Phil Doyle
2nd July 2002, 00:46
Previews:
East Coast Eagles v Balmain
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday July 7
The East Coast Eagles have called on their partnership with West Coast this week. John Worsfold and Guy McKenna will be addressing the side before this week’s clash with Balmain.
Despite a promising start to the season the Eagles’ inability to get over the line has cost them dearly. Even Eagles’ coach Gus Seebeck admitted that his side was ‘never really in the game’ last week.
Despite this the club is maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
Balmain, fresh from a week off, would appear to have the Eagles’ measure on paper – but they too dropped crucial games before the break and coach Troy Luff was not impressed:
“After a nine to one goal start we put the cue in the rack and thought everything was fine. We’ll be pretty ferocious after two losses in a row.
“Our main focus will be on the pressure side of things. We will put pressure on to get the turnover, and then be creative when we have the ball.”
The bye allowed Tigers’ players to recover from niggling injuries. Key forward Warren Cruse is set to return this week, and he will be a vital option for them in attack.
Gus Seebeck will take the same strategy into this game that saw the Eagles topple competition front-runners UNSW – Easts. He will be looking to get the match ups with the Tigers key players right, and make sure his players do the jobs asked of them.
With conditions getting cramped at the top of the ladder Balmain will be keen to get back on the winners’ list, but ironically it may be the other end of the ladder that has more bearing on this match.
If the Eagles don’t turn it on they could be playing for the wooden spoon next week.
Prediction: East Coast Eagles by 14 points
Pennant Hills v Sydney Redbacks
North Sydney Oval, Sunday July 7
Pennant Hills played very well despite going down to the competition pacesetters last week. Their injury woes continue to impact, with the club losing six players from their previous game.
With 14 under-23 players selected Demons’ coach Danny Ryan believes his young charges were simply ‘outgunned’ on the day.
“They are pretty young as well, so this will be the battle of the young talent in Sydney football.” Said Redbacks’ coach Brett Allison, who admits that there will be more new faces at the Redbacks each week as the Swans look to unearth young talent. “We’ll have a look at what we’ve got and do the best we can.”
The Demons have run into some form lately but Ryan believes that the Redbacks are a difficult side to judge:
“It’ll be very interesting to see them. We’re like the Redbacks; we have a lot of kids. We’re looking to bounce back.”
Allison will be looking for his ‘experienced’ players; Hill, Brewster, Jarjoura and Bradfield, to have an influence on the game, which should be a pretty speedy affair given the young legs in both sides.
“We’ve got to make North Sydney Oval suit us.” Said Ryan, who is expecting more players to be available this week. Even so, it seems as fast as the Demons players return just as many succumb to the injury cloud that hangs over the club.
With a bit more experience at their disposal, as well as the enthusiasm of their younger brigade, Pennant Hills look good. The hard work of previous weeks is paying off, and this will instill confidence amongst the younger players.
There is still a lot of hunger in the Demons, and they will be looking to be on the positive end of a few big results before the season is out.
Prediction: Pennant Hills by 40 points
Western Suburbs v North Shore
Bankstown Oval, Sunday July 7
After a stop start season, and a few unexpected losses, North Shore look to have their year back on track after a resounding win at the SCG last week.
This week they come up against a side that has been travelling a bit inconsistently of late.
“Last week was very disappointing.” Said Wests coach Laine Spencer in the lead up to this week’s match. “We had 90 per cent of the game. We should have won it easily. We let ourselves down.”
Bankstown Oval would appear to suit Wests, but Laine is looking for a more direct style of play from his team than what has been seen over recent weeks:
“We need to keep it in close, more of a North Melbourne style of game – playing straight down the corridor, rather than push it out to the wings.”
North Shore coach Simon Wilson knows that Wests are a good team with good footballers. He also knows that his side has a lot of work to do over the next 8 weeks.
“The boys are keen to get into it.” Said Wilson, who points out that his side must contain Wests’ key players.
The performance of players like Odgers, Spencer and Campbell is integral to Wests’ doing well. If these players can create opportunities, they have the personnel to back them up.
Spencer will be trying to get the Magpies to play with the confidence that saw them make such a barnstorming start to the season.
“Adam Sutton did a great job on Lee Campbell the last time we met. He would have to come into consideration.” Says Wilson, who has also flagged other changes as North Shore adapts to the smaller Bankstown Oval. Even so, they are a big mobile side, and these conditions may suit them.
Wests will be keen to get some consistency to their football. If they play as well as they are able to they can win this one, but on current form the Bombers just look too strong across the park.
Prediction: North Shore by 24 points
UNSW – Eastern Suburbs v St George
Village Green, Sunday July 7
The last, and far from least, game of the round.
The Bulldogs continue their winning ways and, unlike their opponents this week, boast a senior list that remains injury free.
St George was far from convincing in winning an arm wrestle with Wests last week, and the season may be taking its toll in injuries as they face the competition leaders.
“They are a quality side. It will be a completely different game than when we first played. They were just coming together as a side.” Said St George coach Craig O’Brien.
His Bulldog counterpart, Tim Jones, agrees:
“We’ve advanced and we have more confidence in each other. We’ve been consistent without being outstanding.”
That said, the ability of the Bulldogs to bounce back from behind, especially against strong opposition, has been winning them games.
Meanwhile the Crows younger brigade continues to impress. Richmond, who carved the Bulldogs up the first time these sides met this year, is proving to be very dangerous on the ball, and they have a tight defensive set up. The Crows injury toll, especially the loss of Seccull, has made it difficult for them, but O’Brien sees this as all a part of the clubs rebuilding phase.
“They are learning all the time. Realistically, I’d look for us to be competitive for four quarters. I want every player giving 110%.” Says O’Brien, who knows what happens if you don’t. “If you drop your guard for five minutes in this competition you will get beaten.”
“When they’re on their game they’re a side to be reckoned with.” Said Jones, who will be looking for the Bulldogs to continue with their winning formula. “We’ll just have our normal preparation and deal with whatever comes up.”
St George is a good small-ground side, and with the Bombers under their belt they are definitely a chance.
While UNSW – Eastern Suburbs may prove too good in this match, it’s a strong possibility these sides will meet later in the year come finals time.
Prediction: UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 37 points.
Phil Doyle
East Coast Eagles v Balmain
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday July 7
The East Coast Eagles have called on their partnership with West Coast this week. John Worsfold and Guy McKenna will be addressing the side before this week’s clash with Balmain.
Despite a promising start to the season the Eagles’ inability to get over the line has cost them dearly. Even Eagles’ coach Gus Seebeck admitted that his side was ‘never really in the game’ last week.
Despite this the club is maintaining a positive and enthusiastic attitude.
Balmain, fresh from a week off, would appear to have the Eagles’ measure on paper – but they too dropped crucial games before the break and coach Troy Luff was not impressed:
“After a nine to one goal start we put the cue in the rack and thought everything was fine. We’ll be pretty ferocious after two losses in a row.
“Our main focus will be on the pressure side of things. We will put pressure on to get the turnover, and then be creative when we have the ball.”
The bye allowed Tigers’ players to recover from niggling injuries. Key forward Warren Cruse is set to return this week, and he will be a vital option for them in attack.
Gus Seebeck will take the same strategy into this game that saw the Eagles topple competition front-runners UNSW – Easts. He will be looking to get the match ups with the Tigers key players right, and make sure his players do the jobs asked of them.
With conditions getting cramped at the top of the ladder Balmain will be keen to get back on the winners’ list, but ironically it may be the other end of the ladder that has more bearing on this match.
If the Eagles don’t turn it on they could be playing for the wooden spoon next week.
Prediction: East Coast Eagles by 14 points
Pennant Hills v Sydney Redbacks
North Sydney Oval, Sunday July 7
Pennant Hills played very well despite going down to the competition pacesetters last week. Their injury woes continue to impact, with the club losing six players from their previous game.
With 14 under-23 players selected Demons’ coach Danny Ryan believes his young charges were simply ‘outgunned’ on the day.
“They are pretty young as well, so this will be the battle of the young talent in Sydney football.” Said Redbacks’ coach Brett Allison, who admits that there will be more new faces at the Redbacks each week as the Swans look to unearth young talent. “We’ll have a look at what we’ve got and do the best we can.”
The Demons have run into some form lately but Ryan believes that the Redbacks are a difficult side to judge:
“It’ll be very interesting to see them. We’re like the Redbacks; we have a lot of kids. We’re looking to bounce back.”
Allison will be looking for his ‘experienced’ players; Hill, Brewster, Jarjoura and Bradfield, to have an influence on the game, which should be a pretty speedy affair given the young legs in both sides.
“We’ve got to make North Sydney Oval suit us.” Said Ryan, who is expecting more players to be available this week. Even so, it seems as fast as the Demons players return just as many succumb to the injury cloud that hangs over the club.
With a bit more experience at their disposal, as well as the enthusiasm of their younger brigade, Pennant Hills look good. The hard work of previous weeks is paying off, and this will instill confidence amongst the younger players.
There is still a lot of hunger in the Demons, and they will be looking to be on the positive end of a few big results before the season is out.
Prediction: Pennant Hills by 40 points
Western Suburbs v North Shore
Bankstown Oval, Sunday July 7
After a stop start season, and a few unexpected losses, North Shore look to have their year back on track after a resounding win at the SCG last week.
This week they come up against a side that has been travelling a bit inconsistently of late.
“Last week was very disappointing.” Said Wests coach Laine Spencer in the lead up to this week’s match. “We had 90 per cent of the game. We should have won it easily. We let ourselves down.”
Bankstown Oval would appear to suit Wests, but Laine is looking for a more direct style of play from his team than what has been seen over recent weeks:
“We need to keep it in close, more of a North Melbourne style of game – playing straight down the corridor, rather than push it out to the wings.”
North Shore coach Simon Wilson knows that Wests are a good team with good footballers. He also knows that his side has a lot of work to do over the next 8 weeks.
“The boys are keen to get into it.” Said Wilson, who points out that his side must contain Wests’ key players.
The performance of players like Odgers, Spencer and Campbell is integral to Wests’ doing well. If these players can create opportunities, they have the personnel to back them up.
Spencer will be trying to get the Magpies to play with the confidence that saw them make such a barnstorming start to the season.
“Adam Sutton did a great job on Lee Campbell the last time we met. He would have to come into consideration.” Says Wilson, who has also flagged other changes as North Shore adapts to the smaller Bankstown Oval. Even so, they are a big mobile side, and these conditions may suit them.
Wests will be keen to get some consistency to their football. If they play as well as they are able to they can win this one, but on current form the Bombers just look too strong across the park.
Prediction: North Shore by 24 points
UNSW – Eastern Suburbs v St George
Village Green, Sunday July 7
The last, and far from least, game of the round.
The Bulldogs continue their winning ways and, unlike their opponents this week, boast a senior list that remains injury free.
St George was far from convincing in winning an arm wrestle with Wests last week, and the season may be taking its toll in injuries as they face the competition leaders.
“They are a quality side. It will be a completely different game than when we first played. They were just coming together as a side.” Said St George coach Craig O’Brien.
His Bulldog counterpart, Tim Jones, agrees:
“We’ve advanced and we have more confidence in each other. We’ve been consistent without being outstanding.”
That said, the ability of the Bulldogs to bounce back from behind, especially against strong opposition, has been winning them games.
Meanwhile the Crows younger brigade continues to impress. Richmond, who carved the Bulldogs up the first time these sides met this year, is proving to be very dangerous on the ball, and they have a tight defensive set up. The Crows injury toll, especially the loss of Seccull, has made it difficult for them, but O’Brien sees this as all a part of the clubs rebuilding phase.
“They are learning all the time. Realistically, I’d look for us to be competitive for four quarters. I want every player giving 110%.” Says O’Brien, who knows what happens if you don’t. “If you drop your guard for five minutes in this competition you will get beaten.”
“When they’re on their game they’re a side to be reckoned with.” Said Jones, who will be looking for the Bulldogs to continue with their winning formula. “We’ll just have our normal preparation and deal with whatever comes up.”
St George is a good small-ground side, and with the Bombers under their belt they are definitely a chance.
While UNSW – Eastern Suburbs may prove too good in this match, it’s a strong possibility these sides will meet later in the year come finals time.
Prediction: UNSW – Eastern Suburbs by 37 points.
Phil Doyle