NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 11 wrap

By Michael DiFrabazio

GWS GIANTS 15.8 (98) def. by Geelong 24.13 (157)

The GWS GIANTS put in one of their best ever performances on Saturday, giving Geelong a scare.

The final margin was 59 points but at three quarter time there were only two goals separating the teams.

The first five goals of the game went to the Giants, with the decision to move the ball by foot (kicks were 61-36 at the first break) paying dividends. Callan Ward was on fire early with 12 first quarter disposals and would finish with a game-high 30.

As the Cats started to claw their way back, Jeremy Cameron offered resistance. He kicked 4.4 for the afternoon. Meanwhile, Jonathan Giles dominated the ruck with 41 hitouts, 16 disposals and – impressively for a big man – seven tackles.

With two minutes remaining in the third term scores were level, but two late goals to Geelong was the start of a trend that continued into the final quarter.

The Cats scrapped their way to a win through their experienced stars like Joel Selwood (29 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency) and James Podsiadly (five goals).

Next week the GIANTS face Port Adelaide at Skoda Stadium on Sunday.

Adelaide 6.14 (50) def. by Sydney Swans 19.13 (127)

The Sydney Swans sent a message to the competition on Saturday as they comprehensively beat Adelaide.

The Crows did a good job in the first quarter of keeping the ball in their forward half but struggled to capitalise. Having the first seven inside 50s of the game was cancelled out by only scoring two behinds from them.

When the Swans got it forward they rarely disappointed, which meant when the Crows’ forward pressure finally started to crack it was Sydney’s game.

By quarter time the margin was 18 points. Ryan O’Keefe had been huge with 12 disposals, while Adelaide’s key forwards were kept quiet.

The Swans took off in the second term and the margin ballooned out to 47 points.

Dan Hannebery was the big story thanks to his 42 disposals, seven of which were inside 50s. Tom Mitchell continued the impressive start to his career with 31 disposals and 10 tackles. Kieren Jack had 32 and nine. O’Keefe ended up with 28 and 15.

Up forward, Jesse White, Mitch Morton and Ben McGlynn had three goals each.

The Swans have the bye this week.

NSW/ACT Notes

The GIANTS’ impressive performance was helped by the likes of Josh Bruce (Eastlake) and Jacob Townsend (Leeton-Whitton). Bruce had 12 disposals and five marks, while Townsend had 14 disposals and six tackles.

As already mentioned, Kieren Jack (Pennant Hills) was big for the Swans on Saturday. Jarrad McVeigh (Pennant Hills) had a great all-round game with 24 disposals, six marks, five tackles and five inside 50s. Dane Rampe (UNSW-ES Bulldogs) had 18 disposals and a game-high 10 one-percenters.

Brandon Jack (Pennant Hills) made his AFL debut in the same game. After coming on as the sub he managed six disposals and three marks.

Dean Terlich (Osborne) had 20 disposals, six marks and four rebound 50s in Melbourne’s loss to Collingwood on Monday.

NAB AFL U18s Championships (Round 2)

Vic Metro 20.12 (132) def. NSW/ACT 9.8 (62)

NSW/ACT went down to the talent-laden Vic Metro by 70 points on Sunday. The match was threatening to be a blowout early on, but the Rams kept pressing.

AFL.com.au’s Callum Twomey reported that midfielders Michael Gibbons (29 disposals, five tackles), Lloyd Perris (26 disposals, one goal) and Jake Barrett (22 disposals, three goals) were the standouts for the away team.

For Vic Metro, the 199cm potential first pick Tom Boyd shone with a six-goal haul.

NEAFL

Gold Coast Suns 10.10 (70) def. Sydney Swans 7.8 (50)
NT Thunder 10.14 (74) def. by UWS GIANTS 17.18 (120)
Ainslie, Belconnen, Eastlake, Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong, Hills Eagles, Sydney Uni – Bye