AFL Sydney rep sides announced
AFL Sydney will be looking to continue its history of representative success this weekend in two Interleague clashes taking place in two different states.
The senior representative squad will fly north to take on AFL Cairns at Cazaly Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The side will be looking for an improved result on last year where they were soundly defeated by the strong Victorian Amateurs in Melbourne.
The side is again coached by well-credentialled, Michael Cousens. He will be assisted by Chris Yard and Tim Kenny, and will be well-resourced despite injuries to a number of key personnel.
North Shore’s Ron Wason will captain the side, which features four other North Shore players. East Coast are the most represented club, justified by their top placing on the AFL Sydney ladder, with eight players set to run out in the final 22.
The side boasts goal kicking arsenal in the form of the competition’s leading goalkicker, Jamie Vlatko. The Eagles’ spearhead should not have to look far for support, with teammate, Stephen Doyle, and Sydney University’s, Peter Dugmore, also expected to hold down key attacking posts.
Like any match, there is a need to win the ball out of the middle, courtesy of quality ruckmen. David Martin and Steve O’Connor are the two best big men in the competition, with O’Connor, especially impressive in recent weeks, including his strong showing for the Eagles’ in their Foxtel Cup loss to Port Adelaide.
Experience was also a key consideration of the selection process with seasoned heads spread across the paddock. Ben Taggart and Kieran Wright are among those capable of holding the side together through thick and thin.
AFL Cairns is expected to be a tough opponent, with the side sure to be full of prodigious talent lured in recent years from the southern, football-rich states.
The Cairns competition boasts seven teams, with the Manunda Hawks currently top after ten rounds, with only one loss to their name.
Click here to view the AFL Sydney side to take on AFL Cairns.
The assignment is similarly tough for the Under 23 Development Squad, as they take the bus trip to Newcastle, to play AFL Riverina at No. 1 Sportsground, on Saturday afternoon.
The squad comes into the match with winning form, having taken out last year’s AFL NSW/ACT Regional Championships, held in Wagga Wagga.
While the Squad will include some new faces, two things remain the same, with Brad Pullin coaching the side, and Adrian Raftery, running the ship as Team Manager. Chris Hughes steps in as Assistant Coach.
The side will be captained by North Shore’s, Dale Fitzgerald. The Bombers have the highest representation, with four other members making the final squad.
Pullin and the coaching staff have had specific roles in mind when picking the squad, with the players selected being in strong positional form for their respective clubs.
Matt Edwins narrowly missed out on the Senior squad, and has been prominent in Balmain’s early season surge. The same can be said for Jack Caspersonn and his role for Sydney University to the mid-season break, despite their hiccup last start against North Shore.
Like the Senior squad, the performance of key position players will be crucial to the final result. Tom Heath and Alex Sneddon will rotate in the ruck and add forward options to Pullin’s game plan.
The Riverina is a heartland for the code, and several of their home-produced players have gone on to represent their area in the AFL. Ganmain are the only undefeated club in a League which boasts sides from towns such as Narrandera, Griffith and Leeton.
Click here to view the AFL Sydney Development side to take on AFL Riverina.