NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 13 wrap

By Michael DiFabrizio

Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) def. Sydney Swans 8.6 (54)

Port Adelaide pulled off one the upsets of the year, beating the Sydney Swans by 18 points.

The wet weather at AAMI Stadium meant clean possessions were hard to come by but the Swans handled it better early on.

With just the second kick of the game Kurt Tippett kicked his first goal in Swans colours and he would add another later in the term.

Port remained resilient, though, slowly closing the gap as the quarters progressed. At the end of a tight third term, in which only three goals were scored, the Swans’ lead had been cut down to four points.

In the deciding final term, every time the Swans looked like creating something a Port player emerged from nowhere to lay a ferocious tackle. This unrelenting pressure got the home side over the line.

The conditions clearly had a huge impact. Only two of the Swans’ top seven ball-winners, Jarrad McVeigh (27 disposals) and Nick Malceski (26), had a disposal efficiency above 50 per cent. Three of them were going at below 40 per cent.

In comparison, you have to go down to Port’s 19th highest ball winner to find a sub-40 per cent player.

Kieren Jack had 23 disposals and two goals to join McVeigh and Malceski in the Swans’ best. Ryan O’Keefe laid a game-high 13 tackles and Mike Pyke led the hitouts with 42.

Port’s success came off the back of performances like Matthew Broadbent’s 10 marks and 23 disposals, Brad Ebert’s 26 disposals and nine tackles, Matthew Lobbe’s 37 hitouts and 11 tackles, and Chad Wingard’s three goals and 20 touches.

NSW/ACT Notes

Luke Breust (Temora) was on target for Hawthorn against West Coast, kicking three goals and having 15 disposals.

Jarrad McVeigh (Pennant Hills) and Kieren Jack (Pennant Hills) were once again among the Swans’ best.

Craig Bird (Nelson Bay) had 21 disposals and laid eight tackles. Dane Rampe (UNSW-ES Bulldogs) was the side’s best user of the footy in the wet and had 16 disposals with four inside 50s.

Dean Terlich (Osborne) was one of the Melbourne’s best in their loss to St Kilda, having 28 disposals and seven marks. Justin Koschitzke (Brocklesby) kicked 2.1 for the Saints.

Mitch Clisby (West Broken Hill) made his AFL debut for the Dees and made an immediate impact, grabbing 24 disposals.

Brent Staker (West Broken Hill) had a big game in defence for the Brisbane Lions in their comeback win over Geelong. He had five marks, five rebound 50s and ten one-percenters. Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (Finley) was the game’s leading scorer with 3.2.

NAB AFL U18s Championships (Round 3): NSW/ACT 19.19 (133) def. NT 5.2 (32)

NSW/ACT registered a thumping 101-point win over the Northern Territory at Blacktown on Saturday.

Mid-sized forward Jydon Neagle booted six goals and took 12 marks in the win.

Midfielders Jake Barrett, Michael Gibbons and Lloyd Perris once again starred, each topping 30 disposals and leading a dominant midfield display.

NEAFL (Round 14)

Ainslie 20.9 (129) def. Belconnen 15.7 (97)
Redland 17.19 (121) def. Hills Eagles 13.14 (92)
Eastlake 10.16 (76) def. by Tuggeranong 9.6 (60)
NT Thunder 16.16 (112) def. Sydney Swans 9.5 (59)
Queanbeyan 11.11 (77) def. by Sydney Uni 13.13 (91)
UWS GIANTS – bye