Round 5 saw the London Swans three teams travel down south to Clapham Common and take on the Wandsworth Demons. On a sensational day for footy in London (sunshine and mid-20s), it was the women’s team to take the field first.
Women’s Conference
Swans 2.1.13 def. by Demons 2.3.15
The Swannettes suffered a nail-biting loss to the Demons after battling back from 2-goals down early on in the game.
In the midfield it was last-gamer Ellen Tyminski, Lee Witwoski in the ruck, Rita Azzopardi, Alicia Holland and Vivian Winkler who were winning plenty of the ball and driving it forward.
Aislinn Millett and Megan Burns provided strong targets along the forward line, with Nikhita Himat crumbing the ball well.
Down back Alyssa Moore, Annie Callaghan, Erin Lyons and Maddy McCombe who constantly repelled attacks all day long while also rebounding the ball.
Men’s Conference
Swans 0.2.2 def. by Demons 19.14.128
Despite a number of late changes, the Men’s Conference Team went in with a strong side against a Demons side that is always strong at this level. Adam Street and Ian Ash were the standouts for the Swans right from the outset – with the former winning plenty of ruck contests and the later gaining possessions at will in the first quarter.
Tod Francis, Louis Wood, Ronan Wordsworth and Lochie Kerr worked their way into the game as well – laying a lot of tackles and moving the ball nicely through several passages of play.
Unfortunately, the Demons had two players that dominated the game through their athleticism and ball use – and the Swans were unable to match them in terms of polish and creation of goal scoring opportunities.
Despite the end margin, it was a strong team performance from the Swannies.
Men’s Premiership
Swans 2.2.14 def. by Demons 17.13.115
After a tough week against West London, the Swannies were buoyed by the return of a raft of first team players for the clash against the Demons.
From the outset, the Swannies began dominating field position and forward 50 entries with Jack Davis and Luke McManus winning plenty of ball in the midfield., and the forward line presenting well. Unfortunately though the Swans were unable to make it count and the Demons were able to score a number of rebounding goals – going into the first break 6 goals up.
Through the second and third quarters the Swans lifted, continuing to shut down the Demon’s spread and switches across the ground. Luke Wynne, Josh Wilson, Chris Loy, Kirk Kinne and Brayden Mayne were among the side’s best – with the run and carry a feature. Jesse Lovig, Tom Van Gruensven and Marten Kooistra were also prominent through defence and midfield.
While the game often went end to end throughout the quarter, it was the superior ball use of the Demons, coupled with marking power and some superb set-shots, that saw them get well on top on the scoreboard.
In the last quarter the Swans faded slightly but the game still continued to go from end to end.
