NEAFL Round 9 preview
By Matt Rossleigh
Sydney Swans vs Queanbeyan – Saturday 4.00pm SCG
The Swans reserves host Queanbeyan on Saturday afternoon in a curtain raiser to the AFL match between Sydney and Fremantle at the SCG. The match is a top of the table clash in the Eastern Conference with both teams on five wins to start the season. Brandon Jack says if the Swans can be tight in their defensive pressure it’ll go a long way towards winning against Queanbeyan.
“Our main focus this week is our pressure, that’s our focus every week but when we come up against a strong team, we really pride ourselves on our pressure,” said Jack.
“It’s not about attack as much for us as it is about relentless pressure defensively and then that will flow on to our attack.”
Sydney were impressive on Sunday at Blacktown in the 49-point victory over UWS GIANTS, while Queanbeyan come into the match on the back of two defeats against Belconnen and Ainslie after winning five matches to start the season.
Aspley vs Tuggeranong – Saturday 11.30am Aspley-Graham Road
Tuggeranong make the trip to Queensland this week after a disappointing loss against Sydney University last weekend. The 12-goal loss sees the Tigers slip to 8th on the table with two victories so far this season. Aspley had a week off last weekend, but is coming off a loss from the previous week after a nail biting six-point defeat at home to Redland. Amazingly, the match was the fourth time this season they’ve been involved in a margin of less than a goal, of which Aspley has lost three times. Tuggeranong will have fond memories of their last trip north of the border, when they came away with a four-point victory over Mt Gravatt on May 4.
UWS GIANTS vs Brisbane Lions – Saturday 12.00pm Blacktown International Sports Park
For the second week in a row the GIANTS will face AFL opposition after Sunday’s 49-point loss to the Swans at Blacktown. Gerald Ugle kicked three goals for the GIANTS for the second successive week and will need to produce the same sort of form if they are to beat last season’s NEAFL Premiers on Saturday afternoon. After the weekend off in the Northern Conference last week the Lions return to action still sitting on top of the table, one win clear of both Southport and Morningside. Last time out the Lions came to the SCG and had an impressive 23-point win over the Swans. Jordan Lisle kicked four goals that day and already has 28 goals this season at an average of just under five per match.
Hills Eagles vs Belconnen – Saturday 2.00pm Bruce Purser Reserve
The Eagles will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 25-point loss to Eastlake when it hosts Belconnen who are returning from a weekend off. Hills have two wins to start the season and will relish the challenge of facing the third placed Magpies who have just two losses so far this season. To have any chance the Eagles must be more lethal in front of goal and convert its opportunities after kicking just seven goals and fifteen behinds last week. In their last win over Queanbeyan, Belconnen kicked 19 goals and had a spread ten different goal kickers on the day.
Sydney University vs Ainslie – Saturday 2.00pm Sydney University No 1 Oval
Sydney University will go into this fixture against Ainslie with confidence sky high after their first victory of the season last weekend against Tuggeranong. Not only was it the club’s first win but the 76-point margin will mean Sydney University will believe they are every chance of beating an Ainslie side which sits in fourth place. After back to back losses followed by a bye, Ainslie has now won three in a row with victories over Broadbeach, Eastlake and Queanbeyan. With both Hills Eagles and Tuggeranong facing tough opposition this weekend a win for Sydney University could see them move off the bottom of the ladder.