There are only two more rounds to go in the Premier Division Home and Away season and the top five is still not confirmed. Round 17 has the potential to be a lopsided round as four top five teams play the bottom four sides but the stakes are high in two of the matches.
UTS Bats v St George Dragons – Waverley Oval - Saturday 2.10pm
Can UTS keep their run going towards the finals or will St George stop them in their tracks?
UTS produced the upset of the Premier Division season last weekend when they knocked off Pennant Hills by 3 points. The Bats will need another performance like that to keep their slim finals hopes alive.
Daniel Breese was superb up forward once again, bagging four goals. Jason Fleming and Josh Maddox could be chances to feature in the AFL Sydney Team of the Year this year and will need to be at their best this weekend.
St George arguably played their best game of the year last week in their 87 point win over North Shore.
Dylan Sanderson played another impressive game up forward kicking 5 goals and was rightfully named the Rising Star for Round 16. Brayden Kilpatrick could also be in line to grab a rising star nomination in the last few rounds after a very impressive season.
Prediction: While an upset is on the cards, tipping St George in a very tight one by 4 points
Western Suburbs Magpies v Manly Warringah- Picken Oval- Saturday 2.10pm
Western Suburbs have been one of the form sides in the second half of the season but will face a tough ask this weekend against a freshened up Manly Warringah outfit.
The Magpies led from start to finish last week in claiming their fourth win of the season.
Paul Bevan was best on ground last weekend, kicking three goals and was well supported by Jake Ross, who also bagged three goals.
Manly Warringah would have enjoyed last weekend’s bye with a few players feeling a bit worse for wear late in the season.
Connor Pettersson will look to regain some of his form from the start of the year in the lead up to the finals. Brayden Fowler will also want to keep his hands on the Stan Milton trophy and will need to kick a few more goals to secure the trophy.
Prediction: It should be tighter than the ladder suggests however Manly Warringah by 13 points
North Shore Bombers vs East Coast Eagles – Gore Hill Oval- Saturday 2.30pm
East Coast were once again rampant last weekend against Sydney University claiming a 75 point win.
North Shore were outclassed last week by a very strong St George side and will find this weekend even tougher.
Jamie Vlatko continued his great form in recent weeks with another bag of six last week and is making a late charge for the Stan Milton. The Eagles would be happy with the form of Scott Reed kicking three goals as well.
Could Trent Stubbs be the 2015 Phelan Medallist this year? After another strong performance last week, Stubbs will be looking for one more big game before the Eagles have a bye in the last round.
North Shore will be playing for pride this week. The Bombers will be looking for a much better performance than they had last week when they were completely outclassed by the young Dragons.
Jake Saunders will be a key man for the Bombers again across the half back line.
Prediction: This one could get ugly, East Coast by 87 points
Sydney University vs UNSW/ES Bulldogs – Sydney Uni No.1 Oval - Saturday 3pm
The last match of the round could finalise the finals positions if the win goes to the home side as expected.
Sydney University will go in as short priced favourites against the struggling UNSW/ES side and will fancy their chances to cement their spot in the September action.
Lachlan Maples has been in great form all year and will be looking to continue that into this weekend.
UNSW/ES have struggled all year with their depth not to mention players missing due to injuries and unavailability.
It was a tough loss last weekend for the Bulldogs who now face two top five sides to finish the season off.
Kirk Lower was again in the best last weekend and could be a smokey to claim the rising star award at the end of the year.
Prediction: The finals positions will be confirm with Sydney University winning by 43 points
Last Modified on 21/08/2015 08:46
