The WSU GIANTS have suffered a hard fought 18-point loss to the Swans Reserves in their NEAFL round two clash at Blacktown International Sportspark.
At one stage the GIANTS led by 25 halfway through the third quarter, before the Swans kicked 11 second half goals to claim their second win of the NEAFL season.
While GIANTS coach Brad Miller was clearly disappointed to give up a lead, he was quick to praise the performances of midfielder Jack Steele (32 possessions), utility Adam Tomlinson (30 possessions) and draftee Jacob Hopper (30 possessions)
“I thought Jack was outstanding to be honest and it was great to have him back around the ball, he ended up kicking three goals but it was his forward 50 tackles and pressure that really stood out,” Miller said.
“Tommo (Tomlinson) was really good around the ball again, he is just a big brute so he wins his fair share of contested footy.
“Jacob Hopper had a great first half and his work in and around the stoppages was really good for us.”
After leading by five points at halftime, the GIANTS started the second half brightly with captain Sam Reid kicking two goals to help open up a four goal lead halfway through the third quarter.
The Swans capitalised on a number of GIANTS turnovers to kick the next three goals and close the gap to six points at the final change.
“The things that held us in good stead to get that lead I thought we stopped doing and we went away from a little bit, we weren’t attacking the goal face as much,” Miller said.
“We were trying to go short and overuse the ball going forward and it cost us going the other way, they were really good at winning back the footy and sling-shotting down for a goal.”
Nick Haynes stood tall down back for the GIANTS, taking a number of key intercept marks and managing to get the ball moving forward quickly.
“He reads they game really well, he puts himself in a position to mark the footy which is a really good asset, but I thought he was well supported by Tim Mohr and Harry Himmelberg, they are all working well as part of our back six,” Miller said.
Jeremy Finlayson made a successful return from injury, saving a certain goal with an excellent run down tackle as well as gathering 16 possessions.
The WSU GIANTS take on the Canberra Demons at 9.30am at Manuka Oval next Sunday as the curtain-raiser to the GIANTS v Port Adelaide clash.
Sydney Swans Reserves 17.13 (115) def WSU GIANTS 14.13 (97)
WSU GIANTS
Goal Kickers: J. Steele 3, S. Reid 3, D. Roberts 2, J. Barrett, J. Stewart, T. Marshall, J. Pickett, M. Flynn, M. Lynch
Best players: J. Steele, A. Tomlinson, N. Haynes, J. Hopper, J. Barrett
