Match previews:
First Grade:
St George v Western Suburbs
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
“The finals are a different game, it’s a different season,” said St George coach Craig O’Brien in the lead up to this week’s all-important first semi-final against Western Suburbs.
At half time last week Wests’ finals claims were looking shaky before they turned things around in the second half to win comfortably over the minor premiers, UNSW – Eastern Suburbs, and make it into the final four.
“At half time we went in there – It’s happened all year - and we’d played undisciplined and selfish football,” said Western Suburbs coach Laine Spencer of his side last week. “We were bickering and we were squabbling; I said to the guys if you want bigger things - if you want to play in the finals - then this is your opportunity, and they took it and we played great football in the second half.”
St George were given a bit of a fright by the struggling Panthers, and only led by five points at the last change before kicking away for a win.
“I’ve been wrapped with this year, we’ve had a great season win, lose or draw. For the last six weeks every game has been a final. We had to win and we did that,” said O’Brien, who has a full list to pick from for this game. “We haven’t played that well over the last three weeks. We need improving. If we drop our concentration our seasons over.”
O’Brien is confident his young side has the power up forward, in Seccull and Mick Ryan, to kick a winning score, and that the big ground will help his strong running side.
Like so much of the sixteen-a-side game the engine-room will be crucial, with first touch of the football important as both sides are strong in the midfield.
Last week Campbelltown exploited the Crows absence of a recognised ruckman, and with Odgers the Magpies will be in a position to do the same.
Spencer has identified Garner and Johnston as danger players for the Crows, along with O’Brien himself.
“O’Brien is like a Wayne Carey,” said Spencer. “You’ve got to say to yourself ‘he’s going to get those possessions’, so you’ll have to beat them in other parts of the ground. I think we can match them up. I’ll probably play on Seccull. Probably have Chisholm go on Ryan.”
“Our game is based on our defensive run [with] our backmen running to create space for someone else to get into. We need to get our run-on game going and that opens up the centre for our midfielders to get the ball through their corridor. If you get Campbell or Thomlinson one on one the rewards come
“Midfielders are so accountable, both ways.”
The last time these sides met the Crows got up by a goal
“We let everything else bother us rather than play football,” said Spencer. “If we play like we played over the last two weeks we will run over them because of the way we are prepared mentally.”
Western Suburbs’ achievement to follow up last year’s wooden spoon with a finals appearance is a notable one, and is a testament to the hard work the club has done off the field as much as on it. Nonetheless the loss of Dennison and, probably, Lenton means that Wests have some big gaps to fill. Peter Costantino played three-quarters for Wests reserves last weekend and must figure in the equation.
Neither Wests nor St George has lost a game since Round 12 and with both of these sides in very good form it will come down to who can control the midfield.
“It’ll be an entertaining game,” said O’Brien. He’s not wrong!
Prediction: St George by seven points
Last time they met: St George 10.12 (72) d Western Suburbs 9.12 (66)
Under 18:
St George v Pennant Hills
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
Two clubs with strong juniors meet after sharing the honours during the home and away rounds.
“We had a lot of players out,” said Pennant Hills coach Daniel Kenny of the last time these sides met when the Demons recorded a strong win. With three to four key players back for this week Kenny is quietly confident of toppling his more fancied opponents.
St George coach Mark Siely has plenty of coaching experience including Teal Cup, and believes that if his side starts well they have a good chance.
Many of the St George squad have been playing together for a few years now and Siely believes they are better prepared for the semis than this time last year.
Big ruckman Pat McBride is predicted to have a big future with St George and, along with Chris Priestland - who has impressed with the Redbacks this season - and the big forward Tim Laws – who kicked ten last week, there is an impressive junior list at the Crows.
For the Demons their bleach-blonde excitement machine, Dean Conners is expected to play a big role, along with co-captain Adam Smith and half-back Luke Montgomery, who has already tasted championship success with West Adelaide under-17’s in the SANFL.
Pennant Hills will be looking to their strong running game, with the side regularly averaging 30 handballs a quarter.
“Our engine room gives us run,” said Kenny, who points out that his side has 70 combined seniors games between them. Many of the side are graduates from the Sydney under-16 side and bring a lot of skill into this game.
If the Demons can dominate in the midfield and keep big Tim Laws quiet they will be in with a chance, but the forward is a strong focus for the Crows who are capable of a big score. St George has the experience of playing together in finals before, and this may prove to be telling in the end.
Prediction: St George by 12 points
Last time they met: Pennant Hills 11.9 (75) d St George 9.9 (63)
Reserve grade:
North Shore v Campbelltown
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
North Shore’s depth across all grades will come in for a test this week, but Bomber’s coach Alan Schwartz knows what is required.
“Finals football is different from the home and away rounds. It’s about desperation. Whoever does that the longest will win.”
Schwartz’ side has plenty of finals experience with the Bombers being a force in Sydney football over recent years. Paul Rolls is backing up from last year’s first grade premiership side.
Campbelltown also have a side bristling with experience.
Brian Kershaw has been around Sydney football for over twenty years and he remains a focal point for the Panthers up forward. Novak Evans, the Campbelltown reserves best and fairest winner, has played most of his football in the seconds, and David Cooper is an experienced centre-half forward.
Campbelltown coach Matty McLaughlin discounts his side’s loss in their last outing against the Bombers, and knows his side will be confident after last weeks win over St George, who finished on top in the reserves.
“We were very undermanned last time. Our game plan is to run the footy, kick long and lead into space. You don’t want to be putting the ball into the air with North Shore, they’ll carve you up with their talls.”
In a side that has a blend of youth and experience, Schwartz will be looking for his senior players to set an example. The Bombers have some quality players in the reserves, including Lord, Attwood and Hughes, who have been playing regular first grade football at North Shore. The Bombers will also be looking for their younger players to step up for the occasion.
North Shore are a well drilled, strong, skilled and disciplined outfit whose biggest hurdle will be the turnover the side has experienced in recent weeks. If they can overcome that they should be too strong here.
Prediction: North Shore by 18 points
Last time they met: North Shore 21.8 (134) d Campbelltown 5.7 (37)
Phil Doyle
Feature:
From the Brains Trusts – What the other Sydney AFL coaches think
With this week’s first semi final shaping up to be a close game those coaches that missed out on the semis shared their thoughts on who they fancy for the first semi final, and this year’s premiership.
The East Coast Eagles’ co-coach Gus Seebeck believes that St George’s potent forward line will be their advantage in this week’s first semi-final at the Eagles’ home ground, but only if they can get on top of Wests’ midfield.
“St George will go in as favourites,” said Seebeck, who predicts that the winning side will need to kick 16 to 20 goals. “They have a lot of quality smaller running players. If O’Brien can get plenty of the ball he can be deadly with that left foot. It will be interesting to see where they play Johnston.”
Johnston also figured in Pennant Hills’ coach Danny Ryan’s estimation of the game.
“Before meeting Wests I would have tipped St George. If Wests can negate Johnston and Seccull they have a real chance. Wests by a whisker.”
“Wests are the form team of the comp at the moment, and you would have to give them a really good show” said Redbacks coach Brett Allison. “I’d favour St George, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Wests got up.”
Troy Luff also predicted a tight game.
“St George’s run can cause trouble. Wests are a pretty physical side, and that may affect St George. You’d have to back St George, their youth and fitness may do Wests.”
“It’s a pretty tough one,” said Campbelltown coach Geoff Valentine. “When teams come off a thrashing they can be a bit complacent but St George have had a scare. It should go right down to the wire. St George, but it will be very close.”
When it comes down to the premiership most of the coaches found it hard to go past minor premiers, UNSW – Eastern Suburbs but still believed the competition was wide open.
“Easts are by far and away the best team but they haven’t performed against the better teams so there is a bit of a question mark over them,” said Geoff Valentine.
Troy Luff, who still believes Balmain could have beaten any of the teams in the finals, rates both UNSW – Eastern Suburbs and North Shore.
“Easts played pretty well, but North Shore have more finals experience after winning the flag last year.”
For many of the coaches it was the personnel at the Bulldogs that impressed them, with UNSW – Eastern Suburbs having quality players all over the ground.
“You can’t go past UNSW – Eastern Suburbs as premiers,” said Gus Seebeck. “The loss to Wests will give them a shake-up. They’re not unbeatable, but the other three sides will have to play above themselves.”
Danny Ryan agreed, and also singled out the more under rated players at the Bulldogs.
“They have a good on-ball brigade and a very stiff defence. Players like Ben MacNamara, Pech, Ryder, Flinn and Dell.
“Finals football is about pressure. They’ll need to play as a team.”
“I think it’s fairly open,” said Brett Allison. “To be quite honest UNSW – Eastern Suburbs has a lot of talent going around. It’s a matter of if they play as a team or if they play as individuals.
“At the moment North Shore and St George are playing better football.”
While there is no doubting the talent at the Bulldogs, there remains a question mark about their ability in the big pressure games coming up and, as Brett Allison pointed out “a champion team will always beat a team of champions.”
Phil Doyle
First Grade:
St George v Western Suburbs
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
“The finals are a different game, it’s a different season,” said St George coach Craig O’Brien in the lead up to this week’s all-important first semi-final against Western Suburbs.
At half time last week Wests’ finals claims were looking shaky before they turned things around in the second half to win comfortably over the minor premiers, UNSW – Eastern Suburbs, and make it into the final four.
“At half time we went in there – It’s happened all year - and we’d played undisciplined and selfish football,” said Western Suburbs coach Laine Spencer of his side last week. “We were bickering and we were squabbling; I said to the guys if you want bigger things - if you want to play in the finals - then this is your opportunity, and they took it and we played great football in the second half.”
St George were given a bit of a fright by the struggling Panthers, and only led by five points at the last change before kicking away for a win.
“I’ve been wrapped with this year, we’ve had a great season win, lose or draw. For the last six weeks every game has been a final. We had to win and we did that,” said O’Brien, who has a full list to pick from for this game. “We haven’t played that well over the last three weeks. We need improving. If we drop our concentration our seasons over.”
O’Brien is confident his young side has the power up forward, in Seccull and Mick Ryan, to kick a winning score, and that the big ground will help his strong running side.
Like so much of the sixteen-a-side game the engine-room will be crucial, with first touch of the football important as both sides are strong in the midfield.
Last week Campbelltown exploited the Crows absence of a recognised ruckman, and with Odgers the Magpies will be in a position to do the same.
Spencer has identified Garner and Johnston as danger players for the Crows, along with O’Brien himself.
“O’Brien is like a Wayne Carey,” said Spencer. “You’ve got to say to yourself ‘he’s going to get those possessions’, so you’ll have to beat them in other parts of the ground. I think we can match them up. I’ll probably play on Seccull. Probably have Chisholm go on Ryan.”
“Our game is based on our defensive run [with] our backmen running to create space for someone else to get into. We need to get our run-on game going and that opens up the centre for our midfielders to get the ball through their corridor. If you get Campbell or Thomlinson one on one the rewards come
“Midfielders are so accountable, both ways.”
The last time these sides met the Crows got up by a goal
“We let everything else bother us rather than play football,” said Spencer. “If we play like we played over the last two weeks we will run over them because of the way we are prepared mentally.”
Western Suburbs’ achievement to follow up last year’s wooden spoon with a finals appearance is a notable one, and is a testament to the hard work the club has done off the field as much as on it. Nonetheless the loss of Dennison and, probably, Lenton means that Wests have some big gaps to fill. Peter Costantino played three-quarters for Wests reserves last weekend and must figure in the equation.
Neither Wests nor St George has lost a game since Round 12 and with both of these sides in very good form it will come down to who can control the midfield.
“It’ll be an entertaining game,” said O’Brien. He’s not wrong!
Prediction: St George by seven points
Last time they met: St George 10.12 (72) d Western Suburbs 9.12 (66)
Under 18:
St George v Pennant Hills
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
Two clubs with strong juniors meet after sharing the honours during the home and away rounds.
“We had a lot of players out,” said Pennant Hills coach Daniel Kenny of the last time these sides met when the Demons recorded a strong win. With three to four key players back for this week Kenny is quietly confident of toppling his more fancied opponents.
St George coach Mark Siely has plenty of coaching experience including Teal Cup, and believes that if his side starts well they have a good chance.
Many of the St George squad have been playing together for a few years now and Siely believes they are better prepared for the semis than this time last year.
Big ruckman Pat McBride is predicted to have a big future with St George and, along with Chris Priestland - who has impressed with the Redbacks this season - and the big forward Tim Laws – who kicked ten last week, there is an impressive junior list at the Crows.
For the Demons their bleach-blonde excitement machine, Dean Conners is expected to play a big role, along with co-captain Adam Smith and half-back Luke Montgomery, who has already tasted championship success with West Adelaide under-17’s in the SANFL.
Pennant Hills will be looking to their strong running game, with the side regularly averaging 30 handballs a quarter.
“Our engine room gives us run,” said Kenny, who points out that his side has 70 combined seniors games between them. Many of the side are graduates from the Sydney under-16 side and bring a lot of skill into this game.
If the Demons can dominate in the midfield and keep big Tim Laws quiet they will be in with a chance, but the forward is a strong focus for the Crows who are capable of a big score. St George has the experience of playing together in finals before, and this may prove to be telling in the end.
Prediction: St George by 12 points
Last time they met: Pennant Hills 11.9 (75) d St George 9.9 (63)
Reserve grade:
North Shore v Campbelltown
Roger Sheeran Oval, Sunday 25 August
North Shore’s depth across all grades will come in for a test this week, but Bomber’s coach Alan Schwartz knows what is required.
“Finals football is different from the home and away rounds. It’s about desperation. Whoever does that the longest will win.”
Schwartz’ side has plenty of finals experience with the Bombers being a force in Sydney football over recent years. Paul Rolls is backing up from last year’s first grade premiership side.
Campbelltown also have a side bristling with experience.
Brian Kershaw has been around Sydney football for over twenty years and he remains a focal point for the Panthers up forward. Novak Evans, the Campbelltown reserves best and fairest winner, has played most of his football in the seconds, and David Cooper is an experienced centre-half forward.
Campbelltown coach Matty McLaughlin discounts his side’s loss in their last outing against the Bombers, and knows his side will be confident after last weeks win over St George, who finished on top in the reserves.
“We were very undermanned last time. Our game plan is to run the footy, kick long and lead into space. You don’t want to be putting the ball into the air with North Shore, they’ll carve you up with their talls.”
In a side that has a blend of youth and experience, Schwartz will be looking for his senior players to set an example. The Bombers have some quality players in the reserves, including Lord, Attwood and Hughes, who have been playing regular first grade football at North Shore. The Bombers will also be looking for their younger players to step up for the occasion.
North Shore are a well drilled, strong, skilled and disciplined outfit whose biggest hurdle will be the turnover the side has experienced in recent weeks. If they can overcome that they should be too strong here.
Prediction: North Shore by 18 points
Last time they met: North Shore 21.8 (134) d Campbelltown 5.7 (37)
Phil Doyle
Feature:
From the Brains Trusts – What the other Sydney AFL coaches think
With this week’s first semi final shaping up to be a close game those coaches that missed out on the semis shared their thoughts on who they fancy for the first semi final, and this year’s premiership.
The East Coast Eagles’ co-coach Gus Seebeck believes that St George’s potent forward line will be their advantage in this week’s first semi-final at the Eagles’ home ground, but only if they can get on top of Wests’ midfield.
“St George will go in as favourites,” said Seebeck, who predicts that the winning side will need to kick 16 to 20 goals. “They have a lot of quality smaller running players. If O’Brien can get plenty of the ball he can be deadly with that left foot. It will be interesting to see where they play Johnston.”
Johnston also figured in Pennant Hills’ coach Danny Ryan’s estimation of the game.
“Before meeting Wests I would have tipped St George. If Wests can negate Johnston and Seccull they have a real chance. Wests by a whisker.”
“Wests are the form team of the comp at the moment, and you would have to give them a really good show” said Redbacks coach Brett Allison. “I’d favour St George, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Wests got up.”
Troy Luff also predicted a tight game.
“St George’s run can cause trouble. Wests are a pretty physical side, and that may affect St George. You’d have to back St George, their youth and fitness may do Wests.”
“It’s a pretty tough one,” said Campbelltown coach Geoff Valentine. “When teams come off a thrashing they can be a bit complacent but St George have had a scare. It should go right down to the wire. St George, but it will be very close.”
When it comes down to the premiership most of the coaches found it hard to go past minor premiers, UNSW – Eastern Suburbs but still believed the competition was wide open.
“Easts are by far and away the best team but they haven’t performed against the better teams so there is a bit of a question mark over them,” said Geoff Valentine.
Troy Luff, who still believes Balmain could have beaten any of the teams in the finals, rates both UNSW – Eastern Suburbs and North Shore.
“Easts played pretty well, but North Shore have more finals experience after winning the flag last year.”
For many of the coaches it was the personnel at the Bulldogs that impressed them, with UNSW – Eastern Suburbs having quality players all over the ground.
“You can’t go past UNSW – Eastern Suburbs as premiers,” said Gus Seebeck. “The loss to Wests will give them a shake-up. They’re not unbeatable, but the other three sides will have to play above themselves.”
Danny Ryan agreed, and also singled out the more under rated players at the Bulldogs.
“They have a good on-ball brigade and a very stiff defence. Players like Ben MacNamara, Pech, Ryder, Flinn and Dell.
“Finals football is about pressure. They’ll need to play as a team.”
“I think it’s fairly open,” said Brett Allison. “To be quite honest UNSW – Eastern Suburbs has a lot of talent going around. It’s a matter of if they play as a team or if they play as individuals.
“At the moment North Shore and St George are playing better football.”
While there is no doubting the talent at the Bulldogs, there remains a question mark about their ability in the big pressure games coming up and, as Brett Allison pointed out “a champion team will always beat a team of champions.”
Phil Doyle
