SYDNEY Swans Academy have won another NSW/ACT Under 22 Women’s Summer Series after defeating GWS Giants Academy by 45 points in a fitting conclusion to the round-robin series. Both Academies had comfortably beaten the Under 22 representative sides from AFL Sydney and AFL Canberra in the lead-up, with everything on the line in the final match of the series.

The Swans had looked the marginally better side in the first two rounds, but both had been fairly flawless in their wins. Though the Giants definitely pushed the Swans early in the third round match, ultimately the latter just had too much depth and firepower up front, booting eight goals to two after half-time to blow out the margin beyond seven goals.

Even from the first quarter it looked like the Swans were able to get more looks on goal, missing two gettable shots, but the Giants were unable to clear the defensive arc. Eventually a combination of Madison McCarthy to Lolita Savala handed the Swans their first in the last few minutes. Though the celebration was short lived, as against the flow, the Giants won the next centre clearance and Sophia Gaukrodger dished off to Annabelle McHale to deliver a crucial strike on the edge of quarter time.

Fans did not have to wait 17 minutes for the first goal in the second term, with the Swans instantly going forward and Emma Haley snapped truly. Though the GIants midfield was looking good, the Swans defence was holding up and driving the ball out of defence. Gaukrodger was everywhere again for the Giants as she found damaging forward Majella Day running back towards goal on the turnover.

As Day split the sticks from close range, it would prove her only real chance as Swans defender Ashleigh Barlow wore her like a glove. Coming off eight goals in game two and 12 goals across her first two matches, Day was the one to stop, and Barlow not only kept her to a single goal, but won more of the ball herself in the first three quarters before the Murray Bushrangers forward was thrown down back.

While GWS had drawn within two points after the Day goal, the two sides had an armwrestle over the next 10 minutes before over-ager Grace Parsons clunked a good grab and made no mistake from close range herself. A late behind to Ava Horneman made the difference 11 points at the main break, and it was still anyone’s game with Gaukrodger and Darcie Prosser-Shaw on the inside, and wing/defender Morgan Stevens all impressing for the orange team.

The Swans just had too many contributors though, as Haley and Horneman got busy through the second half, and father-daugther prospect Jordan Davis stood up. she slotted a goal in the opening minute off a sidestep, then set up Horneman a couple of minutes later and in the blink of an eye, the lead was out to 23 points.

GWS had its chances throughout the next few minutes, but the likes of Barlow, skipper Frances Walsh and Eliza McLeod were defending well behind the ball. Eventually after weathering the storm, the Swans broke through for another as Horneman kicked her second from an almost identical angle to her first, only a few metres further out.

Tensions rose between friends as National Academy member Charlotte Tidemann and Giants midfielder Prosser-Shaw exchanged words. A slight shove from Tidemann resulted in the latter responding with more force and the former fell to the deck. With the umpire metres away, he awarded a 50m penalty to the Swans, with Haley already holding the ball 60m out just off where the push and shove took place. The number 15 strolled up to the top of the goalsquare and made no mistake, and the lead was out to a whopping 34 points with only five minutes remaining in the term.

The Giants put that behind them and responded immediately off the next centre bounce with Ariella Paterson nailing a nice goal off a couple of steps from a forward stoppage. She would kick another in the fourth term to be her side’s only multiple goalkicker, but it would matter for little. A classy captain’s goal from range by Walsh on the edge of three quarter time essentially sealed the deal, while Lolita Savala again became the fourth quarter specialist, booting a second major.

Savala would come off second best in a ruck stoppage with Day, winded from her opponent’s jump, forcing the forward from the ground. She had received the free kick, and unable to take it, the ball was handed to the deadeye Parsons who made no mistake on the tight angle in the seventh minute of the final term. A late major to Horneman made the final margin 45 points, and handed the top-age tall a game-high third goal.

The Giants experience of Gaukrodger, Prosser-Shaw and Zara Neil around the ball ensured they always had their chances extracting from the stoppage. But the transition between the midfield and forward seemed to be the issue as the Swans defence was up to the task. Barlow lead the way in that regard for a brilliant job on Day, while once the red and white side had the ball, they used their pace to breakdown the Giants’ defence.

Tidemann, Walsh and Aurelia Russell all combined well, as Horneman, Davis and Parsons headlined a three-pronged attack with Savala also there for the most part. It was a perfect day for the talls, while the likes of Stevens and Paterson impressed for the Giants. It was a great hitout for both sides leading into the Talent League season, with the Swans winning despite missing a couple of key players in Grace Tracey (knee) and Heidi de Saxe (ankle).

GIANTS ACADEMY 1.0 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 4.4 (28)
SWANS ACADEMY 1.3 | 3.6 | 8.6 | 11.7 (73)

GOALS:
Giants Academy: A. Paterson 2, M. Day, A. McHale
Swans Academy: A. Horneman 3, L. Savala 2, E. Haley 2, G. Parsons 2, J. Davis, F. Walsh

RMC BEST:
Giants Academy: S. Gaukrodger, D. Prosser-Shaw, M. Stevens, Z. Neil, A. Paterson
Swans Academy: A. Barlow, A. Horneman, E. Haley, A. Russell, F. Walsh