Battle of the Bridge: UWS Giants vs. Swans Reserves

By Bronte Kerr and Isabelle O’Brien.

The GIANTS and the Swans Reserves will play in a curtain raiser to the GWS who take on Hawthorn at Spotless Stadium.

Both teams will come out with all guns blazing, vying for a top position in the NEAFL ladder.

The UWS GIANTS come off the back of a disappointing game last week, going down to the NT Thunder by 10 points.

The UWS GIANTS winning streak came to an end at the hands of NT Thunder in Darwin on the weekend.

M Buntine, Tim Mohr, Adam Kennedy and Jed Lamb (3 goals) were among the GIANTS best.

The GIANTS struggled to maintain consistency throughout the game, with coach Hand lamenting the GIANTS’ poor second quarter performance.

“We jumped out the blocks at the beginning of the match but then let ourselves down in the second term with inconsistent football”.

The Sydney Swans Reserves overcame miserable conditions to claim a 41 point victory over Sydney Uni last weekend.

After a slow start, the Swans booted eight unanswered goals in the second half to secure their third win for the season.

First- gamer Nic Newman showed great promise after returning from a knee injury and finished the game with a goal under his belt.

Brandon Jack and George Hewett dominated in the midfield, overcoming adverse conditions and the absence of key ball winner Tom Mitchell.

Ruck man Sam Naismith spoke of the boys team work, as a crucial factor behind the win.

“We were a little bit flat in the first half, voices were down and we weren’t playing Swans football,” he said.

“We knew something hard to be done. After half- time our voices and enthusiasm lifted, we had a genuine crack and were able to turn the tide and come home strong.

The Swans will take to the field this weekend with a vengeance, after losing by 63 points to the GIANTS in Round 2 of the competition.

Sam Naismith leaps high over a pack during Round 2 of the 2015 competition, Image: Sydney Swans.

TALKING POINTS:

1. A man of Steele

Canberra born and bred draftee, Jack Steele, put on an impressive display of football on the weekend and was named the UWS GIANTS’ best player for the second consecutive week.

UWS GIANTS coach Brett Hand sang high praise for the emerging midfielder.

“Jack was impressive again with strength around the ball and ability to stand up when challenged,” he said.

“He links extremely well with our runners and isn’t afraid to put his head over the ball when needed”.

The Swans midfield will have a big task ahead of them, if they wish to nullify the impact of formidable Steele.

2. Swans defenders return from injury

Young defenders Aliir Allir and Lewis Melican are likely inclusions for Saturday’s battle of the bridge as they return from injury.

Aliir injured his PCL in the first round of the competition and has since made a speedy recovery.

Melican is in the final stages of recovery after overcoming niggling groin concerns which has seen him miss the first four rounds of the competition.

Both defenders successfully completed skills and fitness tests over the weekend, in addition to partaking in an open training session on Tuesday at the SCG.

Should they be included, they will join the likes of Harry Marsh and Abaina Davis, who had stellar performances in defence against Sydney Uni.

3.GIANT boost of confidence

The UWS GIANTS will enter Saturday’s game with the added confidence of their 63 point victory over the sorry Swans in Round 2 of the season.

Despite the added expertise offered by Adam Goodes (3 goals), the Swans struggled to match the pressure of the relentless GIANTS.

The GIANTS controlled the game from the first whistle, with an exciting forward Will Hoskin-Elliot booting 5 goals in his welcomed return from a shoulder injury.

An elite performance from the GIANTS back 6 silenced the Swans forwards, with Tim Mohr, Adam Kennedy and Matt Buntine putting on an impressive defensive display.

The Swans Reserves were unable to capitalize on the GIANTS inaccuracy in front of goal and from the outset, struggled to ever make their mark on the game.

Abaina Davis kicks to a teammate during Round 2 of the NEAFL season, Image: Sydney Swans.

Previous Five Encounters

 Round 2, 2015- UWS GIANTS 17.19 (121) d. Swans Reserves 9.4 (58)

Round 20, 2014- Swans Reserves 11.12(78) d. UWS GIANTS 11.11(77)

Round 13, 2014- UWS Giants 10.21(81) d. Sydney Swans 5.8(38)

Round 7, 2014- Swans Reserves 14.16(100) d. UWS GIANTS 3.7(25)

Round 2, 2014- UWS GIANTS 11.20(86) d. Swans reserves 12.6(78)

Prediction- UWS GIANTS by 24 points