Western Suburbs Magpies
2014 finish: 5th (4th at end of regular season)
2015 Home (H) and Away (A) schedule: AHHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHA
Pencil It In: A highlight each year is the ANZAC Day fixture at Picken Oval. Again in 2015, they will host Pennant Hills with whom they shared an epic encounter in the corresponding clash last year. One not to miss for many reasons.
What We Say: An improved Western Suburbs will look to continue their climb up the ladder this season. They will open their campaign with a trip across the bridge to take on North Shore. They will have early litmus tests at home against premiership favourites, East Coast, as well as Pennant Hills in Rounds 2 and 3. From there, they will back themselves to win all four of their remaining matches before the break against only one finals side. That side is Sydney University who knocked them out in the Elimination Final last year. Maybe their toughest stretch is Rounds 8-10 where they face the top three sides of 2014- with only one of these matches at home. Saying this, it is a draw with no nasty surprises.
Sydney University
2014 finish: 4th (5th at end of regular season)
2015 Home (H) and Away (A) schedule: HAHAHAAHHAAAHAHAHH
Pencil It In: Sydney University will return to the scene of their departure from the 2014 finals series against the same opposition- St George at Henson Park in Round 9. The twilight fixture follows what promises to be an entertaining NEAFL encounter between the Students and NT Thunder.
What We Say: Sydney University in 2015 will split their home base between Henson Park and Sydney University No. 1 Oval. They have a relatively soft opening four matches, with only one opponent who featured in the finals last season in St George. Rounds 6 and 7 are tough with trips to Pennant Hills and Manly-Warringah. Their two matches after the two week hiatus could well be pivotal- both at Henson against East Coast and St George. Due to the unavailability of their home ground/s, they only have one “home” game from Round 10-14 at Blacktown No. 1. Things get better with three of their last four matches at Sydney University No. 1, with their last two games quite winnable against UNSW/ES and UTS.
St George Dragons
2014 finish: 3rd
2015 Home (H) and Away (A) schedule: AHAHAHAHAAHHAAHHAH
Pencil It In: St George lost all four Premier Division encounters against Pennant Hills- including two finals matches in 2014. They get a chance to exact some revenge when they host them across all three grades at Olds Park in Round 15.
What We Say: St George got a belated Christmas present with no consecutive weeks on the road in the first half of the season. They only play two finals sides in the first month (five matches), a stretch where they may go through unbeaten given Pennant Hills and Sydney University are likely to be weaker than last season. Their character test may be trips in successive weeks to UNSW/ES and Manly-Warringah in July. With this said, the Dragons were successful on trips to these venues last year, with the win against Manly-Warringah the GIANTS only loss in 2014. They arguably have the best draw of any side in Premier Division this season.
Pennant Hills Demons
2014 finish: Runners-Up
2015 Home (H) and Away (A) schedule: HAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAH
Pencil It In: Pennant Hills couldn’t crack Manly-Warringah last season, including twice in the finals series (one being the Grand Final). They will be aiming to get the points in their annual clash at the cauldron of Ern Holmes Oval in Round 12.
What We Say: We will get to see how the Demons are faring after the loss of Alex Goodall and Lloyd Shepherd in a tricky opening round night match against St George at Mike Kenny Oval. It doesn’t get any easier for the Demons with their next three weeks away to Manly-Warringah, Western Suburbs (both finalists in 2014) and then home to competition favourites, East Coast. They will aim for winning momentum with three winnable games in June. They should have a downhill ride to the finish line playing only one finals side from 2014 in the final four weeks.
Manly-Warringah GIANTS
2014 finish: Premiers
2015 Home (H) and Away (A) schedule: AHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAH
Pencil It In: Go no further than a Round 4 duel at Weldon Oval against cross-town rivals, North Shore. Thats obviously looking past their Grand Final rematch at Weldon where they unveil the 2014 flag in Round 2! A couple of mouth watering games in the first month!
What We Say: Aiming for a three-peat, the GIANTS will need to be at their best early against East Coast and Pennant Hills in the opening fortnight. They will also have to travel four times in the opening six weeks. Either side of the fortnight break, they have winnable home games albeit against 2014 finalists, Sydney University and Western Suburbs. Two of their final four matches are at home against bottom five sides. They may have the toughest draw but it has to be expected given their success in recent seasons and the fact they are again the side every team will want to knock off.
Last Modified on 04/02/2015 17:23
