The top five positions on the AFL Sydney Premier Division ladder are all but set with four rounds to go.
It will be interesting to see how the finals bound sides manage their roster. No doubt there are still a few players to qualify and how do you balance resting players with ensuring there is enough consistency and adherence to the game plan from the top 22?
St George Dragons vs Pennant Hills Demons- Olds Park- Saturday 2.10pm
You always want to win at home and St George has extra motivation this week against Pennant Hills.
They have lost the last two Preliminary Finals to the same opposition and lost their Round 1 encounter this year by 29 points.
The week off last week would have given them an opportunity to lick their wounds after a poor showing against Manly-Warringah.
Terry Mudge is always one to have a trick up his sleeve but he needs to pull a few rabbits out of the hat if the Dragons are to upset the balance of the top three ahead of a likely Elimination Final against Sydney University.
They need some tall timber capable of kicking a score. Paul Sain was the only tall to kick a goal against Manly-Warringah.
In defence, there are still some frailties. They on average concede 104 points a game against the top three sides this year. You won’t win many games when you concede this many points.
The class is there in Nathan Kenny, Bryce Addison, Blake Guthrie and Alex Wynn. Jordan West is again key in the ruck as the finals near.
Pennant Hills won in a dour struggle a fortnight ago against UNSW/ES by 27 points.
Losing many to the Splendour in the Grass, they fielded 13 players younger than 21 years of old, with an average age of 22.
By their own admission they butchered the football, and won’t win if they do similar this weekend.
There is too much artillery though for St George. Ranga Ediriwickrama is priming himself for a big September.
Danny’s Prediction: Pennant Hills by 21 points
Sydney University vs Manly-Warringah- Sydney University No. 1 Oval- Saturday 2pm
Can Sydney University claim a scalp?
They are yet to beat a top five side, the closest they come being a draw with Pennant Hills in Round 6.
Their inability to score against the cream of the crop is worrying. They average 58 points in attack against their opposition in six encounters this year.
The Students list management will be particularly intriguing. Who of the regular NEAFL players will they qualify for what will be sudden death matches all the way (needing to win four in a row to claim the title)? An interesting twist is that their NEAFL side is fifth and destined for finals in the top six system.
They have missed three weeks of football (bye followed by wet weather round bye) meaning their last game was on July 19.
Manly-Warringah should be cherry ripe for the clash.
They had to weather a UTS side who came home with a wet sail and were lucky to claim the points, courtesy of a five-point win.
The usual suspects either didn’t play or didn’t have big days, with Jack Parker and Max Carter among the best.
In the corresponding clash at Sydney Uni No. 1 last year, the Students almost grinded the GIANTS to a halt and will be looking to employ a similar game plan on the weekend.
Stopping the spread and play on’s on the small Uni deck will be key.
The Students will be celebrating their Old Boys Day with the Premier Division game the main course, given their NEAFL side is at Henson.
You never know.
Danny’s Prediction: Manly-Warringah by 16 points
UNSW/ES Bulldogs v East Coast Eagles- Village Green- Saturday 2.30pm
East Coast Eagles will start as unbackable favourites, with first (and best attack and defence) playing last (and worst attack and defence) at Village Green.
There were positive signs for the young Bulldogs a fortnight ago against Pennant Hills.
Kirk Lower is a player the Bulldogs will be hoping to build a side around- he claimed the Rising Star Nomination and is a key position defender.
Hopefully next year there is more support for the foot soldiers and leaders of the side, Jeremy Daniher and Joel Robbie.
East Coast are a scary prospect for any opposition coach and player.
They didn’t have it all their own way against UTS but still managed to register 42 scoring shots and a 72-point win.
Alan McConnell and Jamie Vlatko managed 10 goals between them with McConnell best on ground proving why the AFL Sydney “experts” had him as the second best player in the competition. He is a real Phelan Medal threat.
There will be some pride on the line for the Bulldogs in front of what should be a big crowd for their Past Players Day.
Danny’s Prediction: East Coast by 116 points
North Shore Bombers vs UTS Bats- Gore Hill Oval- Saturday 2.30pm
The final game of the round should have no baring on the finals (unless either side get on a run and results fall their way) but could decide 6th and 7th on the ladder- with Western Suburbs also on 12 points in 8th.
The Bombers are hosting in their annual Back to Bears Day where they will also celebrate premiership anniversaries.
It won’t be a glory year this year but there is some positives emanating from the strength of their Under 19 side- many of whom have been blooded in Premier Division this year.
This is a noted weakness that UTS needs to address- no significant junior nursery or program to breathe some life and importantly, pace into their squad.
The Bats challenged Manly-Warringah and it beggars the question as to why they have only managed three wins this year- especially when you look at their roster and see Fleming, Law, Maddox, Larby, Mehta and in recent weeks Breese who has been among the leading goal kickers in the competition.
North Shore have sorely missed Selby Lee-Steere for the majority of the season.
A fortnight ago was arguably their worst performance of the season- a 56-point loss to fellow strugglers, Western Suburbs.
These two always tend to play out some very close encounters, so at least a good contest should play out on Saturday.
Danny’s Prediction: North Shore by 2 points
Last Modified on 07/08/2015 00:15
