NSW/ACT Notebook – Round 3 Review

North Melbourne 13.14 (92) def. by Sydney Swans 20.11 (131)

The Sydney Swans sit third on the ladder after a strong 39-point win over North Melbourne in Hobart.

North had the better of the first half and went into the main break 14 points up. Then, an amazing 11-goal onslaught in the third quarter from the Swans sealed an impressive victory.

Jude Bolton had four goals but there were seven multiple goal kickers in red and white, with Dan Hannebery, Ben McGlynn, Jarrad McVeigh, Luke Parker and Adam Goodes the others.

Josh Kennedy put in a monster performance in the middle with 29 disposals, nine clearances and nine tackles. Hannebery not only had three goals, but racked up 25 touches with 92 per cent efficiency.

North Melbourne’s Andrew Swallow continued his hot start to the season with 28 disposals, 13 clearances and 11 tackles. However, he was let down by his ball use, with an efficiency of just 35 per cent.

The Swans not only used the ball better, but won the contested possessions, inside 50s and once again, the hitouts.

A Friday night SCG blockbuster against the also-undefeated Geelong awaits.

GWS GIANTS 10.8 (68) def. by St Kilda 21.14 (140)

The GWS GIANTS got to test out Manuka Oval’s new lights on Saturday but on the field it was St Kilda who shined brightest, handing out a 72-point defeat.

Callan Ward was once again the lead man for the GIANTS with 28 disposals and eight clearances. Devon Smith generated 11 inside 50s and had two goals himself.

Jonathan Giles, Dean Brogan and Adam Treloar also kicked two. Tomas Bugg impressed with his 20-disposal game.

Unfortunately for the men in orange, St Kilda came ready to play. Three of their players hit 30 touches – David Armitage, Jack Steven and Leigh Montagna – and Armitage even went forward to kick four goals.

Nick Riewoldt, Ahmed Saad and Stephen Milne kicked three each.

St Kilda won far more of the footy (disposals 292-428) and got the ball forward far more often (inside 50s 42-62), making it hard to the GIANTS to bridge the gap on the scoreboard.

Spirits were dampened further when key forward Jonathon Patton suffered an ACL injury that will put him on the sidelines for the remainder of the season.

Next week, the GIANTS travel to the MCG to play an out of form Melbourne on Sunday.

NSW/ACT Notes

– Jarrad McVeigh (Pennant Hills) was the best of the Swans’ local talent in the win over North Melbourne. He had 28 touches and two goals. Ben McGlynn (Wentworth) had three goals.

– Dean Terlich (Osborne) was one of Melbourne’s better players in the loss to West Coast on Saturday. The second-gamer had 21 disposals.

– Phil Davis (Marist Canberra) took eight marks and had 17 disposals for the GWS GIANTS against St Kilda. Lenny Hayes (Pennant Hills) and Sam Gilbert (St George) had 24 and 23 disposals, respectively.

– Tom Hawkins (Finley) kicked 3.1 for Geelong in their win over Carlton. In the same game, second-gamer Sam Rowe (North Albury) kicked 2.2 for the Blues.

– In his 200th game, Daniel Cross (Albury) was a standout for the Western Bulldogs. He had 23 touches, five marks, three clearances and three inside 50s against Richmond. Teammate Tom Young (Wollondilly) was impressive out of defence with nine rebound 50s.

– Luke Breust (Temora) had three goals in Hawthorn’s defeat of Collingwood. Isaac Smith (Temora) had 20 disposals.

– Taylor Walker (North Broken Hill) kicked 3.2 in Adelaide’s loss to Port Adelaide.

– Queanbeyan became the first Canberra side to win a Foxtel Cup match on the weekend. They defeated the NT Thunder by 53 points at Manuka Oval and will now face Werribee at Etihad Stadium on 28 May.

NEAFL Fixtures (Round 4)

UWS Giants 22.9 (141) def. Ainslie 9.10 (64)
Hills Eagles 14.15 (99) def. by Southport 17.13 (115)
Sydney Uni 11.13 (79) def. by Eastlake 18.8 (116)
Tuggeranong 6.5 (41) def. by Sydney Swans 36.21 (237)
Belconnen – Bye

Foxtel Cup (Qualifying Round)

Queanbeyan 13.10 (88) def. NT Thunder 4.11 (35)