THE SWANS Academy was victorious in its opening Summer Series clash on Saturday, defeating the AFL Canberra Under 22 outfit by 31 points at Henson Park. Three unanswered first quarter goals set the platform for the more junior side, as they withstood each challenge to salute 8.11 (59) to 4.4 (28).

It only took the Swans 10 minutes to skip three goals adrift, while AFL Canberra got on the board via a 50m penalty in the second stanza. The Under 22 team kicked the opening goal of terms two, three, and four, but were ultimately outdone by a more slick side which blew out the preseason cobwebs quicker.

A couple of injuries may hamper the Swans going forward. Ethan Kingsley (son of Adam) limped off the field in term two, while running defender Patrick Smith sported strapping on his right leg before taking no part in the second half. The Swans will next face AFL Sydney Under 22 at Henson Park on Saturday.

We took note of six of the Swans’ best prospects and performers on the day.

SWANS ACADEMY 3.4 | 4.7 | 7.9 | 8.11 (59)
AFL CANBERRA U22 0.0 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:
Swans Academy: O. Griffiths 2, B. Pignatelli 2, T. Epis, L. Chambers, H. Meaney, T. Couglin
AFL Canberra U22: M. Armstrong, O. Cannon, L. Harrison, C. Terry

>> Scouting Notes: Giants Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22

SCOUTING NOTES

SWANS ACADEMY:

#11 Will Jenkin
Defender | 179cm | 25/11/2008

With twin brother Guy not in the side to share a wing rotation, Jenkin operated across half-back. He blew out a few cobwebs when it came to his usually sharp handling, but was up to speed upon distributing the ball by hand and foot. Jenkin was his slick self, showcasing great awareness to evade tackles before identifying and hitting targets. He made good reads to pounce on turnovers and was tough over the ball, while contributing to dangerous waves of possession through the corridor.

#16 Lincoln Chambers
Forward/Wing | 179cm | 14/01/2008

Chambers made a busy start and continued along the same lines as one of the Swans’ most productive forwards. He was a reliable avenue inside 50 and helped create scores from the get-go, including one of his own from a set shot in term one. Chambers’ quick feet and creativity also saw him set up others, while he continued to get into good attacking positions upon a second half move up to the wing.

#18 Henry Meaney
Midfielder/Forward | 184cm | 23/08/2008

Somewhat of a surprise packet as arguably the Swans’ standout midfielder, Meaney was dangerous on the attack. He started out with a strong lock-up tackle at the opening centre bounce and didn’t shy away from contact. The top-ager was clean off the deck and agile with ball in hand, often shifting his hips to skip around opponents and into space. Meaney spent more time up forward after half time where he was found uncontested for two set shot opportunities in term three, converting one of them.

#31 Mason McGroder
Key Defender | 195cm | 18/09/2008

There is no denying the upside in McGroder, even based on his athleticism alone. The 195cm prospect was utilised at centre half-back, taking up aggressive positions to intercept up the ground and flying confidently at the ball. He also competed hard at ground level and while there are elements of rawness in his decision making and skill execution, his movement is terrific going both ways. McGroder’s chase-down effort to pressure an AFL Canberra shot in term two was outstanding, while his route one foray up the corridor in term three was another showcase of raw pace. One to watch.

#33 Benjamin Pignatelli
Tall Forward | 188cm | 14/03/2008

Finishing with two goals, Pignatelli could well have had a haul of four or five on another day. He had a hand in the first two majors, getting involved in goalmouth scrambles and snapping home his first with class. The top-ager went on to miss a pair of set shots from opposite sides of the 50m arc in term one, and couldn’t quite convert a couple more snaps in term two. Still, he came to life with a crisp checkside finish after half time and was a dangerous avenue close to goal who owned his space.

#34 Oscar Clifton
Ruck/Key Forward | 198cm | 28/10/2007

Clifton was a force for the Swans, imposing himself as an over-age tall. He took on the primary ruck duties and impacted the airways with strong marking around the ground – even dropping back inside defensive 50. Clifton’s follow-up work was just as pleasing, staying in the hunt at ground level and looking relatively comfortable with ball in hand. His desperation, repeat efforts, and ability to stand tall in packs were all promising against slightly more senior opposition.