Weekend Round Up: Allies, U16s and NEAFL
ALLIES UPDATE
The Allies played two practice matches over the weekend, ahead of the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships next month.
Playing in chilly Melbourne weather at Ikon Park, the Allies versed Vic Country and Vic Metro as a part of the Allies Camp, which the squad entered on Friday.
ALLIES vs. VIC COUNTRY
Game One saw the Allies take on Vic Country, and despite a spirited effort from the visitors, they went down by 39 point.
Vic Country’s pressure proved too strong, keeping the Allies scoreless in the third-quarter and dominating the centre clearances for most of the game.
Despite the scoreline, there were a number of standout performances for the Allies. Jake Brown from the Sydney Swans Academy impressed, getting many touches of the ball and providing some experience in a young team. Nathan Richards from the GWS GIANTS Academy also had a strong performance, playing an important role in the ruck in the last quarter and slotting a goal.
ALLIES – 2.1 4.3 4.3 6.5 (41)
VIC COUNTRY – 3.5 5.8 7.13 11.14 (80)
ALLIES GOALS – Sambono (2); Burke, Scott, Bailey, Richards (1)
ALLIES vs. VIC METRO
Game two was a much stronger performance from the Allies, defeating Vic Metro by 36-points in miserable conditions.
The game was a great team performance with all members of the side chipping in to keep an impressive Vic Metro team quiet.
A four-goal opening quarter set the standard for the Allies, and their relentless pressure throughout the day ensured the positive result.
James Bell was a standout for the Allies with the Swans Academy member kicking two goals and dominating across the half-forward flank.
Two GWS GIANTS Academy members also impressed with Jack Powell and Doulton Langlands imposing themselves on the game. Powell kicked an important early goal that set the tone for the match, while Langlands was a dominant figure with his piercing runs from the half-back line.
ALLIES – 4.1 6.2 9.4 11.7 (73)
VIC METRO – 2.0 4.0 5.0 6.1 (37)
ALLIES GOALS – Hardman Bell (2); Fitzgerald Powell Dixon Thomas Clayton (1)
NAB AFL U16ACADEMY SERIES
After going down in the first two rounds against the Sydney Swans Academy, the GWS GIANTS Academy took out Round 3 of the NAB AFL U16 Academy Series on Saturday.
An impressive opening half from the GIANTS seemed to surprise the Swans and saw that they were unable to get back into the contest before the final siren.
The 21-point win to the GIANTS came off the back of a five-goal opening term, built off relentless pressure that the Swans could not match.
The series was a great chance for players to prove themselves ahead of selection of the NSW/ACT U16 Rams squad which was announced this afternoon.
GWS GIANTS ACADEMY – 5.4 6.8 11.9 13.9 (87)
SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY – 2.1 4.6 5.9 9.12 (66)
GIANTS GOALS – Delahunty (4); Russell (3); Ziebarth Mack (2); Allen McKelvie (1)
SYDNEY SWANS GOALS – Kannan Barling Campbell (2); Gallen Rayner Brewer (1)
NEAFL
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY VS. CANBERRA DEMONS
Lewis Stevenson was the star for Sydney University as they cruised to a 71-point victory over the Canberra Demons.
On a beautiful day at Blacktown International Sportspark, the crowd that had gathered saw a tightly contested first quarter.
Canberra kept in touch during the opening term, but once Xavier Richards hit the scoreboard, the Students never looked back.
Stevenson (41 disposals) and Callum McFadden (30 disposals) were impressive for Sydney University, leading the way with their ball use and tackle pressure.
Jack Hiscox also stood out, kicking a remarkable goal that featured three bounces on a run from his own half to slot it from 40 metres out.
Jordan Harper was again the star for the Demons, racking up 36 disposals to go with his 29 from the week before. He now averages 30.5 disposals for the season and is a big part of the reason the Demons have been surging up the ladder.
The win means Sydney University keeps the pressure on the Swans at the top of the table, sitting in second place as they wait for them to slip. The Students head to Darwin this weekend for a fascinating match-up against the NT Thunder who were impressive in their victory over the GWS GIANTS.
The Demons still sit in sixth place, and host the fifth place Aspley this weekend in an important game for both team’s finals aspirations.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY – 4.5 8.8 12.15 17.24 (126)
CANBERRA DEMONS – 3.2 4.5 5.7 8.7 (55)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY GOALS – X Richards D Bonney J Hiscox M Manteit T Barrett (2); J Law J Derickx N Reinhard S Tagliabue W Sierakowski J Potter L Stevenson (1)
CANBERRA DEMONS GOALS – T Faul (2); J Turner I Taylor S Martyn M Maguire W Muir J Harper (1)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY BEST – T Barton, L Stevenson, C McFadden, T Ayton, W Sierakowski
CANBERRA DEMONS BEST – J Harper, B Halse, J Turner, L Meline, S Martyn
SYDNEY SWANS VS. GOLD COAST SUNS
The Sydney Swans scored a dominant 88-point win over the Gold Coast Suns in an impressive afternoon in Newcastle.
The big win keeps them on the top of the ladder and gives their percentage another boost to put some space between them and the chasing, Sydney University.
Defender Michael Talia was best on ground for the Swans, as he put in a powerful performance to keep an explosive Suns forward line quiet.
Aliir Aliir continued his strong form, playing a lot of the game in an unfamiliar position on the forward line. What started as a relatively quiet afternoon turned into a three-goal performance for Aliir.
Shaun Edwards also dominated across the ground, kicking two goals and getting a lot of touches in the midfield.
Overall it was a strong performance with only wayward kicking preventing the final margin from being much greater. The Swans now have a week off before taking on the ninth-placed GWS GIANTS on 10 June 2017.
SYDNEY SWANS – 1.6 6.10 11.16 16.24 (120)
GOLD COAST SUNS – 1.2 3.4 4.8 4.8 (32)
SYDNEY SWANS GOALS – A Aliir S Wicks (3); S Edwards (2); J Rose T Leonardis B Jack J Dawson C O’Riordan R Fox T Pink W Gowers (1)
SYDNEY SWANS BEST – M Talia, J Foote, J Laidler, S Edwards, R Fox, S Barkley
NT THUNDER VS. GWS GIANTS
A depleted GWS GIANTS side went down in a tough away trip to the Northern Territory this weekend. The NT Thunder proved too strong at home, walking away 55-point winners at TIO Stadium.
The GIANTS kicked the first goal of the game, but that was to be the only time they would have the lead. A seven-goal third quarter by the home side effectively put the GIANTS out of the match.
Dan Ewing starred for the Thunder, with the GIANTS defence unable to contain him as he kicked six goals.
The travelling side impressed on the counter-attack, but with only three AFL-listed players, it proved hard for the GIANTS to compete with the polished Thunder.
Zac Sproule was a clear standout for the GIANTS, picking up 35 disposals and a goal, while academy member Matt Walker kicked four goals to lead the scoring.
The loss puts the GIANTS in ninth position. They will be looking to pick up only their second win of the season as they take on the struggling Redland (10th) side at Spotless Stadium next weekend.
NT THUNDER – 5.7 8.11 15.12 18.18 (126)
GWS GIANTS – 2.0 3.2 8.3 11.5 (71)
GWS GIANTS GOALS – M Walker (4); S Driscoll (2); N Coxall B McParland R Pollock K Devlin Z Sproule (1)
GWS GIANTS BEST – M Flynn, M Walker, Z Sproule, K Devlin, J Conlan, S Driscoll
