Swans take out Eastern Conference title
By Sarah Browne
Belconnen put up a good fight, but the Swans reserves proved too good for the Canberra club, winning the NEAFL Eastern Conference Premiership with a 15.11.101 to 6.13.49 victory at Kippax Oval on Sunday.
Swans defender Tony Armstrong picked up the Alex Jesaulenko medal for Best on Ground with a dynamic performance off the half back line.
The game was a tightly fought contest from the outset, but Belconnen let simple mistakes and missed opportunities hurt them on the scoreboard.
Swans legend Adam Goodes and senior coach John Longmire watched on as Lewis Roberts-Thomson kicked the first goal of the afternoon.
Sydney shot out to an early lead, kicking the first three of the match before Belconnen’s Shane Harris managed the Magpies’ first.
Harris got his second with a brilliant snap from the boundary with Belconnen back within four points at the quarter-time break.
The Swans came out firing in the second quarter, kicking four goals to Belconnen’s one to increase the lead to 25 points at half-time.
Tim Membrey dominated up forward for the Swans after the main break, kicking the opening goal of the quarter and further punishing the Magpies.
Belconnen struggled to find targets in their forward line and were forced to take all their shots out wide, taking until the 21st minute of the quarter for Shane Harris to kick his fourth, the lone goal scorer for Belconnen to that point.
Belconnen needed to find something special in the final term, trailing by 34 points at quarter-time.
Simon Curtis got plenty of the ball for the Magpies, but his delivery into the forward fifty was swiftly cut off by the strong Swans defence.
Belconnen got the first of the last quarter, however the Swans responded almost immediately with Dean Towers extending the Swans’ lead.
Lewis Roberts-Thomson then put the match out of contention with a goal at the ten minute mark of the last as the Swans reserves went on to win by 52 points.
The Swans reserves will now take on the winners of the NEAFL Northern Conference – the Brisbane Lions reserves – with the Grand Final to be held at 12.30pm, Saturday September 21 at Graham Road, Aspley in Brisbane.
