With UNSW/ES enjoying the weekend off, all eyes will be on the two Premier Division finals which coincidentally will be rematches from the final round.
Premier Division Qualifying Final- North Shore vs Pennant Hills
Saturday 1 September @ Henson Park- 3.15pm
Only nineteen percentage points separated these sides after the twenty-week regular season but Pennant Hills will hold the psychological edge heading into week one of the finals, having won both previous encounters between the two sides this season.
The last came last round when Pennant Hills out-played the previously top-placed side to the tune of eight goals. Young stars, Stephen Wray and Brandon Jack shone under pressure with four goals each. Big men Ted Widmer and Luke Bilbe also stood up and look set for strong finals campaigns. Matthew Carey is another who has building form and his class could well come to the fore.
Coach, Jon Hayres will no doubt be moving the chess pieces but not reinventing the wheel in what has been an impressive season despite hiccups against Pennant Hills and a one-point loss to sixth-placed UTS. They have a better attacking record than the Demons, with both defences cancelling one another out.
Ron Wason and Chris Murphy provide a lot of drive from the back half. Dale Fitzgerald and Lachlan Pryor have both been impressive this season as inside midfielders. They have also added polish with the addition of Tim Schmidt and Jack Davis to their playing ranks. Pat Brackin has a heap of potential as a centre half-forward cum relieving ruckman. The ability is there to compete with and win against the top sides.
Both sides will have players under question marks with Sam Naismith and Lachlan Pryor (North Shore) and Alastair Richardson and Aaron Crisfield (Pennant Hills) all sustaining injuries out of last week’s game. Naismith and Crisfield are both pivotal players for the two sides given the time they spend in the midfield.
It was North Shore who knocked Pennant Hills out of the finals race last year with a 56-point victory. Neither side will be eliminated this weekend given this is a Qualifying Final but the motivation is there to book a Grand Final qualifier against UNSW/ES next week.
Previous Encounters:
Round 1- Pennant Hills 12.16.88 def. North Shore 10.7.67
Round 20- Pennant Hills 19.9.123 def. North Shore 11.9.75
Premier Division Elimination Final- Balmain vs St George
Sunday 2 September @ Blacktown International Sports Park- 3.15pm
Can St George make it six straight wins when they play the Dockers at Blacktown in a do-or-die Elimination Final?
Despite scraping in after defeating UTS in a pivotal clash last month, the Dragons loom as the dark horse given their recent form.
They made it five straight wins with a resounding 40-point win over Balmain last weekend. Balmain were gunning for a double chance but the wind was taken out of their sails when news seeped through of Pennant Hills claiming the remaining spot in the top-three.
Alex Wynn and Nick Ryan (seven goals) were again impressive for the Dragons, and compliment what is a very potent forward line led by former Sydney and Carlton AFL star, Jason Saddington. They have been well coached by Terry Mudge and boast a cavalry of young up-and-coming stars. If they keep these players together, St George should be a powerhouse in the coming years.
Jordan West has developed as a ruckman and went forward to kick two goals last week. This will be a handy string to the Dragons’ bow. Lachlan Perris and Declan Donohue are players of note in the midfield. Donohue, in particular, will be vital against a star-studded Balmain midfield division.
Their defence contains no superstars but they have done their job well this year.
Balmain have been up, down and all around this year with their form. Their best is very good- they defeated UNSW/ES, Pennant Hills and got within a point of North Shore this season, but struggled to defeat wooden spooners, Sydney University this year.
There is enough there to indicate they are a class outfit. Ben Taggart missed last weekend with injury and will have to be risked this weekend given his importance as a key forward target. Dependant on the severity of his leg injury, he could play deep up forward.
Craig White is a name bandied about when talking about the best players in the competition. Matthew Round, Leigh Conway and Gerard Wilkie are class additions this year. Selby Lee-Steere looms as potentially the most important player in the Dockers setup. Normally the number one ruckman, he stood toe-to-toe with Saddington at half-back last week. Co-coaches, Garry Bull and White will be contemplating where to best use him in a match where Balmain need to attack.
Given these names, they have struggled at stages due to their perceived lack of depth. If you can take Taggart out of the picture, Balmain’s main target becomes Aaron Cottrell who admittedly has performed well as a medium-sized forward in the last month. This will also be a big match for young up-and-comers, Jackson Monk and Josh Cass (if he plays this week).
The ledger stands at one-each this season in what promises to be an entertaining affair.
Previous Encounters:
Round 12- Balmain 15.12.102 def. St George 12.15.87
Round 20- St George 17.12.114 def. Balmain 11.8.74
Last Modified on 31/08/2012 10:11
