NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 8 preview

By Michael DiFabrizio

Hawthorn vs. GWS GIANTS – Saturday 2.10pm (Aurora Stadium)

Hawthorn (6-1, 3rd) will be perhaps the toughest opposition yet for the GIANTS (0-7, 18th).

Fresh off beating the Swans in a Grand Final re-match, the Hawks are in strong form. Their fixture has meant they’ve now played all seven other finalists from 2012, yet only one of those games was a loss.

The GIANTS will be hoping to channel their form of two weeks ago when they faced another team in strong form in Essendon. That game was tipped to be one-sided but the GIANTS turned up ready for the challenge and led by 21 points at half time.

When the two sides met last year at the MCG it was a convincing win for the Hawks.

Sydney Swans vs. Fremantle – Saturday 7.40pm (SCG)

Sydney (5-2, 5th) face another top four aspirant in Fremantle (5-2, 6th).

The last three clashes between these sides, the past two of which were at the SCG, have been decided by 13 points or less. With both sides starting the year with five wins, it’s set to be another close one.

The Dockers have a low disposal efficiency rate, which could be further affected by the Swans’ willingness to tackle (ranked 2nd). But the Dockers themselves love physical pressure, ranking third for tackles.

The form guide indicates a close, physical contest that could plausibly suit either team.

NSW/ACT Notes

The Sydney Swans trio of Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe are due to play their 250th game together. They first appeared together in Round 8, 2000, and are just the second trio to reach the 250 milestone. The record for three players together? That’s the Western Bulldogs group of Brad Johnson, Rohan Smith and Scott West with 253 games.

Richmond people have been impressed with the Tiger debut of Orren Stephenson (Mangoplah-CUE) last weekend. Matthew Richardson wrote on the club website: “I loved the energetic way he went about his ruckwork. He jumped right over the top of his Port opponents at the centre bounces, and won plenty of clear hit-outs to advantage for the team.”

“Stephenson was especially influential early on in helping Richmond seize control of the contest.　 He also took a few decisive marks around the　 ground, to further underline his value to the side.　 On that form, he’s going to provide the Tigers’ No. 1 ruckman, Ivan Maric, with some really strong back-up.”

NEAFL (Round 9)

Aspley vs. Tuggeranong – Saturday 11.30am (Aspley)
UWS GIANTS vs. Brisbane Lions – Saturday 12.00pm (Blacktown)
Hills Eagles vs. Belconnen – Saturday 2.00pm (Bruce Purser)
Sydney Uni vs. Ainslie – Saturday 2.00pm (No 1 Oval)
Sydney Swans vs. Queanbeyan – Saturday 4.00pm (SCG)
Eastlake – Bye