The remaining Grand Final places will be decided this Sunday with Preliminary Finals to be played at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Division One
Southern Power vs UTS Bats- 1.00pm
Round 18 will be on the Bats’ mind when they take on Southern Power for the right to play Manly-Warringah in the Grand Final.
That day at Gwawley Oval, it was the Bats who condemned the Power to one of only three losses during the regular season with a 14-point win in a low-scoring encounter.
Their form has run into the finals series in a grade where they are perennial achievers. They have come through two elimination finals with wins in tight duels. Against Penrith, they controlled the contest other than the second quarter where they let Penrith back in by conceding five goals.
The roles were reversed last weekend when the Bats turned it on in the second quarter after trailing by three goals at quarter-time against Holroyd-Parramatta Goannas. They took the baton and ran with it with a five-goal third quarter going a long way to sealing an upset win, with the final margin being 14 points.
They have shared the load well this finals with Barry Holland and Fredrick Deegan among their consistent performers. Michael King and Jonathon Spragg are two players with Premier Division experience who will be important if they are to continue their run of upsets.
The ask will be tougher this time around against the Power. Missing four of their top line players, the Power challenged Manly-Warringah for the majority of the contest. They only trailed by two or three goals at every change before they ran out of legs and were held scoreless in the last quarter.
Snow Medalist as Division One Best & Fairest, Andrew Craig returns from suspension and will be a key figure in the ruck. His inclusion should free up Graham Enright who endured a nervous couple of days to await his reprimand verdict after being reported on the weekend.
Liam Davis and Phil Hamer will be crucial in the middle with the midfield duo enjoying strong finals series.
Under 18 Division One
Illawarra Lions vs Sydney University- 11.00am
It will take a drastic change of fortune if Sydney University are to down Illawarra in the Preliminary Final this weekend. Then again, finals can do strange things to some teams.
Turn back a fortnight to the Qualifying Final and it was the Lions who prevailed by 54 points after extending their lead at each change.
They missed out on the weekend off against the unbeaten Sydney Hills Eagles in last week’s second semi final. The Lions had the Eagles where they wanted them at three-quarter time with only a two point margin separating the sides.
A five-goal to none final quarter dashed any hopes of an upset for the Lions but they will take some valuable lessons into this match. While not having any player in the top ten of the Kealy Medal count on Monday Night as League Best & Fairest, the Lions have an even contribution across the board.
Harry Dobson is a player with silky skills and the same can be said about the electric Kuiam Anu.
Sydney University bounced back with an important win in the first semi-final against a good opponent in St George. After a tense first-half, the Students got on top after half-time, finishing the match 27 points in front.
Yarran Jaffer kicked four goals in a best on ground performance. He has been the Students’ best player this season, something that was vindicated with his fifth place finish on Monday night. Alex O’Dea and Jethro Braico are both exciting players who will taste more senior action in the coming years.
Under 18 Division Two
Southern Power vs Balmain Dockers- 9.00am
The upset of the season occurred last weekend where Southern Power, who had lost one game all season, fell to Manly-Warringah who finished third after the regular season by 16 points.
Only playing once in the last month due to a bye, forfeit and the weekend off after finishing first obviously had a negative effect on the Power who struggled to get out of second gear against the fired up Wolves.
Their best player in Reagan Sharpe, as well as Liam Hamling will be key figures in securing a re-match with the Wolves next weekend.
Balmain have had the strangest journey to the Preliminary Final. In the Qualifying Final, they fell to the Wolves by 47 points before they were given a saloon passage to this match after it was found Macquarie University were fielding an ineligible player during their first semi-final encounter.
They were dreadfully inaccurate against Macquarie University, only managing two goals from fifteen scoring shots- something they will need to remedy if they are to make the most of potentially limited opportunities against the Power.
Alastaire Duell-Ferguson has been the Dockers’ best player this finals series and with Harry Jenkins will need to lead from the front if they are to continue their run to the Grand Final.
Last Modified on 12/09/2012 15:22
