grimlock
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2001
- Posts
- 34,340
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- Luke Parker's Bandwagon
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- Sydney
- Other Teams
- Liverpool, NSW
Hey guys, vonn here – sorry for the delay in this as I am overseas. Thank you to QS and lmach for their assistance too xx
SYDNEY V WCE PREVIEW – BY VONN
Introduction:
It’s been seven years since that last grand final heartbreak and encounters between both sides despite media beat-up have been one sided in their results, with Sydney winning the last few. Pattersons Stadium, a fortress for many non-Western Australia team holds no threat in recent time to the reigning premiers, especially against a volatile West Coast side. The Eagles last week fielded a relatively inexperienced team against a strong Fremantle side, and whilst the effort was there they lacked the class and skills to run out the game, eventually losing it in the last quarter.
On the flip side, Sydney has been winning whilst suffering key injuries, the latest a Benny McBabe suspension and injury. Whilst some of the depth players performed well against an Adelaide team, they failed to repeat the effort against a strong Port Adelaide performance a fortnight later. Since then, Sydney’s depth and key injuries haven’t been tested against strong teams, and no doubt a West Coast Eagles side at home who are about to (potentially) regain Kerr, Wellingham and Shuey remains the toughest challenge this month.
Injury List:
WCE: I don’t have enough internet data to load this on my internet stick. Stop being lazy and go check it out yourself. The only important info is that Shuey, Wellingham and Kerr is most likely back, and their injury list is awful too.
SYD: Too depressing to write.
Potential Match-Ups: (Courtesy of my love, lmach)
Def V Fwd
Mackenzie - Tippett
Brown - Pyke/Mumford
Schofield - White
Glass – Everitt
Carter - Lamb
Smith – Bird
Just to add something quickly: I personally think Sydney’s Morton will play and B.Jack will replace Lamb in this list, so without team lists these are just speculation.
Fol:
Naitanui - Mumford
Shuey - Hanneberry
Masten - K.Jack
Priddis - Kennedy
Wings:
Wellingham - O'Keefe
Gaff - Parker
Mid Rotations:
Kerr - Mitchell
Rosa - McVeigh
Hutchings - B.Jack
Dalziell - Bolton
Fwd v Def
Kennedy - Richards
Darling - Rampe
Cox/Naitanui - Grundy
LeCras - Smith
Hill - Malceski
Key Inside 50 Match-Ups
- Kennedy VS Richards
Kennedy has been in hot form, kicking five against West Coast last week and leading the Coleman medal with Roughead at 47 for the year. Meanwhile, Richard’s form has been decent but obviously not of the same calibre as the premiership year. Last week, Fremantle struggled to hold Kennedy and Richards struggled against young GWS gun Cameron, who’s athletic and quick lead troubled Richards. Sydney’s relatively depleted backline has placed extra defensive pressure on Richards, and winning the battle is crucial.
- Darling VS Rampe
Whilst Rampe’s debut season has been impressive, and his form of late even moreso, it’s hard to forget the Hawthorn game where they targeted his inexperience. Against Darling, who has kicked 35 goals and is 10th in the Coleman, he faces a similar challenge. This matchup is possibly even more important than the Kennedy V Richards, and breaking even (i.e. only allowing 1-2 goals) would be acceptable. The Sydney backline need to provide assistance, and if not the midfield needs to be prepared to run back to cover holes or create a two on one.
- Tippett VS McKenzie
Tippett has been a fantastic target for Sydney, but McKenzie is probably the toughest opponent he has come across whilst wearing the red and white. To win well, Tippett needs to kick at least two or three, and bring the ball down for our small forwards to crumb. If he can do this, this in conjunction with the goals kicked by our midfields should be enough to kick a winning score.
Around the Ground
The midfield battle will be crucial. If Kerr, Wellingham and Shuey returns, which from the Woosha press conference it is likely, the match outcome may be different as first clearances and quick kicks gives their extremely potent forward line every opportunity to mark the ball without our extra numbers. With the return of these three, LeCras would logically spend more time in the forward half than on-ball like he has of late, providing another dangerous option.
Whilst no hard tags will be placed in the midfield (as confirmed in the Eagles podcast, which I recommend everyone check out because of yours truly
), the Sydney midfield is probably the strongest in the league and without a decent forward line, it will be needed to kick a winning score. If however, the Eagles step up and they can break even or win some of the midfield battles, a WCE victory would be likely.
Overall Thoughts:
Bringing it all together, the strength of the Sydney midfield even with the Eagles inclusions is enough to cover the weaker forward line and injuries, and I believe the midfield strength is enough to kick a winning score, so their strong backline doesn’t come too much into the equation with our gameplan.
The Sydney injuries in the backline have been manageable, with Rampe finding form and McVeigh providing run off half-back, but their forwards are quality. Both sides are very injury depleted, and despite uncovering some depth I personally believe Sydney’s injuries are more manageable, however if our depth players play a bad game, we will lose if West Coast bring the same intensity as last week. Hence, with the inclusions and their forward line fires, it will be an extremely close game. Personally, with finals out of the question it’s a matter of pride for them – and I don’t think that’s motivation enough against a side looking to secure Top 4.
Tip: Sydney by 11.
SYDNEY V WCE PREVIEW – BY VONN
Introduction:
It’s been seven years since that last grand final heartbreak and encounters between both sides despite media beat-up have been one sided in their results, with Sydney winning the last few. Pattersons Stadium, a fortress for many non-Western Australia team holds no threat in recent time to the reigning premiers, especially against a volatile West Coast side. The Eagles last week fielded a relatively inexperienced team against a strong Fremantle side, and whilst the effort was there they lacked the class and skills to run out the game, eventually losing it in the last quarter.
On the flip side, Sydney has been winning whilst suffering key injuries, the latest a Benny McBabe suspension and injury. Whilst some of the depth players performed well against an Adelaide team, they failed to repeat the effort against a strong Port Adelaide performance a fortnight later. Since then, Sydney’s depth and key injuries haven’t been tested against strong teams, and no doubt a West Coast Eagles side at home who are about to (potentially) regain Kerr, Wellingham and Shuey remains the toughest challenge this month.
Injury List:
WCE: I don’t have enough internet data to load this on my internet stick. Stop being lazy and go check it out yourself. The only important info is that Shuey, Wellingham and Kerr is most likely back, and their injury list is awful too.
SYD: Too depressing to write.
Potential Match-Ups: (Courtesy of my love, lmach)
Def V Fwd
Mackenzie - Tippett
Brown - Pyke/Mumford
Schofield - White
Glass – Everitt
Carter - Lamb
Smith – Bird
Just to add something quickly: I personally think Sydney’s Morton will play and B.Jack will replace Lamb in this list, so without team lists these are just speculation.
Fol:
Naitanui - Mumford
Shuey - Hanneberry
Masten - K.Jack
Priddis - Kennedy
Wings:
Wellingham - O'Keefe
Gaff - Parker
Mid Rotations:
Kerr - Mitchell
Rosa - McVeigh
Hutchings - B.Jack
Dalziell - Bolton
Fwd v Def
Kennedy - Richards
Darling - Rampe
Cox/Naitanui - Grundy
LeCras - Smith
Hill - Malceski
Key Inside 50 Match-Ups
- Kennedy VS Richards
Kennedy has been in hot form, kicking five against West Coast last week and leading the Coleman medal with Roughead at 47 for the year. Meanwhile, Richard’s form has been decent but obviously not of the same calibre as the premiership year. Last week, Fremantle struggled to hold Kennedy and Richards struggled against young GWS gun Cameron, who’s athletic and quick lead troubled Richards. Sydney’s relatively depleted backline has placed extra defensive pressure on Richards, and winning the battle is crucial.
- Darling VS Rampe
Whilst Rampe’s debut season has been impressive, and his form of late even moreso, it’s hard to forget the Hawthorn game where they targeted his inexperience. Against Darling, who has kicked 35 goals and is 10th in the Coleman, he faces a similar challenge. This matchup is possibly even more important than the Kennedy V Richards, and breaking even (i.e. only allowing 1-2 goals) would be acceptable. The Sydney backline need to provide assistance, and if not the midfield needs to be prepared to run back to cover holes or create a two on one.
- Tippett VS McKenzie
Tippett has been a fantastic target for Sydney, but McKenzie is probably the toughest opponent he has come across whilst wearing the red and white. To win well, Tippett needs to kick at least two or three, and bring the ball down for our small forwards to crumb. If he can do this, this in conjunction with the goals kicked by our midfields should be enough to kick a winning score.
Around the Ground
The midfield battle will be crucial. If Kerr, Wellingham and Shuey returns, which from the Woosha press conference it is likely, the match outcome may be different as first clearances and quick kicks gives their extremely potent forward line every opportunity to mark the ball without our extra numbers. With the return of these three, LeCras would logically spend more time in the forward half than on-ball like he has of late, providing another dangerous option.
Whilst no hard tags will be placed in the midfield (as confirmed in the Eagles podcast, which I recommend everyone check out because of yours truly
), the Sydney midfield is probably the strongest in the league and without a decent forward line, it will be needed to kick a winning score. If however, the Eagles step up and they can break even or win some of the midfield battles, a WCE victory would be likely.Overall Thoughts:
Bringing it all together, the strength of the Sydney midfield even with the Eagles inclusions is enough to cover the weaker forward line and injuries, and I believe the midfield strength is enough to kick a winning score, so their strong backline doesn’t come too much into the equation with our gameplan.
The Sydney injuries in the backline have been manageable, with Rampe finding form and McVeigh providing run off half-back, but their forwards are quality. Both sides are very injury depleted, and despite uncovering some depth I personally believe Sydney’s injuries are more manageable, however if our depth players play a bad game, we will lose if West Coast bring the same intensity as last week. Hence, with the inclusions and their forward line fires, it will be an extremely close game. Personally, with finals out of the question it’s a matter of pride for them – and I don’t think that’s motivation enough against a side looking to secure Top 4.
Tip: Sydney by 11.
