NEAFL Match Preview: Sydney Uni v Ainslie
By Bronte Kerr and Isabelle O’Brien
Sydney University will go head to head with Ainslie on Saturday 9th of May at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Sydney University are yet to secure their first win for the season, following disappointing close defeats in their first two games.
The Students took on the Swans Reserves last weekend, determined to reverse a spate of bad luck on the scoreboard.
Despite leading by 11 points at half time, the Students were rendered scoreless in the second stanza of the game.
The Students were left stunned by an eight goal burst by the Swans and were unable to provide the answers to the Swans late surge.
Jed Turner, Matt Rawlinson and Lewis Stevenson were among were among Sydney University’s best.
Nick Winmar was too lucky to escape suspension following an incident against the Swans Reserves last weekend.
Jack Campbell is in fine form, earning himself top up spots in the Sydney Swans Reserves side.
The Swans Reserves win on the weekend was bitter sweet for Campbell and Foster who took to the field against their regular team.
Despite the 0-3 start to the season for Sydney University, general consensus is that this isn’t an indication for how the Students season will pan out.
Two close finishes out of three games, and a loss in trying conditions last weekend have got hopes high for a resurrection this weekend.
Coach Daniel Gilmore has a positive outlook, seeing their position as an opportunity for the team to regroup and overcome a rough patch.
“At this point in time we haven’t been able to put together four quarters which hurts us at 0-3, but it’s a good opportunity to see how the group responds to pressure,” Gilmore said.
“We acknowledge the start hasn’t been what we had hoped but we probably didn’t turn up against Redland, we were in the game well and truly against Aspley, and against the Swans we dropped off for 15 minutes, so we aren’t panicking by any standards
There is no question that everyone in the NEAFL needs to be playing their best football to beat us, it’s our basic skill level that’s let us down so we need to tidy that up,”
Ainslie will head into Saturday’s game well-rested following last weeks bye. They will also bring with them an air of confidence, with two consecutive wins under their belt from rounds 2 and 3.
Round 3’s ANZAC Day clash against the Brisbane Lions has been a particular highlight of their season so far, as the red, white and black were led to victory by Josh Bennet, who bagged 7 goals in their seven-point victory.
Nick Salter’s impressive 14 goal haul the week before against Eastlakes seems to have well and truly set the bar for Ainslie, with coach Chris Rourke praising his team’s form after defeating an AFL reserves side in the Lions.
“It just gels you together and the boys really united to have a crack and you give them a little bit of belief that if you compete all day, you can beat most sides,” Rourke said.
The Students in action against the Swans Reserves last weekend, Image: SUANFC
Previous Encounters
Round 18, 2014 Sydney University 16.8 (104) d. Ainslie 9.11 (65)
Round 5, 2014 Sydney University 14.7 (91) d. Ainslie 13.12 (90)
Round 16, 2013 Ainslie 16.14 (110) d. Sydney University 9.12 (66)
Round 9, 2013 Sydney Uni 17.9 (111) d. Ainslie 9.14 (68)
Round 21, 2012 Ainslie 19.10 (124) d. Sydney University 8.8 (56)
Prediction
Sydney Uni by 16 points.
