There is space being created at the top of the AFL Sydney ladder with the two Grand Finalists from last season again sitting atop the Premier Division standings.
Sitting half a game behind Pennant Hills (second with Manly atop) is Western Suburbs.
They host a Super Saturday at Henson Park with a smorgasbord of junior and senior football to be played. As such the senior start time of 7pm will more than likely take time for both sides to adjust to.
Western Suburbs after letting go a match winning lead to draw with St George have won three on the trot including their last two by less than eight points.
Last weekend they came from behind in the final quarter to beat Sydney University by a solitary point. Matthew Lemme was a rock down back, with the under-rated Andy Eurell also prominent.
Their midfield division of Leigh Conway, hard-nut Lindsay Scown and Matthew Round is behind their recent good form.
They take on UNSW/ES who have lost four on the trot. With this said, their biggest loss over the last month is 31 points to defending premiers, Manly-Warringah.
The Bulldogs sit six competition points outside the top five, with last week’s four point loss against North Shore doing them no favours in this regard.
What didn’t help their cause was the loss of seven players for last week’s clash. Add this to the absence of key duo Max Collett and Peter Kefalas and it is easy to see why they are struggling to kick goals at the moment.
Regaining these players will well and truly see them challenge for a top five spot but they are struggling to put scoreboard pressure on the better teams at the moment.
Danny’s Prediction: Western Suburbs by 22 points
Sydney Hills Eagles v Pennant Hills Demons
Both sides will need to set their alarm clocks with the Back to Baulko clash at Bruce Purser Reserve commencing at 11am.
Pennant Hills didn’t need any reminder where the goals were last weekend as they recorded 35 scoring shots in an 80 point victory over a struggling UTS Bats.
After a dour affair the week before, the Demons had the majority of play inside their forward 50 with Sam Zikman (four goals) and Ranga Ediriwickrama wreaking havoc.
Alex Goodall and Damian Dell’Aquila are the heartbeat of their midfield and are a scary proposition for the Eagles who only have one win to their name in 2014.
The Eagles were handed their biggest loss of the year; a 136-point lesson from the ladder-leading GIANTS away from home.
They will be better this week but will again be heavily reliant on Dean Costello.
Danny’s Prediction: Pennant Hills by 49 points
UTS Bats v North Shore Bombers
There is an interesting sub-plot to the AFL Sydney Match of the Day at Waverley Oval this weekend.
If ever there was a bogey team for the Bombers based on the weight of results, it would be the UTS Bats. The Bombers have always had superiority on the ladder since the Bats’ inception into Premier Division but often their matches have been closely fought with less than a kick deciding the last few encounters.
The Bombers should be buoyed by the inclusion of a number of talented under-age players who have the week off TAC Cup commitments with the NSW/ACT Rams.
They will definitely be required after they struggled to shake off the Bulldogs on Ladies Day at Gore Hill.
Sam Carruthers and Nick Foster in the middle helped them over the line, while Ted Strudwick played his best game of the year across half-back.
UTS after drawing with Sydney University were poor in the second half against Pennant Hills.
With several personnel changes on a weekly basis, it is hard to see them getting any continuity in their performance across four quarters.
Tom Zilm continued his consistent year for the Bats and would be high up in Club Best and Fairest calculations alongside Justin Kenna.
Danny’s Prediction: North Shore by 22 points
Campbelltown Blues v Manly-Warringah GIANTS
Campbelltown’s blues continued with an 11-point defeat at the hands of St George at Olds Park last weekend. It was an improved showing but something they will need to significantly improve on against their unbeaten opponents.
Manly-Warringah were ruthless in disposing of the Eagles on their home turf. Young ruckman Daniel Dickerson made a late Representative claim with a best-on-ground display in the ruck. He gave strong service to Levi and James Brain, with Brayden Fowler benefiting at full-forward with seven majors.
It will be a tighter affair on the expansive Monarch Oval where matches are often battled out between the arcs.
Campbelltown will look to run and carry through the likes of Theo Gavuri and Taran Etto. They are definitely missing the rebound of Amua Parika from defensive 50.
If they can stop Manly getting free on the outside much like what UNSW/ES did a fortnight ago, it will be a closer match than many will have tipped.
Whether they can is another question.
Danny’s Prediction: Manly-Warringah by 38 points
St George Dragons v Sydney University
The final match of the weekend sees two sides equal on points and in the top five look to gain a break on the other at Olds Park.
Last weekend saw differing fortunes for the two combatants as the Dragons claimed a narrow 11 point win over Campbelltown and the Students go down by the narrowest of margins to the Magpies.
The Dragons were boosted by the efforts of small forward, Daniel Napper (seven goals) and return of Declan Donohue who proved a reliable foil.
The duo can allow Nick Ryan to play more of a preferred high half-forward role, and take attention off young gun Alex Wynn.
Tom and Harrison Green have also impressed since their move from Illawarra over the off-season.
The Students last two results have been a draw and the one-point loss mentioned above.
Poor coach Anton Turco must be having kittens and be looking for his charges to start well against one of the premiership fancies.
Peter Hughes was best for the Students last weekend, with James Howard hitting some form with a five goal haul. He has plenty of potential and will be a focus of Terry Mudge during the week.
This game could be telling in the final places so expect a willing and passionate affair down at Olds on Saturday afternoon.
Danny’s Prediction: St George by 14 points
Last Modified on 16/05/2014 09:22
