Phil Doyle
29 Apr 2002, 11:20
Balmain Tigers v East Coast Eagles
Drummoyne Oval, Saturday May 4
The Balmain footy club has organised a testimonial for coach Troy Luff as part of the match day festivities at Drummoyne Oval, but despite being honored by the celebrations Troy Luff remains focussed on the job at hand.
“Once the ball is bounced we have a game to win.”
After a narrow loss to the competition pace setters, UNSW - Eastern Suburbs, and a bruising win over St George last week Luff believes there is plenty of room for improvement in the Tigers.
“Inaccurate kicking has let us down. It’s the forward line that needs to improve.” Said Luff, who pointed to his side’s strong depth as being a factor behind Balmain’s strong showing in 2002.
East Coast eagles co-coach Gus Seebeck had a look at the Tigers last week and is confident his side is up to the task.
“Their strength seems to be in the midfield and half-forward line. It’ll be important that we get the match-ups right.”
Luff has a healthy respect for the young East Coast Eagles side and Balmain will be looking to close the Eagles down early:
“If they can get off to a good start they get a sniff and away they go.”
Seebeck was pleased his side had a strong last quarter against Pennant Hills last week, something that has been missing from the Eagles in the opening two rounds.
“It was very encouraging, we were rotating off the bench so we had plenty of legs.”
Nonetheless the Eagles will be prepared for a strong physical game, with plenty of physical work in the lead up to the game.
“We won’t be shirking our responsibilities.” Said Seebeck. “We’ll be going hard and tough at the ball.”
While the Eagles are a young side they nonetheless have a strong physical dimension to their game, but the Tigers are strong across the park and have vowed to have a hundred percent record at their home base at Drummoyne Oval this year.
The Tigers should win this but, as Luff said, if they give the Eagles a sniff it could be a boilover.
Prediction: Tigers by 18 points
North Shore Bombers v Western Suburbs Magpies
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday May 4
This top of the table clash is shaping up to be an exciting match of the round.
The Bombers absolutely blitzed the Campbelltown Panthers last weekend in the grand final replay, while the Magpies showed they were good things against the Redbacks at Bankstown Oval.
North Shore are showing early indicators that they have what it takes to go all the way again this year. Bombers’ coach Simon Wilson is encouraged by the enthusiasm new and younger players have brought to the revamped Bombers this year.
“We’re looking forward to taking on Wests - they’ll be big and fast. It’ll let us know where we’re at.”
Across the harbour the Magpies have really turned things around this year and remain undefeated after three rounds, but they face their biggest test so far against the free running and talented North Shore at the big Gore Hill ground.
Accuracy in front of goal paid dividends for the Magpies against the Redbacks and Western Suburbs have a potential match winner in the competition’s leading goalkicker, Lee Campbell. In ruckman Dale Odgers they have the ability to win the sort of possession out of the middle that can cause problems for opposing sides. Down back Stephen Hudson has shown a welcome return to form and the Magpies will need him to contain a Bombers outfit that will be looking to go one on one in the key position contests on their forward line.
“We’ll be looking to attack, using our pace and running game.” Says Bombers coach Simon Wilson. “Possession and avoiding turnovers is the key to this game and we controlled the ball really well last week against Campbelltown.”
Wilson will be looking for a stronger game in the midfield where North Shore will be up against bigger opponents than have faced so far this year.
If the Bombers get enough of the ball they could prove to be a handful for the Magpies, but it will be a tight one.
Prediction: North Shore by 5 points
St George Crows v UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs
Olds Park, Saturday May 4
A freshened up Bulldogs squad comes back from the bye to take on a St George outfit that got out of the blocks slowly in last week’s bruising loss to Balmain.
Crows coach Craig O’Brien was very disappointed after the loss, but his young charges managed to remain competitive after an opening quarter when they failed to register even a point.
Despite the slow start St George managed at least as many shots on goal as their much more fancied opponents last week in what must be an encouraging sign for the Crows.
The Bulldogs will be fresh after having a week off following their equally physical game against Balmain the week before.
O’Brien considers the UNSW - Eastern Suburbs side to be ‘the yardstick’ of the competition at this stage and will be looking for his side to ‘play as best as we can’.
“We’re going to have to rethink the way we’re doing things.” Said O’Brien. “But we can’t change overnight.”
For the Bulldogs this will be a strong test of their focus for 2002. While they might be expected to win this game over a less experienced St George outfit this could also prove to be a danger game and they will need to be ‘switched on’.
The Doggies were fortunate to snatch a win in the last quarter against an improving Balmain side before their break and Coach Tim Jones will be looking for an improvement from a side that has had a very promising start to season 2002.
While St George will be a harder proposition back at their home ground for the first time in 2002, the Bulldogs are a big side that should dominate the key position areas of the game. Even so, the Doggies won’t want to take the Crows lightly, for they possess some talented young players that will be hungry for a win after last weeks disappointments.
Prediction: UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 15 points
Sydney Redbacks v Pennant Hills Demons
SCG, Sunday May 5
Pennant Hills’ tough start to the year won’t get any easier this week when they take on the talented Redbacks squad at the SCG.
Nonetheless this will be a big opportunity for the Demons younger players who Demons coach Danny Ryan says have shown marked improvement over the last two weeks.
The SCG looks like it should be an advantage to the Redbacks who had a strong win against Campbelltown in their last outing here.
“Obviously it depends on the availability of Swans listed players, but over the last few weeks we’ve had a good mix of Swans players and local young talent.” Said Redbacks coach Brett Allison. “We had enough of the football but kicking let us down a bit against Wests. Bad kicking is bad football. If we can get a few through the big sticks, which is the object of the game, then hopefully we’ll be competitive again.”
Demons Coach Danny Ryan doesn’t think the SCG should be too much of a factor for the Demons:
“We’ve got some young guys with some [NSW-ACT] Rams experience, and the older guys have been playing there for the last three years.”
Pennant Hills injury woes appear unlikely to improve in the immediate future with none of their injured seniors set to return to first grade this week. The lack of depth has hindered the Demons form in the opening rounds but Danny Ryan still remains confident.
“We’ve just got to keep chipping away at it. We’re not doing a lot wrong. It’s just a matter of knuckling down and doing the job. A win by one point would be great.”
The Redbacks should be more than competitive against a young Demons squad, but if the Demons can win their fair share of possession they could give the Redbacks a shake.
Prediction: Redbacks by 25 points
Phil Doyle
Drummoyne Oval, Saturday May 4
The Balmain footy club has organised a testimonial for coach Troy Luff as part of the match day festivities at Drummoyne Oval, but despite being honored by the celebrations Troy Luff remains focussed on the job at hand.
“Once the ball is bounced we have a game to win.”
After a narrow loss to the competition pace setters, UNSW - Eastern Suburbs, and a bruising win over St George last week Luff believes there is plenty of room for improvement in the Tigers.
“Inaccurate kicking has let us down. It’s the forward line that needs to improve.” Said Luff, who pointed to his side’s strong depth as being a factor behind Balmain’s strong showing in 2002.
East Coast eagles co-coach Gus Seebeck had a look at the Tigers last week and is confident his side is up to the task.
“Their strength seems to be in the midfield and half-forward line. It’ll be important that we get the match-ups right.”
Luff has a healthy respect for the young East Coast Eagles side and Balmain will be looking to close the Eagles down early:
“If they can get off to a good start they get a sniff and away they go.”
Seebeck was pleased his side had a strong last quarter against Pennant Hills last week, something that has been missing from the Eagles in the opening two rounds.
“It was very encouraging, we were rotating off the bench so we had plenty of legs.”
Nonetheless the Eagles will be prepared for a strong physical game, with plenty of physical work in the lead up to the game.
“We won’t be shirking our responsibilities.” Said Seebeck. “We’ll be going hard and tough at the ball.”
While the Eagles are a young side they nonetheless have a strong physical dimension to their game, but the Tigers are strong across the park and have vowed to have a hundred percent record at their home base at Drummoyne Oval this year.
The Tigers should win this but, as Luff said, if they give the Eagles a sniff it could be a boilover.
Prediction: Tigers by 18 points
North Shore Bombers v Western Suburbs Magpies
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday May 4
This top of the table clash is shaping up to be an exciting match of the round.
The Bombers absolutely blitzed the Campbelltown Panthers last weekend in the grand final replay, while the Magpies showed they were good things against the Redbacks at Bankstown Oval.
North Shore are showing early indicators that they have what it takes to go all the way again this year. Bombers’ coach Simon Wilson is encouraged by the enthusiasm new and younger players have brought to the revamped Bombers this year.
“We’re looking forward to taking on Wests - they’ll be big and fast. It’ll let us know where we’re at.”
Across the harbour the Magpies have really turned things around this year and remain undefeated after three rounds, but they face their biggest test so far against the free running and talented North Shore at the big Gore Hill ground.
Accuracy in front of goal paid dividends for the Magpies against the Redbacks and Western Suburbs have a potential match winner in the competition’s leading goalkicker, Lee Campbell. In ruckman Dale Odgers they have the ability to win the sort of possession out of the middle that can cause problems for opposing sides. Down back Stephen Hudson has shown a welcome return to form and the Magpies will need him to contain a Bombers outfit that will be looking to go one on one in the key position contests on their forward line.
“We’ll be looking to attack, using our pace and running game.” Says Bombers coach Simon Wilson. “Possession and avoiding turnovers is the key to this game and we controlled the ball really well last week against Campbelltown.”
Wilson will be looking for a stronger game in the midfield where North Shore will be up against bigger opponents than have faced so far this year.
If the Bombers get enough of the ball they could prove to be a handful for the Magpies, but it will be a tight one.
Prediction: North Shore by 5 points
St George Crows v UNSW-Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs
Olds Park, Saturday May 4
A freshened up Bulldogs squad comes back from the bye to take on a St George outfit that got out of the blocks slowly in last week’s bruising loss to Balmain.
Crows coach Craig O’Brien was very disappointed after the loss, but his young charges managed to remain competitive after an opening quarter when they failed to register even a point.
Despite the slow start St George managed at least as many shots on goal as their much more fancied opponents last week in what must be an encouraging sign for the Crows.
The Bulldogs will be fresh after having a week off following their equally physical game against Balmain the week before.
O’Brien considers the UNSW - Eastern Suburbs side to be ‘the yardstick’ of the competition at this stage and will be looking for his side to ‘play as best as we can’.
“We’re going to have to rethink the way we’re doing things.” Said O’Brien. “But we can’t change overnight.”
For the Bulldogs this will be a strong test of their focus for 2002. While they might be expected to win this game over a less experienced St George outfit this could also prove to be a danger game and they will need to be ‘switched on’.
The Doggies were fortunate to snatch a win in the last quarter against an improving Balmain side before their break and Coach Tim Jones will be looking for an improvement from a side that has had a very promising start to season 2002.
While St George will be a harder proposition back at their home ground for the first time in 2002, the Bulldogs are a big side that should dominate the key position areas of the game. Even so, the Doggies won’t want to take the Crows lightly, for they possess some talented young players that will be hungry for a win after last weeks disappointments.
Prediction: UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 15 points
Sydney Redbacks v Pennant Hills Demons
SCG, Sunday May 5
Pennant Hills’ tough start to the year won’t get any easier this week when they take on the talented Redbacks squad at the SCG.
Nonetheless this will be a big opportunity for the Demons younger players who Demons coach Danny Ryan says have shown marked improvement over the last two weeks.
The SCG looks like it should be an advantage to the Redbacks who had a strong win against Campbelltown in their last outing here.
“Obviously it depends on the availability of Swans listed players, but over the last few weeks we’ve had a good mix of Swans players and local young talent.” Said Redbacks coach Brett Allison. “We had enough of the football but kicking let us down a bit against Wests. Bad kicking is bad football. If we can get a few through the big sticks, which is the object of the game, then hopefully we’ll be competitive again.”
Demons Coach Danny Ryan doesn’t think the SCG should be too much of a factor for the Demons:
“We’ve got some young guys with some [NSW-ACT] Rams experience, and the older guys have been playing there for the last three years.”
Pennant Hills injury woes appear unlikely to improve in the immediate future with none of their injured seniors set to return to first grade this week. The lack of depth has hindered the Demons form in the opening rounds but Danny Ryan still remains confident.
“We’ve just got to keep chipping away at it. We’re not doing a lot wrong. It’s just a matter of knuckling down and doing the job. A win by one point would be great.”
The Redbacks should be more than competitive against a young Demons squad, but if the Demons can win their fair share of possession they could give the Redbacks a shake.
Prediction: Redbacks by 25 points
Phil Doyle