NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 10 preview

By Michael DiFabrizio

Carlton vs. GWS GIANTS – Saturday 1.45pm (Etihad Stadium)

The GWS GIANTS (0-9, 18th) will be hoping to shock Carlton (5-4, 8th) on Saturday.　

Last time they met, the Blues couldn’t build a lead of more than five goals at any stage in the first three quarters. The GIANTS, in just their sixth game of footy, eventually faded (the final margin blew out to 67 points) but rattling a side like Carlton for so long was encouraging.

Now a year and four weeks older, the GIANTS will be hoping they can once again travel to Etihad and threaten to upset.

The Blues haven’t quite hit the form some predicted this year, although they have been improving. After losing the first three games of the season they have re-grouped and are now coming off wins against Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions.

The GIANTS are on a bit of a rollercoaster. They tend to follow up promising performances (like the games against Essendon and Hawthorn) with unflattering ones (the weeks after against Adelaide and West Coast last week).

The good news? This week they’re due for a promising one.

Sydney Swans vs. Essendon – Saturday 4.40pm (SCG)

A blockbuster is set for the SCG as the Sydney Swans (6-2-1, 5th) return home to face Essendon (7-2, 3rd).

Both teams are in reasonable form. The Swans dismantled Collingwood last Friday night and despite dropping two in a row, Essendon bounced back on Saturday with a win over Richmond. The question now turns to which team can back last weekend up.

If that isn’t a tempting enough recipe for a game, there’s also this: The last four Swans-Bombers games have been decided by less than 10 points. The last time someone had a convincing win in this contest was 2009.

Essendon average 15 more inside 50s than their opponent this season, and that’s 14 more than Sydney do, but last week showed how efficient the Swans can be at rebounding the footy. A repeat of that performance could take away one of the Bombers’ key strengths.

One area the Swans will look to dominate is the ruck, where they rank a clear No. 1 for hitouts going at almost 50 per game.

Overall, you wouldn’t be surprised if this is another single-figures game.

NSW/ACT Notes

Kieren Jack (Pennant Hills) is ranked fifth in the competition for tackles this season with 7.2 per game.

Tom Hawkins (Finley) is equal sixth in the Coleman Medal – as is Jeremy Cameron of the GWS GIANTS – with 25 goals.

Will Sierakowski (Ignatius Riverview) kicked two goals and was one of North Melbourne affiliate Werribee’s best players in their Foxtel Cup win over Queanbeyan on Tuesday. The performance did his chances of a call-up to North Melbourne’s senior side no harm.

NAB AFL U18s Championships (Round 1)

NSW/ACT vs. SA – Saturday 12.00pm (Blacktown)

Foxtel Cup (Match 2)

Werribee 16.17 (114) def. Queanbeyan 4.4 (28)

NEAFL (Round 11)

Sydney Uni vs. Labrador – Saturday 12.00pm (Drummoyne)
Sydney Swans vs. Belconnen – Saturday 1.00pm (SCG)
Tuggeranong vs. Ainslie – Saturday 2.00pm (Greenway)
Hills Eagles vs. UWS GIANTS – Saturday 4.40pm (Bruce Purser)
Eastlake vs. Queanbeyan – Sunday 2.00pm (Star Track Oval)