By Charlie Goodsir (NEAFL Media)
Brilliant Swans end Sydney University’s undefeated streak in style
Sydney University’s unbeaten run to start the season has come to an end after they lost by 51 points against a ruthless Sydney Swans outfit at the SCG on Friday night.
The Swans kicked 12 goals to Sydney Uni’s four after quarter-time as they secured the 14.14 (98) to 7.5 (47) victory.
The Swans have now won four games in a row with the last three wins coming against the top three sides in Southport, Brisbane and now Sydney Uni.
Sydney Uni coach Tom Morrison was blunt in his assessment of the game, saying that the Students must play better if they want to be a serious contender this year.
“I’m glad we had this wakeup call now instead of in two months’ time… we have to make sure we are a better side next week,” he told neafl.com.au.
The Students started the game with clear intent as Ned Reinhard kicked the opening goal of the match inside two minutes.
The Students were ferocious with their tackling and pressure and went into quarter-time with a five-point lead on the back of two goals from star midfielder Tom Young.
Sydney Uni maintained the same level of intensity for the first half of the second quarter. However, the Swans then went on to kick three goals in seven minutes’ courtesy of Joel Amartey, Dean Towers and Tom McCartin. The Swans then went into the main break with a handy 15-point lead.
The Swans opened the game up in the third as they kicked seven unanswered goals in the quarter.
In the process, they made the team who were on top of the ladder look like witch’s’ hats. The Swans recorded an incredible 26 inside 50s to Uni’s three in the third quarter alone.
With the result already decided, the Students then rallied after three quarter time to show a lot of fight and made the Swans earn the win.
When Damien Bonney kicked the Students first goal of the last quarter at the 12-minute mark, it ended an 11 goal run from the Swans and was also Sydney Uni’s first goal since the 18-minute mark in the second quarter.
Sydney Uni went on to win the fourth quarter by 10 points with the highlight being a terrific goal from the boundary pocket by Bonney. However, the result of the match was long gone as the Swans enjoyed another strong victory.
“We needed that response earlier in the third quarter” said Morrison, in reference to the effort his team showed in the last term. “We’re still in a good position but we need to get better and we will.”
The Swans had several contributors on Friday night but the standout was James Rose. Rose was electric after half-time as he popped up everywhere setting up goals and kicking a fantastic one himself.
Rose ended the match with 29 disposals, seven inside 50s, six tackles and 1.2.
As he has all year, Aliir Aliir was inspirational in the backline for the Swans, racking up 20 touches, six marks, five rebound 50s and two inside 50s, whilst Daniel Robinson (30 disposals, 13 tackles, 10 clearances and 10 inside 50s) also continued his good form.
Last week’s Rising Star nominee, Swans Academy member Bailey Stewart, stepped up another notch with 25 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and booted 3.2 to be another standout performer.
Morrison was all praise for ex-Swan Craig Bird after the game, with his individual performance one of the few positives for the Students to take away.
“Bird was inspiring around the footy and inspired a lot of players,” he said.
Bird (24 possessions, 12 tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s), Tom Young (31 disposals, eight clearances, five tackles and 2.1) were among the best for the Students in an otherwise poor display.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Students as they face Southport away next week.
“We’ll make sure we are a better side next week than what we were tonight,” Morrison said.
“Southport will be watching and they think we will be vulnerable next week on their home deck. It will be our job to show them that we are not.”
The Swans will look to make it five wins in a row as they face a Redland outfit desperate for a win.
Sydney University v Sydney Swans at the SCG
SYDNEY 2.3 6.6 13.11 14.14 (98)
SYDNEY UNI 3.2 4.3 4.4 7.5 (47)
GOALS – Sydney: J Stern 3 B Stewart 3 J Amartey 2 T McCartin 2 D Towers J Rose J Shumack R Fox. Sydney Uni: D Bonney 2 T Young 2 S Fong A Lucy N Reinhard.
BEST – Sydney: B Stewart D Cameron D Towers J Rose D Robinson C O’Riordan. Sydney Uni: R Hebron T Young C Bird M Wilson X Richards L Stevenson.