NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 20 Preview

GWS Giants vs. North Melbourne
(4-14, 16th) vs. (10-8, 6th)

As we head into Round 21, there is a three-way race between St Kilda, Melbourne and the GWS Giants for the wooden spoon – a race that no fan hopes their team is victorious in. As such, the Giants will be looking for victory against the North Melbourne Kangaroos on Saturday afternoon in order to avoid last place for the first time in their brief history.

A match to be played at StarTrack Oval in Canberra, GWS will be hoping that their home away from home can produce a crowd to push them over the line against their more fancied opponents.

Though the Kangaroos have a pleasing away record in 2014 – winners in four out of six games played interstate – they are coming off two losses which has seen them placed firmly under the pump as they fight to keep themselves in the top eight.

While the Giants’ four wins and 14 losses would have outsiders thinking that they deserve their place at the bottom of the ladder, improvements to their game and a string of competitive losses, prove how far the young Giants have come in 2014.

It could be seen that the average margin between these two sides since 2012 of 81-points, all but seals the game outcome before the bounce. However, this sort of margin has been the average for many games that the Giants have entered into this year and yet, it has not stopped them from competing in some extremely close near upsets, or even beating current premiership favourites, Sydney in Round One.

It is clear that the Giants do not let their short past determine their future outcomes, and for this, the inconsistent North Melbourne could find themselves in trouble away from home.

The Kangaroos will have to shut down Giants midfielder Callan Ward on Saturday if they are to silence the Canberra crowd. With Giants coach Leon Cameron calling for Ward’s All-Australian selection this week, Ward’s brilliance has been highlighted where it would normally be overlooked or missed completely.

In a team ranked equal-second in the league for clearances (40.6 per game), Ward’s number one ranking for individual clearances is vital to the Giants success. Ward is also ranked in the top 10 for individual tackles, centre clearances and then 11th for individual disposals with an average of over 26 per game.

In the same vein, the Giants defense will need to be wary of previous Giant killers Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas. As the pair kicked nine goals between them the last time these two sides met, the Giants will now know the importance of taking their influence out of the game as they did so successfully against Jack Riewoldt last weekend. The intensity of Phil Davis was able to restrict Riewoldt to just one final quarter goal as opposed to the 11 majors he scored the last time the two sides clashed. The Giants will again look to Davis to lead across the backline.

Matt Buntine returns from injury for the Giants, while Jed Lamb has worked his way back into the squad after some impressive performances in the NEAFL for the GWS Reserves, who have not lost a game in nine weeks.

Josh Hunt will miss for the Giants with a hip injury and Sam Frost has been omitted for the Giants last game in Canberra for the season.

Kayne Turner will make his debut for the Kangaroos on Saturday, while key-forward Ben Brown has been re-called to the blue and white squad after overcoming a finger injury. Aaron Mullett and Majak Daw have both been dropped.

Troubled star Toby Greene will play his 50th game for the GWS Giants on Saturday. After an eye-opening season off the field, the youngster will want to go out a winner in his first of hopefully many milestone games.

Port Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans
(12-6, 5th) vs. (14-4, 2nd)

The Port Adelaide of old has been on show in recent weeks. We have watched them sensationally tumble from one game clear at the top of the ladder to fifth, with some potentially difficult games ahead of them.

One such difficulty is this Saturday night’s crunch-game against the Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval where they will be hoping to turn their season around against the 2014 premiership favourites.

After Hawthorn took top place in the competition last week on percentage, the Swans will be trusting that the return of best buddies, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin and Dan Hannebery will boost their chances at a big win. As Hawthorn play Melbourne this weekend, the Swans will need to be convincing in order to stay in the race for the minor premiership.

Hannebery makes his return to the game for his first match since Round 13 where troubles with an ankle syndesmosis set in. Buddy will move back into the team following knee tendonitis which saw him miss last week’s win over Essendon. With the return of Rhyce Shaw last week, this brings the Swans to full strength just in time for the finals series.

Tim Membrey who debuted last week in place of Buddy, and fellow season debutant Dean Towers have both been omitted to make way for their more experienced teammates and will play for the Swans Reserves instead.

Port Adelaide happily welcome back Jackson Trengrove who has not played since Round 15 with an ankle injury. Also in for the Power is Jake Neade and Kane Mitchell. The three ins will take the place of Jarman Impey, Benjamin Newton and Paul Stewart who have all been omitted.

Both sides are fairly even in terms of statistics across the field. Comparatively, the Swans average two more disposals per game (380-378) whereas the Power outplays Sydney in clearances by an average of one more per game (40-39).

Inside-50s will play a major role during the game. With Jay Schulz currently leading the Coleman Medal race, and the Swans forward line back to game crippling capacity, the second (Swans at 56.3) and third (Power 55.8) ranked inside-50 teams will be hoping for another week of smooth delivery forward.

Jay Schulz will also be looking for an improved performance against the Swans who have the edge on the key forward, restricting him to just five goals in the past three games that the two sides have competed in.

Tom Jonas and Jasper Pittard of the Power will be hoping Schulz is on fire as they both hit their 50th game milestone on Saturday night.

AFL NSW/ACT News

Sam Naismith (Gunnedah) has been elevated to the Sydney Swans seniors list after Tom Derickx was placed on the long-term injury list as he continues to battle a hamstring injury. Naismith, who joined the Swans in 2013 from the rookie draft, has had a great year for the Swans Reserves in the NEAFL including a Best on Ground performance in Round 15.

Phil Davis (Marist Canberra) returns to Canberra to play in front of family and friends this Saturday against North Melbourne. After restricting Jack Riewoldt to just one goal in last week’s match against Richmond, Davis will continue his remarkable comeback following an horrific kidney injury in Round One.

Tom Young (Wollondilly) has put his recent good form in the VFL for the Western Bulldogs down to hard work. Admittedly, Young was doing what it took to survive but was not putting his all in, in order to progress to the senior squad. Young says that he began to work harder and put in extra hours, and was soon seeing his efforts pay off on the field. Young was named Best on Ground against Bendigo last weekend.