Manly’s reign at the top of the AFL Sydney Premier Division ladder is under threat with four sides now sitting one game behind.
This week they will rightfully start favourites against UTS at Weldon Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Wolves’ clash against Pennant Hills was said by many at the ground to be the match of the season to date with both sides producing a high standard of football in a see-sawing affair.
A goalless last quarter cruelled the Wolves’ chances after leading by a straight kick at three-quarter time. Tyrone Armitage had a successful return from injury, while big man James Graham has been a handy addition after some time out of the game. They will only improve when Connor Pettersson returns to the midfield in the next fortnight.
This pundit picked UTS to finish near the top of the ladder but they have hardly fired a shot this year apart from a win over higher-placed North Shore. They were competitive in patches but ultimately couldn’t string four quarters together against UNSW/ES in the local derby that doubled as the AFL Sydney Match of the Week.
Watching parts of the match, it became clear the Bats got badly hurt on turnovers and lacked outside run. Tom Steinfort and his defensive crew were helpless as the Bulldogs had a swathe of runners inside and outside in attack.
Campbelltown sprung the upset of the season last weekend against North Shore. The ninth-placed Blues boast the sixth best defensive record and were able to make it two in a row after promising plenty up to now. Matt Edwins and Paul Green are quality ball-users and were well supported by Alphonese Jambafuro who earned the Rising Star Award this round.
This weekend they will be favoured to defeat a plucky Sydney Hills outfit. The Eagles were ultimately unlucky not to defeat Balmain after kicking six goals in the final quarter. One goal either side of half-time ultimately killed their chances. There is plenty to work with in the talented youngsters like Yoshi Harris and Cameron Arndt.
St George have the second best streak in the competition and got the points last week in a clichéd eight-point game against Western Suburbs. They always held the wood over the resurgent Magpies with Ben Jones best for the Dragons. The addition of Dominic Killworth in the shadows of the transfer window is an astute one as he is the inside midfielder the Dragons’ need to complement the outside work of Ben Hodgson and Blake Guthrie.
Sydney University need to win this game against the Dragons at Olds Park as they look close a two game gap that St George (fifth) currently possess. They held up their end of the bargain with a near-century point win over Illawarra last weekend. Michael Higgins will be key to their chances in the midfield.
The final Saturday game sees Illawarra host Pennant Hills. The Lions will be hard pressed not to prevent a bloodbath as the Demons look set to feed on another carcass and their seventh successive win. The corresponding clash earlier this year saw a massive win to the Demons over an understrength Lions outfit.
The Demons look to have all the ingredients of a successful outfit. The loss of key defender, Seb Parker is a blow but Chris Yard will have his eyes on first place after they atoned for their defeat to Manly earlier in the year.
At Henson Park on Sunday there is a Grand Final replay between Balmain and UNSW/ES. UNSW/ES should win this easily despite Balmain being unlucky not to defeat them in their clash earlier in the year at Village Green.
UNSW/ES have improved and understandably, Balmain have fallen away given the chance of finals have well and truly slipped by for this year. Henry Mason could well have a day out but Rhys McAlister will be telling his troops to not bomb away to the forward-line as one of the form players of the comp in Selby Lee-Steere is likely to play behind the ball.
The final game is probably the most mouth-watering of any this weekend when Western Suburbs host North Shore. To say it has been a tough month for the Magpies is an understatement but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
They are in a similar predicament to Sydney University- they need to win to keep up with St George and co. They dropped the golden egg when they lost to the Dragons last week but can put in all their efforts into this match as they have the week off for the Wet Weather Round.
They face a wounded outfit in North Shore who like Manly have lost two games in a row. They have their vulnerabilities which Jon Hayres and his coaching staff will be keen to patch up.
This match could have big implications for the final ladder and is well worth a look at Picken Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Remember, you can follow the conversation at our AFL Sydney Facebook and Twitter pages.
Last Modified on 10/07/2013 11:36
