NEAFL Round 13 Preview
By Matt Rossleigh
Eastlake vs Redland – Star Track Oval 11.45am Saturday June 15
Following last weekend’s Bye round, Eastlake returns home to play Redland from the Northern Conference, with Redland looking for its fourth win in a row. Wins against Queanbeyan, Sydney University and Hills Eagles sees the club occupy sixth position. Level on points with four teams above them and with a game in hand on two of them, Eastlake is a good chance of playing finals football in 2013. Redland occupies 6th position in the Northern Conference and comes into the match after a 10-point loss to Broadbeach last weekend. Three wins in a row before last week’s close loss means Redland will fancy its chance in Canberra, but it will be the first time this season the Queensland club has played interstate.
Hills Eagles vs Ainslie – Bruce Purser Reserve 2pm Saturday June 15
Two wins from their last seven matches means Hills Eagles are very much in need of a win this weekend at home to Ainslie. Ainslie sits in third position in the Eastern Conference however with the close nature of the competition this season a win for the Eagles would see them move to within a victory of Ainslie. Hills can take great confidence in their last run out two weeks ago, with a 19-point loss to the GIANTS. The Eagles came from six goals down at half-time to move within a kick of their AFL opponents at the final change, but Hills couldn’t turn the momentum into a win. Ainslie have been inconsistent of late, with big wins over Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan but heavy defeats to Sydney Swans reserves and Sydney University. A win for the ACT club would see them keep the pressure on the Swans and Belconnen who are ahead on the ladder.
Tuggeranong vs Queanbeyan – Greenway Oval 2pm Saturday June 15
One win in eight match has seen Tuggeranong slump to the foot of the Eastern Conference, their last win coming in Round 7 against Mt Gravatt. Last time out the Hawks had a fourteen-goal loss to Ainslie, however Queanbeyan also coming into the match with average form following two losses in a row to Eastlake and Sydney Swans reserves. With a game in hand on the teams above them Queanbeyan could possibly move into 3rd position, and with a bad differential compared to the teams above them the Tigers will see this match as an opportunity to improve it as it could be important come the end of the season.
Sydney University vs Belconnen – Sydney University No 1 Oval 2pm Saturday June 15
Sydney University have won three of its past four by this Saturday will be its biggest test against the second placed Belconnen. Despite sitting two wins outside the finals places, Sydney University has a game in hand and doesn’t face AFL opposition for the next seven weeks so it is still very much on the agenda. Belconnen’s first loss in five weeks came last time out at the SCG but the club still sits in 2nd, one win ahead of the chasing pack. The Magpies do not face AFL opponents for the rest of the season, with all their remaining matches after this weekend in the ACT.
UWS GIANTS vs Gold Coast Suns – Blacktown International Sports Park 9.30am Sunday June 16
Both the GIANTS and the Suns played last weekend during the representative round, with the GIANTS having a 46-point win over NT Thunder in Darwin and the Suns inflicting a 20-point defeat to the Swans reserves. It will be the second time the two clubs would have met in a month, after the Suns won by 29-points at Blacktown in May. On that day Hall kicked 4 goals and Rischitelli kicked three goals while Sam Reid kicked 4 goals for the GIANTS. In a Northern Conference ladder the Suns sit in 4th position but just a win behind the Brisbane Lions who are on top. The GIANTS also sit in 4th place in the Eastern Conference but are losing ground on the first placed Swans who have three more wins so far this season.
Sydney Swans – BYE