Last weekend continued the surprises in the AFL Sydney Premier Division competition with Pennant Hills overcoming recent history to down Manly-Warringah and UNSW/ES smashing North Shore after a big Round 1 loss. Is anyone confident enough to do Danny’s tips for him this week?
Round 3 sees only two undefeated teams, Pennant Hills and UTS (who had the bye last week), but that could well change with both sides set to face worthy opponents.
Throw in that extra element of the Sydney’s big wet this week and a number of games are set to be closely contested in the trenches. Symbolic really, given it is ANZAC Day on Saturday.
Western Suburbs v Pennant Hills @ Picken Oval- ANZAC Day @ 1.10pm
It is an annual fixture on the AFL Sydney calendar to see Western Suburbs host ANZAC Day at Picken Oval. This year they have their backs to the wall, winless in 2015 and against the current ladder-leaders.
The Magpies were mightily disappointing last week, failing to fire a shot at home against East Coast to go down by 88 points. It shows they have a way to go to match it with the premiership contenders but they have a developing side with a large contingent of incoming players including a few recent additions from Campbelltown. They will inevitably take time to gel.
Best for the Magpies last week were Ovens and Murray transfers, Josh Robinson and Ryan Speed. Robinson worked closely with Taran Etto in the middle of the field but ultimately there weren’t enough contributors around the ground.
Pennant Hills continue to amaze with their consistency. They overcame the pain of last year’s Grand Final loss and a big defeat in the corresponding fixture last year to reign on Manly-Warringah’s parade to win by seven points.
They were particularly strong in the second half and in watching the game, I was suitably impressed with their pressure and closing speed in defence. They have played five debutants and featured many new other faces which seems to have revitalised the side.
A potential Achilles heel, their attack was solid under pressure and Theo Moraitis showed he is a player for the future with four goals. He, along with fellow young forward, Daniel Preen is a great size and was well supported by their half-forward line. They managed to win without Steve Wray hitting the scorecard.
Keiran Wright turned back the clock with the past Phelan Medalist arguably best on ground across half-back. He chopped beautifully in front of Brayden Fowler and his ball use was superb. The team defence in the back-half in general was a feature.
Michael Talbot has had a great start to the season on a wing.
All players tend to grow a leg in this special fixture. Last year was a high-quality encounter where Pennant Hills prevailed by 29 points.
Western Suburbs will be fired up but quality and depth shall prevail at the end of the day.
Danny’s Prediction: Pennant Hills by 19 points
UNSW/ES v Manly Warringah @ Village Green- ANZAC Day @ 1.00pm
Not many would have expected us to say UNSW/ES would be coming off a win and Manly-Warringah smarting after a loss heading into this match.
Saturday signals the Bulldogs first match on Village Green this year and they will be facing a GIANTS outfit keen to make amends.
The Eastern Suburbs outfit had the best possible comeback for a 68 point loss, that being a 67 point win over North Shore.
The shining light was the performance of young forward, Jordan Lampi and many at the club were glowing of his five-goal cameo. After playing the first round in Division One, it is fair to say the ex-pat Victorian won’t be playing with them much again this season.
Across the board, they had spark, generating 35 scoring shots and outside of the final quarter, they completely dominated the Bombers on their home turf.
It is a sign of the future perhaps for the Bulldogs, who also had Kirk Lower and Kane Latham among their best. One to keep an eye on also is 29 year old forward, Adam McIntyre, who comes to the club after a dominant season with St Pauls in the Southern Football Netball League that saw him also represent the league in the Vic Metro Championships.
It will be an interesting battle in the ruck with Ted Widmer and Wils Brassil both best for their respective sides last week.
In short, Manly-Warringah would not have met their high standards last week. Their ball movement was slowed by the opposition and it will again be a focus of Bulldogs playing coach, Josh Parmenter given their focus on run and spread. It was a recipe that eventually wore down the Bulldogs in the corresponding fixture last year.
Connor Pettersson was again strong for the GIANTS but the skipper needs more help in the middle of the ground.
Danny’s Prediction: Manly-Warringah by 22 points
Sydney Uni v North Shore @ Uni No.1 Oval- ANZAC Day @ 2.00pm
A twilight ANZAC Day fixture awaits two sides unable to register a win last weekend.
The Students in their first hit-out of the season after a Round 1 bye would be ruing their final quarter against St George last weekend. At Olds Park, they were one point ahead at three-quarter time before conceding five goals to go down by 16 points.
Strong for the Students was Matt Powys who kicked five goals, which has earned him a NEAFL promotion this weekend. Daniel Frawley who came from the Riverina League this season was best for Sydney University with two goals and a strong performance around the ground.
They have some talent in the side with Nick Winmar and James Lewington among those named last week with NEAFL experience. Sam Sleigh also had a great season last year finding plenty of the ball.
North Shore would challenge Western Suburbs for the most disappointing performance last weekend.
Few would have anticipated a loss, let alone one that big. In some ray of sunshine, they had nine individual goal kickers that kicked the nine goals they managed in total.
The senior leaders need to bounce back. It is an indictment if three of the best four players are all under 20 and have only a handful of Premier Division games between them.
Nathan Lomas will be a player for them in the back half, strengthening their spine.
In general, there is enough talent for the Bombers to bounce back, but it takes more than that to be a finals contender.
Danny’s Prediction: Sydney University by 31 points
East Coast v UTS @ Kanebridge Oval- Sunday @ 2.30pm
The biggest question mark of the competition lies over the UTS Bats heading into the televised AFL Sydney Match of the Week, courtesy of Digital Sports.
No doubt they are better than last season, but if they defeated UNSW/ES by as much as they did and the Bulldogs flogged North Shore, where does that leave Nic Fosdike’s side as they head into their second game of the season?
We should be much the wiser after this Sunday against East Coast who flexed their muscle in a big way after a game they should have iced against Manly-Warringah.
They looked more balanced with Ben Moyle leading the way on-ball against UNSW/ES to battle for best-on-ground honours with Scott Tregoning. Tregoning seemed to relish a new role predominantly across half-forward with three goals in the Friday night fixture- he is an unassuming yet effective footballer.
Tom Larby was a beacon at centre-half forward. He comes with good credentials from Tasmania and averaged 1.5 goals a game last year- not bad for a centre half-forward in a good competition.
Jordan Law will vie for representative honours this year in the highly competitive centre position. The Claremont recruit will be key to the Bats as they seek their first Premier Division finals outing.
East Coast are an imposing force and look set to the best attacking unit this year.
Andrew McConnell is a jet and was best afield with four goals as an on-baller against Western Suburbs. He couldn’t pip Scott Pierce who was originally named as an emergency but would be stiff not to make the final 22 on Sunday after a seven goal effort.
Andrew Browning won the ruck duel and Trent Stubbs was again prominent.
There is a lot of arsenal there for the Bats to quell but I think they will keep their opponents honest.
Danny’s Prediction: East Coast by 13 points
Last Modified on 24/04/2015 09:39
