There are varying motivating factors at this stage of the season with the top five set. Some sides are trying to build for a premiership tilt/managing their list, while others are playing for pride and quite possibly waiting for the season to end and the Silly Sundays and End of Season Trips to start.
The feature game of the weekend sees two top five outfits test themselves out at Kanebridge Oval.
East Coast Eagles v Sydney University – Kanebridge Oval- Saturday 2.10pm
East Coast will be gunning for fourteen straight wins when they host Sydney University on Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles have hardly been headed since a last-quarter fadeout against Manly-Warringah in Round 1. The closest anyone has come is 28 points- and even then they doubled Pennant Hills score and then some in the wet.
Last week it was a 137-point triumph over the wooden spooners for this year, UNSW/ES. Trent Stubbs was superb in the middle and up forward with three goals, relishing the small Village Green surrounds.
The Vlatko brothers- Jon and Jamie- kicked nine goals between them. Jon will be somewhat of an X-factor in September given he now falls under the radar such is their depth across all lines.
Jack Dimery almost has to be tagged across half-back and the wing given his rebounding potential.
Sydney University led Manly-Warringah at three-quarter time by the smallest of margins but didn’t raise a yelp in the final quarter.
Jacob Swarts was superb deep in defence, whilst youngsters Spencer and Monty Krochmal also impressed. Monty has had plenty of experience in the NEAFL and went forward to kick two goals.
There is a great vibe at the club at the moment, with their NEAFL side defeating reigning premiers, Aspley at Henson Park last week.
This is a true test of their mettle.
Danny’s Prediction: East Coast by 44 points
St George Dragons v North Shore- Olds Park- Saturday 2.10pm
It was a case of close but not close enough for St George as they came home with a wet sail against Pennant Hills last weekend.
With the lead around seven goals at one point, the Dragons won a few fans with their comeback to just fall short by 5 points.
Riley Waters and Jackson Okunbor made their debut in a very young side- with Okunbor very impressive in the ruck in place of Jordan West. He is athletically built and it wouldn’t surprise if he features in their best 22 heading into finals.
It’s a shame more football isn’t played on Blacktown during the finals for Eli Prescott who is a running machine. Returning RAMS, Dylan Sanderson (four goals) and Jake Brown were also impressive.
North Shore would have been favoured by many with the home ground advantage against UTS but gave up 25 scoring shots to 15, to lose by 15 points.
Jake Mapleson was the Rising Star nominee for this round and is a player for the future. Ted Strudwick had one of his better games of the season but they have not done much as a club in the past few seasons.
The wheels are in motion for next season with Ryan Meldrum named as the Senior Coach for 2016- a very early move.
He will see how much work they need to do after this weekend.
Danny’s Prediction: St George by 39 points
Pennant Hills Demons vs UTS Bats- Mike Kenny Oval- Saturday 2.30pm
Pennant Hills just held on and basically locked in second place with a last-gasp win against St George on the weekend.
They should find the going easier albeit against an improving UTS this weekend.
Again they had a list of goalkickers- 9 out of 14 goals scored. Luke Bilbe is back playing out of the goal square but most of the scoring at the moment is being done by youngsters, Theo Moraitis and Nick Hey. It is a luxury for coach Chris Yard to play Steve Wray predominantly across the back half.
Michael Johnston made a return to the best players with a Best on Ground display. The Best and Fairest race would be between Tom Angel, Damian Dell’Aquila and Michael Talbot- all of whom predominantly play through the middle third.
Nic Fosdike’s message seems to be sinking through to his players in recent weeks. Although inefficient in front of goal they saluted in Rawson Kirkhope’s 50th game.
It won’t be finals for the Bats this year but hopefully a couple of wins in the last few weeks could give them the impetus for an improved showing in 2016.
If they can keep the score low, they are a chance in this match.
Danny’s Prediction: Pennant Hills by 22 points
UNSW/ES Bulldogs vs Western Suburbs Magpies- Village Green- Saturday 2.30pm
This match could prove to be the tightest of the weekend but has no impact on the finals.
Western Suburbs are fresh coming off the bye and may be starting to find some potency in attack, kicking over 100 points twice in their last three games.
The move of Paul Bevan up forward seems to have paid dividends.
The case is the opposite for UNSW/ES as has been noted in a number of previews this season.
UNSW/ES are coming last on the ladder two games behind the next placed side (Western Suburbs), and quite simply don’t have the talent nor the depth to compete against most sides in the Premier Division competition. They stood no match for the might of East Coast.
They will challenge but it will be similar to the match earlier in the season which Western Suburbs won by 23 points.
Danny’s Prediction: Western Suburbs by 18 points
Last Modified on 13/08/2015 16:09
