NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 19 preview

By Michael DiFabrizio

GWS GIANTS vs. Melbourne – Saturday 1.45pm (Skoda Stadium)
 
The GIANTS (0-17, 18th) have a massive chance to get on the board when Melbourne (2-15, 17th) visit.
 
The home side is in pretty good form while the Dees, after briefly lifting when Neil Craig took over as coach, are coming off their second loss of more than 100 points.
 
Will it be enough to reverse the result from the last time these teams met, a 41-point Melbourne win in Round 4.
 
That game was the last time Jeremy Cameron was not a multiple goal kicker. Given the Dees have lost James Frawley for a month and given Cameron’s seven goals last week, a repeat of that is unlikely.
However, the GIANTS’ glaring weakness in terms of being able to get over the line remains their fourth quarters. It was a huge factor in Round 4 and was again last week as the Pies booted six goals to none in the final term.
 
The key will be to build a strong enough lead in the opening terms to withstand any late game drop-off.
 
Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans – Sunday 1.10pm (Etihad Stadium)
 
The Swans (13-3-1, 3rd) face a young team unafraid to take on the big guns as they meet the Western Bulldogs (5-12, 15th).
 
Last time these sides met, in Round 21 last year, the Swans ran out 82-point winners, however the Dogs’ form has improved since then.
 
In the past two weeks, they’ve managed an upset win over the West Coast Eagles and lost to Hawthorn in Tasmania by just 19 points. They’ve won five games, which matches their output of last season.
 
Sydney are riding a five-game win streak and are in third spot after Essendon slipped down the ladder over the weekend.
 
This will be the first meeting of the young gun midfielders on each team, Tom Liberatore and Tom Mitchell.
 
Liberatore, 21, is averaging 24 disposals and six tackles this year. Mitchell, 20, is averaging 22 and six – as well as more than a goal a game – since his debut in Round 10. You suspect the two Toms will have quite a few battles in the years to come.
 
NSW/ACT Notes
 
Brent Staker (West Broken Hill) will play his 150th AFL game if selected for the Brisbane Lions this weekend. He made his AFL debut at the West Coast Eagles in 2003 and moved to the Lions at the end of 2009.
 
Sydney Swans star Josh Kennedy is set for his 100th consecutive game this weekend. The streak began in Round 14, 2009 and is the third-longest in the AFL. Given the injury to Andrew Swallow, it will become the second-longest this week.
 
Adam Schneider (Osborne) is edging closer to an AFL return after 30 possessions in the VFL last weekend. He’s returned from a serious hamstring injury.
 
Rookie-listed GWS player Joe Redfern (Wagga Swans) kicked two goals in the reserves last week. The 18 year-old is yet to make his AFL debut.
 
NSW/ACT TV Guide
 
Fri 7.30pm – North Melbourne vs. Geelong (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sat 1.30pm – GWS GIANTS vs. Melbourne (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sat 2.00pm – Hawthorn vs. Richmond (Fox Sports 3)
Sat 4.30pm – West Coast Eagles vs. Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)
Sat 7.30pm – Brisbane Lions vs. St Kilda (Fox Sports 3)
Sat 7.30pm – Carlton vs. Fremantle (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sun 1.00pm – Western Bulldogs vs. Sydney Swans (7mate, Fox Footy)
Sun 3.00pm – Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide (Fox Sports 3, delayed 1hr 7mate)
Sun 4.30pm – Collingwood vs. Essendon (Fox Footy)
 
NEAFL (Round 20)
 
UWS GIANTS vs. Sydney Uni – Saturday 10.05am (Blacktown)
Brisbane Lions vs. Sydney Swans – Saturday 1.00pm (Coorparoo)
Southport vs. Eastlake – Saturday 1.00pm (Southport)
Hills Eagles vs. Tuggeranong – Saturday 2.00pm (Bruce Purser)
Ainslie vs. Queanbeyan – Sunday 2.00pm (Ainslie)
Belconnen – bye