareness of what they are capable of.

“Their midfield is really well organised, they’ve got some dangerous forwards and their backs are pretty solid – across the park they’re a pretty even outfit.”

Playfair said he would be looking for his team to implement the game plan that has served them so well over the course of 2011 – a combination of pressure around the ball, defence in every position, and making the most of scoring opportunities when they present.

“Our pressure skills and defensive structures are really important to us,” he said.

“They let us down a little bit the last time we played, so we will be reinforcing those things but won’t be changing too much.

“We’ll stick with what we know and what’s served us well throughout the year, and we’ll look to bring our best efforts on the weekend because it is a final.”

Playfair’s team is likely to feature the in-form Jarred Moore, who last week tied with fellow Swan Dan Currie for the Mulrooney Medal – awarded to the best and fairest player in the NEAFL Eastern Conference.

The Swans could also field three players from the Eastern Conference Team of the Year – leading goalkicker Trent Dennis-Lane (50 goals), Nathan Gordon (15 goals in his last three games) and QBE Academy player Kane Murphy (three times in the Swans best from his last five games).

The Conference final will present a great opportunity for young Swans players such as Jed Lamb and Campbell Heath to get grand final experience, while possibly playing alongside the likes of Mark Seaby (2006 West Coast Eagles premiership player), Paul Bevan (2005 Sydney Swans premiership player) or Nick Malceski (2006 Sydney Swans grand finalist).

As well as the regular training schedule, the reserves undertook an extra session last Saturday morning to make sure the players kept their touch over the weekend off. Playfair can sense a feeling of excitement amongst the group and hopes as many Swans supporters as possible can get to Manuka Oval on Saturday afternoon.

“I know Ainslie will be turning out in droves, so as many Swans supporters as we can get to the game we’ll really value every one of them,” he said.

The winner of the Eastern Conference final will play the winner of Sunday’s Northern Conference final between NT Thunder (Northern Territory) and Morningside (Queensland). The NEAFL decider is scheduled for Sunday September 25 at the Northern Conference premiers’ home ground.

Sydney Swans Reserves v Ainslie
2.15pm, Saturday September 17
Manuka Oval, Canberra