THE SYDNEY Swans Academy has claimed bragging rights with a 29-point win over Greater Western Sydney (GWS) in their Under 16 National Championships derby on Saturday. The Swans trailed at quarter time but applied consistent scoreboard pressure with three goals in each of the remaining terms.

Manuka Oval set the scene for what was both sides’ opening outing of the series, before the Pool B action moves up to Queensland later this month. The Swans will take on the Brisbane and Gold Coast academies, while the Giants go on to face Northern Territory and Tasmania on the Gold Coast.

GIANTS ACADEMY 1.2 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 6.9 (45)
SWANS ACADEMY 1.1 | 4.9 | 7.10 | 10.14 (74)

GOALS:
Giants: H. Donohue 3, Co. French, R. Roberts, A. Houston
Swans: M. Cairns 2, D. Marshall-Orr 2, C. McLennan 2, D. Delaney-Fielding, M. Hammoud, C. Edwards, A. Race

BEST:
Giants: Co. French, B. Macri, Ch. French, S. Crelley, A. Henderson, F. Murray-Wright
Swans: C. McLennan, D. Marshall-Orr, M. Cairns, S. Mok, C. Hardy, A. Race

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#8 Sebastian Crelley
Defender | 177cm | 21/02/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Crelly added some impetus to the Giants’ defensive work, competing hard in one-on-one contests and driving forward on the rebound. He imposed himself physically when recovering ground balls and used his power running on the overlap, taking on a no-nonsense approach to gaining metres for his side. He was one of two Giants to finish with a team-high 17 disposals.

#11 Cooper French
Forward/Midfielder | 178cm | 28/03/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

A handy scrapper in the forward half, French also showed class close to goal but stood out most with his ball winning efforts. He hunted and produced repeat efforts at ground level, also running useful patterns on the lead to provide an option inside 50. French was most productive in the third quarter, where he had eight touches and hit the scoreboard – reading the ball better than his opponent to mark and convert out the back. Coincidentally, it was GWS’ most competitive term.

#23 Chase French
Midfielder | 183cm | 17/04/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 10 tackles, 5 clearances

Another Giant whose third quarter was his busiest, French was a solid operator at the contest. He led GWS for disposals, tackles, clearances and contested possessions, feeding the ball out with few frills and using his strong frame to absorb pressure when doing so. French delivered handballs with 12 of his 17 disposals as he released teammates into space and got stuck in defensively.

#27 Aiden Henderson
Defender | 187cm | 30/04/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s

Henderson was among the Giants’ most productive rebound defenders, able to restart the play from full back and impact single passages with multiple touches. While there was an element of rawness to his decision making, Henderson attacked the corridor with overlap run and showed an ability to chain possessions in transition. The timing of his runs was particularly impressive.

#32 Franklin Murray-Wright
Tall Defender | 192cm | 11/09/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Murray-Wright made a terrific start to the game before unfortunately being unsighted after the third quarter. 11 of his 12 disposals and all five marks came in the first half, as the tall defender showcased his mobility and composed distributive skills. Murray-Wright also proved to be a capable interceptor, rising confidently to take the ball overhead and outpoint his direct opponent.

#34 Boston Macri
Tall Defender | 192cm | 20/05/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Macri worked alongside Murray-Wright to intercept plenty of Sydney attacks, while also getting involved in slow play to efficiently move the ball out of defence. He played the percentages in tight spots on the last line but was able to utilise his speed when recovering possession further afield, proving a little more daring in open play. He was named best afield by the Giants coaches.

#40 Baden Smith
Ruck | 204cm | 05/03/2009

Stats: 5 disposals, 18 hitouts, 2 clearances

Despite hardly blowing up the stats sheet, Smith showcased some nice traits as a towering tall. Already measuring up at over 204cm, the 16-year-old made use of a size and leap advantage in the ruck, getting first hand to the ball at will. He began to change up his taps after the Swans sharked clearances off his hand, and popped up for an intercept mark in the defensive half during term four.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#10 Charles McLennan
Midfielder | 178cm | 16/03/2009

Stats: 30 disposals, 11 tackles, 8 clearances, 2 goals

Best on ground with an outstanding all-round effort, McLennan dominated proceedings. He showed plenty of class exiting stoppages and finding rangy kicks into space, also sneaking forward to slot a pair of goals on the run. The smooth moving midfielder tracked back to aid the Swans’ ball movement in transition and took a couple of clean intercept marks, displaying strong hands and a decent leap. McLennan’s kick-first ball use was impacted by pressure at times, though with 16 contested possessions and eight clearances he well and truly did his job. His scoreboard impact and ability to compete with 11 tackles were added bonuses for the victorious Swans.

#16 Sebastian Mok
Wing | 178cm | 02/06/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles

Mok stepped up to the intensity of representative football, proving hard at it despite his outside role on the wing. He showcased a bit of spring with gutsy overhead efforts, and while fumbly at ground level, tried everything to surge the ball forward. Mok was able to ride contact or apply it himself, helping win possession or releasing his teammates into space. His speed was another handy asset.

#20 Thomas Epis
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 12/01/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s

With as many disposals as contested possessions, Epis had his work cut out for him but was willing to take on all comers. He was an effective first possession winner, able to read the ball off either ruckman’s taps and flick it out to quicker outside runners. Epis also enjoyed a forward rotation but looked most at home around the contest where he could use his best traits to advantage.

#28 Duke Marshall-Orr
Forward | 186cm | 03/04/2009

Stats: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals

An athletic and versatile prospect, Marshall-Orr played somewhat above his 186cm listing as a forward before getting a run on-ball. He was courageous when flying for overhead marks and leant on his power running ability to present up the ground. Closer to goal, Marshall-Orr hit the scoreboard with 2.4 and could well have finished with a bag. His best major came after a fend and spin which was finished with a terrific checkside shot from the boundary. In midfield, he fanned a couple of clean kicks wide out of the stoppages but looked most at home in attack.

#29 Monte Cairns
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 03/06/2009

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 5 clearances, 2 goals

Another robust ball winner in the Swans’ midfield, Cairns also impacted with two goals on his forward rotation. The left-footer slotted a pair of set shots in the final quarter to put the cherry on top a solid outing, where he showed nice composure and movement through traffic. Cairns’ clean hands and ability to step into space helped open the game up for Sydney moving forward.

#35 Coen Hardy
Ruck/Key Forward | 195cm | 12/02/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 20 hitouts

Sydney’s starting ruck, Hardy showed signs of raw mobility and potential. He flew for the aerial ball with vigour and while hit-and-miss in terms of end product (three behinds), he straightened up for some nice touches in open play. A prime example of that was when he sprayed a running shot out on the full, but took a pack mark and hit an inboard kick across forward 50 shortly after. A goal would have been reward for effort, but it wasn’t to be for Hardy on Saturday.

#38 Abe Race
Ruck/Key Forward | 195cm | 30/05/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 16 hitouts, 1 goal

Race was Sydney’s secondary ruck option and provided a strong contest both there and up forward. An over-ager in the Under 16 category, he covered the ground well for a player his size and showcased a decent leap to bring the Swans’ smalls into play. Race’s ruck craft was also handy with some well directed taps and he booted a goal in the third quarter to sustain his impact inside 50.