TEAM TALK: NEAFL R21 – Swans poised for top spot

Image courtesy of NEAFL media.

 

The final round of the NEAFL home-and-away season sees four matches involving New South Wales and ACT teams. With all sides involved this weekend, every match has important consequences going into the finals campaign.

The Canberra Demons travel north to face the Southport Sharks with finals still a mathematical possibility. They sit four points outside the top six, and with an inferior percentage will need a big win and a big Aspley loss to make the cut.

They have made several changes for the match. Max Richardson, Billy Muir and Tom Faul have all been named to make their return. They are three of six changes to the Demons’ side, which also see Kade Klemke, Reed Stevens and Rhys Pollock drop out of the side.

The Sydney Swans also travel to Queensland on Saturday afternoon to take on the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium. The Suns upset the Brisbane Lions last weekend and will want to take another big scalp heading into the finals.

With a win, the Swans will guarantee the minor premiership and they have named a strong side to do so, as they look to build some form before the finals.

They welcome back Jordan Foote, Sam Murray and Colin O’Riordan who have all played crucial roles in the Swans side this season. Nic Newman has also been named on the interchange, being managed after a small injury in the Sydney Swans’ big win over the Fremantle Dockers last weekend.

Sam Wicks and Harry Carr are two of the four players going out of the side.

Sydney University travel to Tidbold Park to take on the Redland Bombers on Saturday. The Students had a good win over the Demons last start, and with a third place finish the worst they can do, they have made a number of changes heading into the finals.

Darcy Baron-Hay and Jacob Derickx have been ruled out through injury, while Aaron Day, Tim Barton, Sam Tagliabue and Will Sierakowski have all been rested.

Coming into the side, they welcome Lewis Stevenson, Nathan Cooper and Alistair Gillespie who will be playing for their place ahead of the finals. Former Sydney Swan, Tom Derickx, has been named in the Ruck and will give the Students some more AFL-listed experience.

The final game sees the GWS GIANTS host the Brisbane Lions at Spotless Stadium. After a disappointing season, the GIANTS will be hoping to put in one last big performance against a strong Lions outfit.

They welcome back several players with AFL experience for the clash, including Will Setterfield, Harry Himmelberg and Tim Taranto who returns from injury. They have made ten changes in total and will be hoping the likes of Dawson Simpson and Tendai Mzungu will continue their good NEAFL form and lead them to victory.

 

MATCH DAY INFORMATION