Territory Thunder push the Sydney Swans but just fall short in a performance full of courage

SYDNEY emerged with the four points but Thunder got a guernsey full of heart after pushing the AFL reserves side to a 19-point loss at TIO Stadium

Daniel Weetra at Thunder training. He was superb against the Sydney Swans last night.

SYDNEY emerged with the four points but Thunder got a guernsey full of heart after pushing the AFL reserves side to a 19-point loss at Marrara last night.

The Swans’ bigger bodies and hardness at the contests proved the difference despite Thunder closing to within two points in the last quarter.

The class of the Swans was evident from the first bounce with their hard running, precise use of the football and powerful marking.

Big names Kieren Jack and Daniel Menzel were on show and they did not waste any time putting their footprint on the game.

Jack picked up possessions at will, most of them clearances from contested situations or running into space as the Swans booted four of the first five goals.

But the Thunder players were far from overawed, Josiah Farrer’s left-foot snap from 40 metres to bring up their first goal was from the top shelf.

Daniel Weetra played the game of his life. The Wanderers defender finishing with 26 touches and eight marks, despite ending up in the arms of the trainers in the first quarter when he fell heavily after a late tackle.

And joint skipper Abe Ankers continued his impressive 2019 campaign by booting two opportunist goals.

His first came from a clever Damian Williams that allowed Ankers to stroll into an open goal, leaving the Swans defenders looking at each other.

The No.24 jumper was prominent again six minutes later when Ankers snapped his second goal from the middle of an angry pack.

An Adam Tipungwuti special when he spun out of a pack and snapped truly got Thunder back to within 16 points at the main break.

Daniel Menzel’s “banana’’ goal when jammed up against the point post, a well planned grubber goal by the courageous Nathaniel Paredes and Brandon Rusca’s 50 metre bomb for a last quarter goal Thunder were other highlights.

SYDNEY 4.3 6.7 8.11 12.13 (85)

THUNDER 1.2 4.3 6.4 10.6 (66)

BEST — Sydney: R Clarke, K Jack, J McInerny, R Stoddart, J Amartey. Thunder: D Weetra, A Ankers, N Paredes, K Parnell, K Delahunty.

GOALS — Sydney: J Barling 3 J Pawle 3 D Menzel 2 Z Foot K Martin S Wicks J Amartey. Thunder: N Lockyer Jr 2 D Barry 2 A Ankers 2 J Farrer N Paredes B Rusca A Tipungwuti