2nds 2013 Swans Reserves

[SOPH_CROSS]

Fire Away Grim

Remember all you Ressies lovers to follow the link in my SIG to "like" the facebook page to get all the current information of the Ressies/NEAFL and live updates of games

www.twitter.com/swansreserves as well

 

[RW]

I follow the facebook page but twitter is a bit too much for me! Too many feeds make me confused

 

[grimlock]

If you haven't checked the Swans site, the ressies are playing a practice match against the Hills Eagles on Saturday 11am at Lakeside. It's mostly for the reserves players that haven't received much of a run in the preseason so far e.g. Membrey, Dick etc. but also will important for underdone seniors like Morton and possibly Mattner.

Hills Eagles have recruited a few familiar names this year, Monty Buchanan is a playing assistant coach while Eugene Kruger (rookie last year), Trent Stubbs (ex Collingwood) and Ryan Bottin-Noonan (ex Swans scholarship player - possibly the first ever?) have joined their squad.

 

[scottwade]

Ryan Bottin-Noonan (ex Swans scholarship player - possibly the first ever?)

He and Craig Bird were our initial scholarship players.

 

[ShaySwannies]

I'm really interested to see how Membrey goes this year in the reserves. Looked way out of his depth in the NAB games so intriguing to see how he adjusts throughout the year.

 

[grimlock]

Reserves from

1. Tim MEMBREY
6. Tom MITCHELL???
7. Harry CUNNINGHAM
10. Mitch MORTON
11. Jed LAMB
27. Daniel ROBINSON
28. Matthew DICK
31. Harrison MARSH
33. Brandon JACK
35. Sam NAISMITH
38. Mike PYKE
42. Xavier RICHARDS
44. Jake LLOYD
46. Shane BIGGS

 

[.Shotties.]

Ryan Bottin-Noonan (ex Swans scholarship player - possibly the first ever?) have joined their squad.

Check the clearances page again.

 

[grimlock]

Doh that's the second time I've done that this week. Not sure why I'm confusing Uni and the Eagles

 

[.Shotties.]

Doh that's the second time I've done that this week. Not sure why I'm confusing Uni and the Eagles

Neither can I, you scumbag.

 

[J_Moore]

Neither can I, you scumbag.

"Neither can you" what?

 

[.Shotties.]

"Neither can you" what?

You edited my post.

 

[grimlock]

Tweeting from www.twitter.com/swansreserves

 

[ShaySwannies]

Tweeting from www.twitter.com/swansreserves

Any Academy/Scholarship or Top-up players in the team?

 

[grimlock]

Any Academy/Scholarship or Top-up players in the team?

I'll tell you in an hour's time

On a numbers basis there would have to be but this would be the new batch and I won't know them from a bar of soap

 

[ShaySwannies]

I'll tell you in an hour's time

On a numbers basis there would have to be but this would be the new batch and I won't know them from a bar of soap

I play Sydney footy so I might be able to help you out with some of the top-up players

 

[grimlock]

Come on down to lake side then

 

[grimlock]

I only recognise 47 Stephen Wray

 

[Tippett2Goal]

Tweeting from www.twitter.com/swansreserves

Cheers for the tweets grim, just judging from them Lamb and B.Jack had decent games?

 

[grimlock]

Lamb did. BJack was more quiet in the second half. Morton is in good nick but for a guy who was playing his first game of the year he is in very good form

@swansreserves: FT Swans 20.10 (130) Eagles 8.4 (52) Goals: Jack 3 Lamb 3 Membrey 3 Pyke 2 #51 2 Marsh 2 #49 #58 #59 Towers Biggs #goswans #fb

 

[Abbottsarmy]

Morton is in good nick but for a guy who was playing his first game of the year he is in very good form

ROK has been giving him dietary advice and he is looking very trim! Skin folds have NEVER been better!

 

[grimlock]

A good hitout for both teams and both sets of coaches will be happy with their respective charges tonight. The Eagles have recruited well this year with Amon Buchanan (#6) and Marc Dragicevic (#7) adding class to their midfield. They were reasonably competitive, and when given time and space they could move the ball from their defence to attack with precision. It's only when they came up against the Swans pressure that they struggled, with the red and whites winning more of the contested ball.

• 1. Tim MEMBREY - I know I've mentioned this before but his resemblance to Luke Parker is uncanny, especially from a distance. At my first sighting of him this morning, I truly believed Parker was somehow playing in this match, perhaps as a result of some indiscretion during the week. But I digress; Membrey was the main target in attack due to White and Walsh in Adelaide, Morton playing further up field (see below) and Pyke only getting short rests from his ruck spells. However he wasn't your stereotypical stay-at-home full forward, he did plenty of work bustling up to the flanks and even the wings at times, reminiscent of a past #1-wearing Sydney forward. One thing is for certain - Membrey will kick a lot of goals in the NEAFL. He takes a lot of marks inside 50 - both through hard work on leads and excelling in winning one-on-one contests with his strength and body positioning. With his good kicking skills, Membrey will convert plenty of those marks into goals.
• 7. Harry CUNNINGHAM - Spent most of the day on defensive duty but contributed more offensively towards the end of the game when he had a direct hand in 2 of the last 3 goals kicked by the Swans. Stuck to his task well but would like to see him use his noted speed more running out from defence.
• 10. Mitch MORTON - Looked in very good form, both fitness and skills wise, for a player getting his first hitout of the preseason. Started in the forward line but as the game went on spent more time in the midfield and even in a few plays pushed right back to the defensive 50 to help out. Used the ball well when he had it and he finished off the 'play of the day' for me when he stepped inside an Eagle (think of his 2nd GF goal) before hitting Membrey in the right pocket with a long kick. Significantly, at least from my point of view, he was constantly looking for teammates in better positions than himself rather than having his trademarks snaps at goals.
• 11. Jed LAMB - Very much a midfielder now in this reserves team and not the small forward he was drafted as, so to come away with 3 goals playing almost exclusively from the centre was an excellent return and a just reward for his efforts today. He looks such a classy player when he plays with confidence and is a stark difference to the hesitant version who was hampered by injury last year. He was very much one of the better Swans for the first 3 quarters before having his influence curbed in the final term. One area of his game that impressed me today was his ability to use hit targets on his left foot rather than trying to swing around onto his preferred right.
• 22. Dean TOWERS - Played in defence for most of the game before shifting to a wing in the latter stages of the game. He had a solid game without really being a standout and on today's performance I don't think he would have pushed back ahead of Rampe for a possible HB spot for Round 1. Used his pace a few times to break the lines which was good to see but looks like the Swans are concentrating on improving his defensive aspects of his game at this stage.
• 23. Jordan LOCKYER - Looked rusty playing in a key position defensive role. Notably in a few passages of play, he had to either attack the incoming ball hard or maintain body contact with his opponent but did neither letting his man a free run and jump at the ball. He'll improve his output as the season goes on but at this stage I'm just grateful to see him out there after his injury riddled year in 2012.
• 27. Daniel ROBINSON - Part of the midfield rotation, good tackler.
• 28. Matthew DICK - Didn't spot him in the first quarter (not sure if this game had listed players restrictions?) and when he did enter the field of play the big redhead was somewhat fumbly in defence. Possesses a low and deliberate kicking action that is similar to Alex Johnson's kicking style. He managed a clever kick over the top of Pyke's defender to allow the Canuck to mark in the pocket with ease
• 31. Harrison MARSH - Started in the midfield (while he was used as a defender in the WA U18 side, he generally played in the midfield in the WAFL colts and it looks like this is where the Swans see him playing.) matched up on Buchanan but it wasn't a hard tag and a few players were rotated on Monty throughout the day. Showed he has a few strings to his bow, with his pace and strong hands the standout attributes.
• 33. Brandon JACK - Exciting, flashy (wore garish yellow fluoro boots), but with more than a hint of skill (definitely a MUCH better kick than his brother when Kieren was in his first year on the rookie list) to back it up, Jack will provide plenty of highlights playing across the half-forward line for the Reserves. He finished with a bag of 3 today but had involvement in at least 3 other goals and it's an excellent sign that he has the unselfishness and vision to bring his teammates into play rather than being an opportunistic goalsneak (which won't get you very far at the Swans).
• 38. Mike PYKE - Won plenty of hitouts (despite some really inept bouncing from the umpires, who should have just resorted to throwing the thing up at centre bounces instead of recalling so many of them) and unusally saw quite a bit of the ball in general play too. He rucked for most of the game with topup #59 relieving him for short spells. Kicked 2 goals including a tough set shot in the left forward pocket from a very narrow angle.
• 42. Xavier RICHARDS - I couldn't really spot the similarity to Teddy based on their profile pictures, but the way he moves and kicks screams 'Richards!!!'. He had an okay game, had a few opponents but was especially troubled by Eagles #3 who also gave Lockyer a few headaches. He's still learning the intricacies and tactics of playing as a key defender, but he will have a big load on his slender shoulders with the coaches likely to assign him the best opposition forward every week.
• 44. Jake LLOYD - Along with Lamb was the main driver of the onball brigade. Looks to be a compact, solid inside midfield option with good disposal, solid tackling skills and a intense desire for the football.
• 46. Shane BIGGS - Rotated mostly through the wing, halfback and onball, I actually thought he was a little quiet in the first half but exploded in the second half where he had a LOT of the footy. Ball use was mostly good with the occasional miskick - we'll put that down to crossed wires between new(ish) teammates.
• Topups - #47 Stephen Wray, #48 Lloyd Perris, and the unknowns #49, #51, #58, #59, and #60. #59 was a bigger lad who played forward/relief ruck. He was the recipient of an atrocious free kick in the goal square when he basically stumbled over his own feet and the umpire deemed it a push in the back. Clinton Young would have loved to be umpired by that particular umpire. #51 kicked a lovely left foot snap goal deep in the left pocket after Jack had put too much power on his pass. Wray saw time in the midfield while #60 played in defence. Would love to see some names matched to the numbers from the Swans, but I'm not holding my breath for it to happen.

Sam Naismith spent the game on the sidelines watching in non-Swans gear, complete with his left arm in a sling. I think Tom Mitchell was beside him although I'm not 100% sure. Overheard Naismith saying he had some surgery done to a finger. Paul Roos also spent time watching the game from the sidelines, literally a step or two from the boundary, complete with designer tears in his jeans. I assume some of the topups would have been under his charge at the Academy in the past couple of years.

For the opposition, Buchanan was fantastic for them, still has plenty of tricks up his sleeve enabling him to win the contested footy in close, but he was also very vocal out there, encouraging and directing his teammates. (Officially he is an assistant coach too!). Another ex-Swan in Eugene Kruger (#19) kicked a beautiful long goal from beyond 50m, although it was incredibly negligent of the Swans defenders to leave no one on the line who would have easily punched it through. As mentioned previously #3 was their best forward and his movement proved problematic for our defenders despite not getting the best of deliveries at times.

Swans 4.4 10.6 15.9 20.10 (130)
Eagles 0.1 4.2 6.3 8.4 (52)
Goals: Jack 3 Lamb 3 Membrey 3 Pyke 2 #51 2 Marsh 2 #49 #58 #59 Towers Biggs

 

[MarkP]

You are amazing Grim.

Thanks for the read/info.

 

[ShaySwannies]

Good to hear Membrey firing. Would have liked to see Morton have a hit-out in Adelaide today but nice to see he went out there and played good, unselfish footy that won't go unnoticed

 

[grimlock]

Some nicknames

Membrey - Tim
Dick - Dicky
Robinson - Robbo
Biggs - Shiggsy
Morton - Morto
Lamb - Lamby
Richards - X
Marsh - Marshy


Such an imaginative lot

 

[RUNVS]

He may have looked a bit out of place during the NAB Cup but i did see a couple of things in Brandan Jack that says he could easily make it in the AFL with another year or 2 in the system.