NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 22 Preview

This Round 22 match-up presents two sides on extremely different ends of the attitude spectrum following Round 21.

With Greater Western Sydney coming off their first history-making win in Victoria from a 62-point drubbing of Melbourne last week, and Collingwood sitting on the flipside of the coin following their humiliating loss to Brisbane, it is clear that there is much to play for at Spotless Stadium this Saturday.

A loss here for the Magpies could spell the end of their season, and while they know this, so too do the Giants who would love nothing more than to finish the year of the team that everybody loves to hate.

The Giants are still technically in the race for the wooden spoon should they lose this weekend, and Melbourne or St Kilda gain a win. But in a year where the Giants have broken their own mold, they will be hoping to make history once more by avoiding their first ever last placing.

Though flying on a high after their big win in Round 21, the Giants have been forced into a crash landing upon hearing the news that their much-loved forward, Jon Patton will require a second knee-reconstruction. Patton’s third major knee surgery in as many years will see him miss the remainder of the season, as well as their entire 2015 campaign.

This comes as a major blow to the building Giants as they start to come into their own, however one can only think that they will be playing for their mate in this Saturday’s match.

More proof of the Giants’ growth this year, youngsters Adam Treloar, Devon Smith and Jeremy Cameron have been named in the AFL Players Association ‘22Under22’ squad for 2014.

With Cameron also out for the rest of the season, the forward options of the Giants this weekend could pose a problem. Cameron has held a strong record against the Collingwood – including a seven-goal haul against them in 2013 – and will be sorely missed. From this, Tom Boyd will get his chance to shine upfront as their two key-forwards look on from the sidelines.

Collingwood has never played at Spotless Stadium and GWS will be hoping that the unfamiliar surroundings can sway the game in their favour. With three wins and four losses at home this year, the Giants will look to even things up in their final home game of the season.

It has not been an easy week for the injury-plagued Pies. Team selection reflects a battered and bruised bunch with six changes to their original Round 21 line up.

Greater Western Sydney’s chances of an upset have been increased with the likes of Travis Cloake, Dayne Beams and Heritier Lumumba sent to rest with varying lower-extremity injuries. Alan Toovey, Ben Reid and Ben Kennedy will also miss.

However, it is not all doom and gloom for the weary Magpies who will welcome back their captain, Scott Pendlebury following his late withdrawal from last week’s game with a corked thigh.

Tom Langdon, Sam Dwyer, Josh Thomas and Jesse White will enter the squad in place of their injured, while Jackson Ramsay will make his debut in black and white.

In a rare move for the Giants, they will only make two changes to this week’s team as they are forced into replacing Callan Ward who is carrying a calf injury, and Jon Patton.

Josh Hunt returns to senior football after a weeks warm-up in the NEAFL following a hip injury, and Tim Golds makes his way into the run-on squad after a couple of weeks as the team substitute.

Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans
(7-13, 14th) vs. (16-4, 1st)

The Sydney Swans have been afforded some strong percentage boosting chances over last week and the weekend coming, as they go from their 71-point victory against St Kilda in Round 21, to taking on the Western Bulldogs in Round 22.

The buildup for this match has been quite underwhelming for supporters of the game as the Swans go in as red (and white) hot favourites.

Dale Morris will have the unenviable task of containing Lance Franklin after his nine-goal gutting of the Saints last week, while Jordan Roughead will look to keep Kurt Tippett’s impact on the game as minimal as possible.

The biggest news to come out of the respective squads this week has been the injury of Sydney’s favourite son, Josh Kennedy. After being subbed off in the Swans’ trouncing of the Saints last week, Kennedy is set to miss his first game of AFL in 127 games.

Nelson Bay local, Craig Bird will also miss with a posterior cruciate ligament strain suffered last week.

As such, Tom Mitchell – who has not played a senior game since Round Four – and Tim Membrey have been thrown in as possibilities for a spot in the run-on squad. However, provided they are able to prove themselves as fit, experienced pair Rhyce Shaw and Nick Smith are likely to return in place of the injured Kennedy and Bird.

Ruckman, Toby Nankervis has also been named on the extended Sydney Swans interchange, and could find himself playing his first game of senior football this weekend. In an effort to blood a backup ruckman prior to the finals (usual go-to Tom Derickx is already out for the season), Nankervis could find himself in the senior role should Mike Pyke become injured in the coming weeks.  

AFL Players Association ‘22Under22’ selections, Luke Parker and New South Welshman Harry Cunningham will also lineup for the Swans who look set to dominate this Round 22 clash with the Dogs.

Jack Macrae, Nathan Hrovat, Lin Jong, Ayce Cordy, and Ainslie local, Jason Tutt, have all been included on an extended Western Bulldogs interchange to replace the omitted pair of Jarrad Grant and Will Minson.

With Hawthorn and Geelong squaring off in the match of the round, the Swans have their chance to unquestionably consolidate their placing at the top of the ladder with a big win over the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

AFL NSW/ACT News

Tony Armstrong (Burrumbuttock) found himself in a tiring position last Saturday as he was forced into backing up his VFL match for the Collingwood Reserves squad, with an emergency call up to the senior side after Scott Pendlebury pulled out 10 minutes before the game. Armstrong is said to have run more than a half-marathon throughout the day, amassing 26 kicks, 15 handballs and four tackles over the two games.

Dane Rampe (UNSW Eastern Suburbs) has thrown his support behind ‘Enviroweek 2014’ for the organisation, Cool Australia. Involving over 200,000 kids who will tackle various environmental issues, Rampe told www.sydneyswans.com.au that he is proud to support the initiative.

Lewis Roberts-Thomson (North Shore) said his final farewell to an adoring SCG crowd during halftime of Sydney’s match against St Kilda last Saturday.  Finishing on 179 games and with two premiership titles, LRT ends his career as a life member of the club.

Sam Rowe (North Albury) has inked a two-year deal with Carlton as the Blues extended their original offer of one year to two. He joins the likes of Chris Judd, Chris Yarran and Marc Murphy (among others) who have all committed themselves to be future Blues.