TEAM TALK: Round 12 NEAFL

After a break for the representative round, the NEAFL is back in full swing this weekend with three games involving NSW/ACT teams.

The red-hot Sydney Swans travel to Queensland to take on Aspley Hornets, with a couple of changes to last week’s side. After their dominant win against the GIANTS, the Swans regain the experienced pairing of Lewis Melican and Daniel Robinson.

Melican features in the NEAFL despite impressing in the Swans senior side for the last few weeks, and Robinson returns from a broken jaw sustained against Sydney University in Round 8.

Gary Rohan has been called back to the senior side, while Darcy Cameron is the other big change dropping out of the team with injury. This means that the Swans retain the likes of Kurt Tippett, Oliver Florent and Jordan Dawson who all had standout performances last week against the GIANTS.

Round 11 Rising Star Nominee, Sam Wicks also drops out of the side after kicking nine goals in his last four matches.

The second game sees Sydney University travel north to take on the Redland Bombers on Saturday afternoon. Coming off the bye, the Students keep a relatively unchanged side with only Will Sierakowski out this weekend.

Ryan Hebron will be looking to build on his strong form in the NEAFL representative side, taking his place in the back-pocket.. Likewise, Damien Bonney was also a stand-out against the Tasmanian State League, and will want to bring that form to Redland.

The final featured match sees the Canberra Demons host the NT Thunder in an important Saturday afternoon clash. The seventh-placed Demons are well positioned to jump back into the top six over a Thunder side which has struggled for form in recent weeks.

Jordan Harper was one of the names on everyone’s lips during the representative game, and will want to replicate that performance at home this weekend.

Nick Collins comes back into the side as a massive inclusion for the Demons, so too will Luke McKay who slots into the half-back line. Alex Smout is one of four players dropping out of the side.

The Demons will also be confident after defeating the Thunder in Darwin earlier this season.

 

MATCH DAY INFORMATION