NSW/ACT Notebook: Finals Week 2 Review

NEAFL Grand Final:
Aspley 15.12 (102) def. Sydney Swans 15.10 (100)
 
An after-the-siren goal denied the Swans Reserves the NEAFL premiership over the weekend.
 
After the Swans kicked seven unanswered goals in the third term, they were in the box seat for the flag. However, Aspley rallied in the fourth quarter.
 
Aspley’s Daniel Smith then stood up to convert a four-point deficit into a two-point win once the siren had sounded.
 
Swan Tom Mitchell won the Andrew Ireland Medal for best afield, finishing with 30 disposals, 11 clearances, 10 tackles and a goal.
 
Tim Membrey kicked five goals, while Xavier Richards successfully restricted Aspley’s Eddie Sansbury.
 
Ryan O’Keefe (29 disposals and a goal) and Shane Biggs (26 disposals) were also prominent.
 
AFL Semi Final:
Geelong 13.14 (92) def. by North Melbourne 14.14 (98)
 
North Melbourne survived a late Geelong charge to advance to their first preliminary final since 2007.
 
The Roos were the more composed side of the first three quarters, heading into the final break four goals up.
 
But NSW product Tom Hawkins produced a monster final quarter for the Cats – kicking 3.1 and bringing his goal tally for the night to five – to bring his side within a kick.
 
The Roos held on, though, with Nick Dal Santo (35 disposals), Sam Gibson (35 disposals) and Todd Goldstein (54 hitouts) among the standouts.
 
AFL Semi Final:
Fremantle 11.17 (83) def. by Port Adelaide 15.15 (105)
 
Port Adelaide upset Fremantle in Perth, winning by 22 points and also advancing to their first prelim since 2007.
 
Late in the second term, the Dockers were up by 31 and appearing in control despite some inaccuracy in front of goal.
 
However, the tide turned for Port in the third term with Robbie Gray stepping up with some important goals.
 
They run out the match, with Gray and Chad Wingard (four goals each) plus Hamish Hartlett (33 disposals) the key contributors.
 
NSW/ACT Notes
 
Tom Hawkins (Finley) was the only NSW/ACT player in action over the weekend, and he impressed with 5.3 on the scoreboard, 13 marks, eight marks inside 50 and 18 disposals.