THE SWANS Academy continued their unbeaten Talent League streak with a thumping 71-point win over Tasmania in Round 6. In what was the opening game of a double-header at Blacktown ISP, the Swans ran riot with over 30 scoring shots to salute 17.15 (117) to 6.10 (46). We took note of the top prospects and performers from either side.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#1 Isaac Luke
Small Forward | 173cm | 09/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 3 goals

Luke played an effective small forward’s game, providing pressure and a threat around goal. His ability to wrap up opponents forced stoppages in key areas, one of which saw him shark the ball and slot his opening major. Luke also snuck through a soccer goal and set shot later in the day for a haul of three. He got involved up the ground by being an option across half-forward, where he could use his creative foot skills to set up scores heading inside 50.

#9 Lachlan Price
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 11/08/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 9 marks, 8 inside 50s, 2 goals

It was another powerful performance from Price, who drove his legs and fended his way forward all day. The strongly-built midfielder not only stood up in tackles, but dragged opponents with him on the way out of congestion, before releasing to running teammates by hand. Price also spread forward well and made Tasmania pay for affording him time and space, lowering his eyes with several pinpoint forward 50 entries. While not overly quick, the top-ager burst away from a deep stoppage to boot his second goal of the day in term four, capping off an impactful outing.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Reprising his playmaking role off half-back, Jenkin was often in the thick of Sydney’s transitional play. He mopped up across the back half before flicking the switch into attack mode, forging plenty of combination play heading forward. Jenkin’s timing was sound when looking to overlap and he worked hard to be involved multiple times in single passages, tracking all the way up to forward 50.

#15 Sebastian Mok
Wing | 180cm | 02/06/2009

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 behinds

Mok engaged in an enthralling battle with Geappen on the wing, providing plenty of outside run and drive. The bottom-ager was there to support his teammates on turnover and mopped up the spills before connecting the lines with carries and kicks. Mok showed good tenacity with his tackling and was able to bring the ball into space, but perhaps lacked a touch of consistency with his kicking on the run. With a little more composure and polish, he could have also hit the scoreboard.

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

Stats: 28 disposals, 6 marks, 8 clearances, 1 goal

Meaney continues to impress as a rising midfielder out of the Swans’ cohort. He racked up a game-high tally of 28 disposals, balancing his composed work on the inside with solid outside running. The top-ager was typically clean and evasive at stoppage, shifting his hips to step around opponents before dishing the ball off. He was just about untouched throughout the day, showing some tricks to spin and wheel out of danger. Meaney has made a habit of hitting the scoreboard and did so after earning a high free kick in term two, but also put others into scoring positions.

#22 Jake Medved
Defender | 191cm | 02/06/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

His numbers may not jump off the page, but Medved’s raw pace certainly caught the eye on Saturday. The athletic defender was deadly when given space to run into, taking quick metres with searing speed and confidence. He indulged in running bounces along the way and broke the lines in several end-to-end passages, posing questions of Tasmania’s defence. Medved got on the scoreboard after a free kick on the end of one such passage and produced a ridiculous checkside pass on the fly for Luke to have a ping. He’s one with plenty of potential.

#23 Guy Jenkin
Forward/Midfielder | 177cm | 25/11/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s

Jenkin once again started up forward and earned a run through midfield. He didn’t necessarily have a major influence at the centre bounces but showed an ability to swoop on ground balls effectively. Jenkin looked most dangerous as a connection piece across half-forward, delivering the ball inside 50 with terrific skills on both feet. Much like twin brother Will, his link-up play in running waves stood out as Sydney ventured into attack. He would often apply the finishing touch.

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 14 hitouts, 8 clearances

Faced with a towering opposition ruckman, Clifton soared high at the centre bounces and remained impactful with his follow-up work. The over-ager thrived in the moments following the initial ruck contest, landing on his feet and extracting the ball cleanly to feed his midfielders. Clifton otherwise tended to hack the ball forward by foot, but nonetheless won a game-high eight clearances. He also impacted around the ground and was brave when dropping back to complete intercept marks.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#5 Jake Beams
Defender/Midfielder | 181cm | 22/12/2009

Stats: 26 disposals, 7 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Beams was once again Tasmania’s chief distributor from defence, but battled to deal his usual damage by foot. The bottom-ager mopped up plenty of loose balls across defensive 50 and often utilised his foot skills in the short-range. He accumulated possessions with ease, also taking the bulk of kick-ins, and provided some forward momentum off the last line. Beams also got a run through the middle having been swung forward last week.

#12 Hugh McCallum
Midfielder/Defender | 181cm | 10/08/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 12 marks, 5 inside 50s

McCallum continues to stand out among Tasmania’s top-age crop and was arguably his side’s best in a heavy loss. He showcased terrific running power to drop back and support the defence, before surging ahead of the ball to pop up again in the same passage. McCallum’s coverage of the ground made him a reliable outlet in each phase of play. His overhead marking was another key feature, with the 181cm prospect rising high to take the ball cleanly. He switched with Beams in the second half to provide a cool head in defence, using his distributive skills to advantage.

#17 Benjamin Russell
Defender/Midfielder | 176cm | 19/03/2009

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Another of Tasmania’s promising bottom-agers, Russell gave it everything on Saturday. He attacked the ball with vigour down back, hitting the contest at speed and relying on his clean handling to scoop up the loose ball. Russell made early reads and used his athleticism to act on them, intercepting shrewdly and carrying his momentum on the way forward. Like Beams, he earned a run on-ball and brought the same surge style, despite not always being able to break free of congestion.

#21 Tom Geappen
Wing | 182cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 10 marks, 1 goal

Geappen is quietly putting together a strong campaign and was a crucial connection piece out on the wing. He ran clever patterns to reliably provide an outlet down the line, particularly as Tasmania moved out of defensive 50. The top-ager hardly fumbled and showed nice lateral movement to change angles before looking to drive forward. Having tracked well up and back, he got reward for his efforts with a volley goal in the open square during term four. All of his 16 disposals were kicks.

#29 Lucas Wootton
Midfielder | 180cm | 11/05/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 tackles, 4 clearances

You know what you’re going to get from Wootton most weeks, and Saturday was no different from the over-ager. He showed great tenacity to bury opponents in the tackle and competed hard when arriving second to the footy. With ball in hand, Wootton broke to the outside with sharp steps and often looked deliver punchy kicks into the corridor. His core strength helped him withstand pressure and continue to be effective, handling the ball cleanly at the coalface.

SWANS ACADEMY 4.4 | 8.8 | 11.12 | 17.15 (117)
TASMANIA DEVILS 2.5 | 2.9 | 4.10 | 6.10 (46)

GOALS:
Swans Academy: I. Luke 3, B. Pignatelli 3, D. Delaney-Fielding 2, R. Meyrick 2, L. Price 2, L. Chambers, O. Griffiths, C. Hardy, H. Meaney, P. Smith
Tasmania Devils: T. Bearman 2, T. Geappen, L. Heazlewood, S. Husband, R. Schoenmaker

BEST:
Swans Academy: H. Meaney, I. Luke, L. Price, J. Medved, S. Mok, O. Clifton
Tasmania Devils: B. Russell, H. McCallum, M. Dawkins, T. Bearman, A. Devine, H. Millwood

AROUND THE GROUNDS

THE GIANTS Academy played spoiler in the Bachar Houli Academy’s maiden Talent League outing, saluting to the tune of 84 points in Blacktown. The orange team burst out of the blocks with eight unanswered goals in term one, setting the platform for a comfortable win on home turf.

Giants bottom-ager Cooper French put on a clinic, amassing 43 disposals, 10 marks, 10 clearances and three goals to take out Player of the Week honours. Fellow bottom-ager Brynley Ryan also cashed in with three goals from 28 touches, while Archibald Blacker took 12 marks en route to a haul of 5.3.

Western Bulldogs Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Khaled El Souki led the travelling Houli Academy valiantly, picking up 28 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances, and eight inside 50s. He was the standout, while Wasim Kadour bagged half of his side’s eight goals in the defeat.

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GWS GIANTS ACADEMY 8.3 | 9.9 | 14.11 | 21.14 (140)
BACHAR HOULI ACADEMY 0.1 | 3.3 | 5.7 | 8.8 (56)

GOALS:
Giants Academy: A. Blacker 5, C. French 3, A. Houston 3, B. Ryan 3, A. Maher 2, H. Donohue, R. Masters, J. Rice, L. Roberts, B. Smith
Houli Academy: W. Kadour 4, A. Merhi 2, J. Hasna, A. Kandil

BEST:
Giants Academy: C. French, B. Ryan, A. Blacker, A. Henderson, L. Roberts
Houli Academy: K. El Souki, W. Kadour, J. Hasna, A. Kassab, A. Merhi