NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 13 preview
By Michael DiFabrizio
Port Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans – Saturday 1.40pm (AAMI Stadium)
The Sydney Swans (8-2-1, 4th) are back in action this week to face Port Adelaide (6-5, 10th).
All eyes will be on tall forward Kurt Tippett, who will finally make his Swans debut.
Port have had a rollercoaster season thus far but last week saw them deliver an emphatic 75-point win over the GWS GIANTS.
Although the Swans had the bye last week, their form in the weeks prior to that was up their with their best. Plus, the last eight encounters between these two teams have been Swans victories.
As he showed again last week, Kane Cornes is in damaging form for the Power and he will be someone John Longmire would want to contain.
The Swans will also have to be careful in defence, as on their day the Port forwards can kick bags. The side ranks seventh for inside 50s and goal accuracy and sixth for marks inside 50.
It will be the middle of the ground where the Swans are expected to exert their dominance, however. They rank second for hitouts (versus 14th for Port) and first for clearances (versus 13th).
The players to keep an eye on will be Dan Hannebery, who had 42 disposals at the same venue two weeks ago, and Tom Mitchell, who was a star in that same game despite it being just his second at AFL level.
That is, when you’re not already focussed on Tippett, whose arrival means the Swans finally have that gun key forward they’ve been missing.
NSW/ACT Notes
The GWS GIANTS have the bye this week.
Temora’s Isaac Smith will make his 50th appearance for Hawthorn this week if selected for their Friday night encounter against West Coast at Etihad Stadium.
Luke Breust (Temora) is dealing with the extra attention of taggers this season since teammate Cyril Rioli went down with injury. It’s a compliment to what Breust has achieved since his 2011 debut, kicking 95 goals from just 52 appearances, but it is forcing him to expand his game.
Breust told AFL.com.au this week: “I can’t really remember anyone just sitting on me last year. They’d have a job to attack as well as defend, and a lot of the time that’s where I could get a little bit of breathing space, when they were off attacking. If we were good enough to turn it over, you could hurt them on the rebound.”
Josh Bruce (Eastlake) has impressed Dermott Brereton in his seven-game stint while Phil Davis (Marist Canberra) has been sidelined at the GWS GIANTS, with the Hawthorn legend saying he could be a 100-game player.
The 197cm Bruce told the Canberra Times: “I’m starting to feel more comfortable with the pressure and pace of the game, I feel more confident in my abilities … Hopefully I can slot in there as the third tell next to [Davis] and Tim Mohr.”
NSW/ACT TV Guide
Fri 7.30pm – Hawthorn vs. West Coast Eagles (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sat 1.30pm – Port Adelaide vs. Sydney Swans (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sat 4.30pm – St Kilda vs. Melbourne (Fox Footy)
Sat 7.30pm – Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sun 3.00pm – Fremantle vs. North Melbourne (live Fox Sports, 1hr delay 7mate)
Sun 4.30pm – Brisbane Lions vs. Geelong (Fox Footy)
NEAFL (Round 14)
Ainslie vs. Belconnen – Saturday 11.45am (Star Track Oval)
Redland vs. Hills Eagles – Saturday 1.00pm (Redland)
Eastlake vs. Tuggeranong – Saturday 2.30pm (Star Track Oval)
NT Thunder vs. Sydney Swans – Saturday 3.20pm (Alice Springs)
Queanbeyan vs. Sydney Uni – Sunday 11.45am (Dairy Farmers)”
UWS GIANTS – bye
