NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 6 Review

By Michael DeFabrizio

Essendon 17.18 (120) def. GWS GIANTS 12.9 (81)

Given the opposition were on top of the ladder, given the team’s leading two key position players had been sidelined during the week, given their record in Victoria, given most were predicting a 100-point loss, the performance of the GIANTS against Essendon can be described as one of the best in the club’s young history.

Greater Western Sydney travelled to Melbourne as severe underdogs on Saturday, but they weren’t keen to follow the script.

In the first term the GIANTS built a 21-point lead and held the Bombers to just one goal, the back line being patrolled by Tim Mohr and Stephen Gilham in the absence of Phil Davis.

Jeremy Cameron opened the scoring and he would go on to kick six goals in a forward line that delivered in spite of the absence of Setanta O’hAilpin.

And in the midfield, a man who’d been under scrutiny in Tom Scully stood up. He had only 18 disposals but he barely missed a target (94 per cent efficiency) and had an impact all over the ground (seven marks, four rebound 50s, seven tackles and two goals). Adam Treloar and Taylor Adams were also impressive.

The GIANTS maintained their lead going into half time, once again 21 points up. They had Essendon in a state of shock. Yet, in the second half, the game inevitably returned to the script.

The in-form Bombers were always going to mount a retaliation. The young GIANTS were always going to feel the pinch as the game wore on, as they had in previous games.

The Bombers – led by Michael Hibberd (29 disposals at 82 per cent) and Stewart Crameri and Alwyn Davey (four goals each) – came back in the third term. David Zaharakis and Brendon Goddard also played a big part.

In the end the Bombers did win by 39 points, but it was not the first-versus-last domination many expected it to be.

Sydney Swans 17.13 (115) def. Brisbane Lions 8.7 (55)

The Swans burst out of the blocks and never looked like surrendering against the Brisbane Lions on Sunday.

After the first quarter, which saw the Swans lead by 40, fans of the home side would’ve been forgiven for thinking a complete domination was about to take place.

Kieren Jack had 13 of his 29 disposals by the first break. His opponent, Brent Moloney, had only two touches. Sam Reid and Mike Pyke both took advantage mis-matches by kicking two goals each before their opponents belatedly swapped places.

The inside 50 count was 15-6. Disposal efficiency was at 75 per cent for the Swans yet only 48 for the Lions. The most damning stat was that the Swans had seen the ball more than two times as much as the Lions: disposals were 120-55.

If anything, the 40-point margin may have been selling things short.

From there, though, the Lions did manage to stem the bleeding. Still, they never looked like being able to claw their way back and the Swans won or drew every remaining quarter, running the game out 60-point winners.

Dan Hannebery (32 disposals, one goal) joined Jack in the best. Reid finished with three for his best game of the season. Lewis Jetta was another to find form, with six inside 50s, two goals and the return of him speeding away from opponents with ease.

Ryan O’Keefe and Jarrad McVeigh also had a major impact on proceedings.

For the Lions, Ryan Lester continued his quiet emergence with 27 disposals, six tackles and a goal in his second game for the year. Jed Adcock, Joel Patfull and James Polkinghorne were also named in the best.

NSW/ACT Notes

Jarrod Witts (St Ives) made his debut on Friday night for Collingwood, who juggled their two debutants by subbing Witts off for Ben Kennedy. During his time on the field Witts had five hitouts and took four marks.

Lenny Hayes (Pennant Hills) suffered a calf strain in the warm-up and he’s now expected to miss another 2-3 weeks. Teammate Sam Gilbert (St George) suffered structural damage to his knee in the game and will miss several weeks. Justin Koschitzke (Brocklesby) may also be sidelined, with the match review panel set to look at his clash with Jamie Elliot.

Jacob Townsend (Leeton-Whitton) was the best of the GIANTS’ NSW/ACT contingent in the absence of Phil Davis. He had five tackles, five marks and 16 disposals. Josh Bruce (Eastlake) kicked a goal in his first game for the season.

The debut of Will Sierakowski (St Ignatius Riverview) was solid. He had 11 disposals and three tackles in North Melbourne’s win over the previously undefeated Port Adelaide.

Isaac Smith (Temora) had eight marks, six tackles and a goal in Hawthorn’s win over Adelaide. Luke Breust (Temora) kicked 2.2 and laid seven tackles. Taylor Duryea (Wahguyah) had 14 disposals at 93 per cent efficiency, plus four rebound 50s.

Tom Hawkins (Finley) kicked two goals and assisted three although he was held to just six disposals in Geelong’s win over Richmond.

Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh (Pennant Hills) both had close to 30 touches in the Swans win. Jack had nine inside 50s, McVeigh kicked a goal.

Dane Rampe (UNSW-ES Bulldogs) had 11 disposals with a huge eight one-percenters. Ben McGlynn (Wentworth) laid five tackles and kicked 1.2. Craig Bird (Nelson Bay) had 13 disposals at 84 per cent efficiency.

Daniel Cross (Albury) was one of the Western Bulldogs’ best performers in their loss to West Coast, registering 20 disposals. Dylan Addison (St George) had four tackles and a goal. Jason Tutt (Ainslie) had three inside 50s and a goal. Tom Young (Wollondilly) had 15 disposals.

NEAFL (Round 7)

Tuggeranong 10.7 (67) def. Mt Gravatt 9.9 (63)
Belconnen 19.22 (136) def. Queanbeyan 11.7 (73)
Eastlake 14.9 (93) def. by Ainslie 15.10 (100)
Sydney Swans 11.15 (81) def. by Brisbane Lions 15.14 (104)
Hills Eagles, Sydney Uni, UWS GIANTS – Bye