NEAFL Eastern finals preview
By Alison Zell
Qualifying final – Belconnen v Ainslie
2pm, Saturday August 24, Kippax Oval
With the NEAFL’s top-five finals structure, the qualifying final sees second-placed Belconnen take on third-placed Ainslie in an all-ACT final in week one.
The winner will go on to play minor Premiers, the Sydney Swans reserves, next week in Sydney for a shot at the Eastern Conference final while the loser has a double-chance against the winner of the elimination final.
After finishing out of the finals in 2012, Belconnen lost just six games this season to finish on top of the ladder with the Swans reserves, second just on percentage. Ainslie lost just one more game than Belconnen, indicating a tight final is ahead.
The two sides have also spilt the points in their clashes this season with Ainslie taking out the first encounter 130-96 while Belconnen hit back later in the year to win 118-72.
Belconnen are the form Canberra side of the competition but will be playing in their first home final since 2009.
Playmaker James Bennett has had a superb year and will be a key for the Magpies along with dangerous forward Lokan who was just pipped as the leading goal-scorer in the Eastern Conference by Ainslie’s Josh Bennett.
Ainslie’s Bennett will be the man the Tricolours look to for a win while the return of key forward Simon Horner from injury is a big inclusion. They will also be hoping to reverse last year’s results which saw them bow out of the finals with two successive losses.
Ainslie coach Chris Rourke was upbeat about the Tri-Colours’ approach to the game.
“Last time we played Belconnen we just couldn’t get our hands on the footy, they really gave it to us in the contested ball area,” he said.
“If we are able to play our game through the midfield I’m confident guys like Josh Bennett up forward and Damien Bowles in the backline will be able to get the job done.”
Elimination final – Eastlake v UWS GIANTS
2pm, Sunday August 25, Dairy Farmers Oval
It’s do or die in this elimination final with the loser’s finals campaign over while the winner of this clash will take on the loser of the qualifying final in a tough road through to the Eastern Conference final.
Eastlake finished fourth this year but while the GIANTS only secured the last finals spot, they have had a scorching second-half to the year, winning five in a row before close losses to fellow reserves-sides the Swans, Brisbane and Gold Coast.
The GIANTS also convincingly beat the Demons in their only encounter this year, winning 158-67.
Eastlake has been strengthened this year by the recruitment of former Sydney Swans rookie Matt O’Dwyer to join fellow former Swan Ryan Brabazon with the duo the star on-ballers for the Demons.
However they will be without Xavier McMahon who was suspended after last week’s match against Ainslie.
Demons coach Anthony Bourke backed his team to take it right up to the improving GIANTS.
“They’re a very good team this year, their fitness and their ability to spread hard, particularly though the middle of the ground is something we have to watch out for,” he said.
“We’re down a few men in the backline, so it’s really up to our midfielders to pressure them when they have the ball, really put them under duress when they’re looking to go inside fifty.”
We won’t know the final line-up for the UWS GIANTS until the senior side to take on Richmond on Sunday is finalised on Friday night but one regular they will be without is forward Kristian Jaksch who will make his AFL debut in the penultimate game of the season.
Jaksch has played most of the season for the UWS GIANTS so will be a big loss although experienced senior player Setanta O’hAilpin looks set to fill that void.
Number three draft pick Dom Tyson has also been elevated to the senior team so the UWS GIANTS will miss his class and poise.. They will get former Hawks defender Stephen Gilham back to bolster their defence and thought they are restricted to 18 AFL-listed players for NEAFL finals, they will be fielding a strong outfit.
Jeremy Finlayson, Matt Eastman and Josh Rodman will join the squad from the Sydney Hills Eagles while Temora teen and Slater & Gordon GIANTS Academy member Jake Barrett will also play for the GIANTS as top-ups.