swannies
Brownlow Medallist
10k Posts
Armchair Endzone Minor Comp Winner
Armchair Endzone Participant
A great weekend of footy saw a couple more upsets but no real closing of the gap between 4th and 5th position on the table. On the weekend before a general bye now is the time for the sides outside the 4 to make a stand. Swans must beat Souths to have any chance of a finals spot, The Royals and Subi face off in a critical match and the Dees and Sharks battle it out in a contest that may all but cement the top 4, if the Sharks prevail.
Thunder v Falcons
Whilst the Thunder have improved steadily, the Falcons have looked a bit wobbly. Ebert out for the Thunder will be a big blow to their chances of a major upset, whilst the Falcons regain the services of Strijk from the Eagles.
The Thunder have been playing a lot more consistent football but the last time they met the Falcons they were blown out of the water in the last half. That was a watershed game, IMO, because the Peel team have shown a lot more application since that match. P-S has been great in the ruck, I rated this kid when I saw him in colts, he's continued to improve and forms a pretty potent big man division with Lycett and Williams. Lycett has really been pumped up in the West this week and this will be a big test against the ladder leading Falcons, to see if he can back up his recent form. The Thorntons' were on fire last week, particularly Bryce, I thought. and Green, Brown, Jones, Beswick were very good. Fotheringham has been a good pick up from the Royals.
The Falcons will also welcome back Rice, with Strijk. LeCras at CHB has been finding a lot of the pill so I would want Herring just to provide a contest and defensive pressure, whilst the Falcons will have Tedesco, Burns, Fleay and VB to run it out. The Falcons forward line of Zanetti, Slick, Strijk and Mellington (if he plays) is pretty potent, so the young defense will have their work cut out. It's in the big man department I can see Peel having an advantage, but at stages I thought they struggled with their run and that will be fatal against the Falcons.
Sorry thunder fans, the Falcons comfortably.
Teams
Thunder
B R Beswick B Wilson D Beswick
HB M Green J Jones D Mcfarlane
C B Thornton K Thornton C Eddy
HF B Holmes R Herring B Fotheringham
FF B Jones M Battye S Lycett
F P Pohlenz-Saw R Nye M Brown
Int. J Williams, R Mason, L Meyers, A Heal, R Healey, R Senior, A Thornton
In R Mason, J Williams, A Heal, L Meyers
Out B Ebert
Falcons
BJ Van Berlo D Hunt D Burns
HB D Fleay B Lecras L Tedesco
C J Salecic R B artholomew C Shadbolt
HF M Guadagnin S Zanetti J Gobbells
FF A Saylor A Tsalikis J Mellington
F C Keunen M Hutchings J Pearce
Int.S Tregear, S Bewick, S Browne, M Crisp, F Stockley, K Manning, J Rice
In M Crisp, S Bewick, J Rice, K Manning
Out A Black
Royals v Lions
In the battle of the co-tenants, where not a lot of love is lost, it's a big match. The loser could almost be out of contention for finals.
The Royals started sharply against the hated enemy last week but couldn't maintain the run for the course of the whole match. Prior, if he get's back to the form of late last year, could be a big in for the forward line, help mix it up abit and keep the ball locked in. His attack is usually very good and it releases Polak to an on ball role, which I think he has looked better in when I saw him earlier in the year. Brookes provides another big body around the contest and hopefully he can get involved heavily.
The Lions have 3 big outs, Cockie, Headland and Pickett. Cockie has been in very good form, Headland has been better than many expected and whilst father time appears to be cathing Pickett he still provides X-factor. Broadhurst and Anthony potentially provide a formidable forward pairing and Anthony's defensive pressure sounds like it was a lot higher last weekend. Blechynden and Kerr have been good for mine and need more support on the ball for this game, especially with Cockie out. Hughes move up to the wing looks a decent move, good mover, knows how to attract the ball.
I think the Royals will just get over the line.
Teams
Royals
B N Blee L Sampey S Payne
HB J Lalich B Hancock P Travers
C J Oakley-Nicholls F Clutterbuck M Seal
HF C Wulff J Smith G Moss
FF R Brookes A Prior K Pettifer
F G Polak A Sweet B Lee
Int. J Delborrello, B Higgins, N Kommer, D Macaulay, R Maldenis, H Shepheard, B Dobson,
In A Prior, R Brookes, S Payne, D Macaulay, B Higgins,
Out D Roberton, R Saylor,
Lions
B R Forrest C Wheeler K Bloxsidge
HB B Randall A Parker B Keevers
C D Hughes C Phelan S Hildebrandt
HF P Hassett J Anthony R Mcdonnell
FF R Sheehan B Broadhurst D Rumble
F M Rix J Bristow K Horsley
Int. J Joyce, R Blechynden, R Kerr, S Douglas, A Davey, B Stevenson, S Worthington,
In R Sheehan, J Joyce, S Worthington, R Blechynden, A Davey, S Douglas,
Out A Cockie, D Headland, A Pickett
Bulldogs v Swans
Last chance saloon for the Swans too, I reckon, to have an impact on the top 4. Was impressed with what I saw of Souths on Monday, that's probably the factor going for Swans, the 5 day turnaround. Swans team, on paper, is one of the less inspiring teams i've seen in the last 5 years from them, but I am pessimistic by nature.
The Bulldogs had some superb run in last week's game, with the cream being the spectacular return from a major knee injury by Phillips. Lovely skills, left or right side, especially when the big sticks are in the picture. The bigs work really hard for the Bulldogs, but they're not the main focus. They provide good work and a strong contest and then leave the little men to run riot. Kelly, Wilson did this through the forward post last week. Dell-Olio and Phillips returned to some really good form. Jayden Woods was lively and Mugumbwa and Hase popped up in important phases of the match. The defense was good early, when they were under siege for the first quarter and a half from the Sharks, held firm and rebounded well.
Swans go in with a top heavy forward line and if the ball hits the ground, you're only going to see vapour trails as it's whisked out of there by the opponents. If they take every grab that comes in, then it could be a contest. Outridge to a wing and young Faulkner on the ball to give a bit of run and grunt will be a welcome move. Lammie named in the ruck just made me reach for the scotch and write this game off (either that or burst a blood vessel and I know which is better for me), but we'll see, I guess. Ames and Notte, with Jacky, Davis, Jetta, Parry will be under siege, IMO, so they will need the mids to work hard to get in and support, give them an outlet, because I have faith in Ames and Notte halving most of their contests.
I was buoyant early in the week, even tipped Swans, but seeing team selections think the Bulldogs will get over the line.
Teams
Bulldogs
B T Adams J Head A Mccarrey
HB R Adams D Ross H North
C R Cook N Phillips J Winter
HF C Dell-Olio C White P Mugambwa
FF A Gaff C Wilson L Kelly
F R Murphy A Hams P Hasleby
Int. T Bairstow, T Mcgrath, J Woods, M Leece, M Cooper, K Miller, J Palumbo,
In T Mcgrath, A Gaff, A Hams,
Out
Swans
B K Hams T Ames S Parry
HB R Davis T Notte J Jacky
C M Outridge G Jetta T Roach
HF J Simpson T Geappen A Hunter
FF B Colreavy A Hansen B Wolfenden
F W Lammie M Riggio B Robinson
Int. A Faulkner, B Van Groningen, D Johnston, L Spaanderman, M Aitchison, J Williams, R Smith,
In D Johnston, W Lammie, R Smith, M Aitchison, J Williams,
Out L Miles, M Walters
Sharks v Demons
The Sharks and Dees are both on the rebound from losses last week and will be keen to recover. If the Sharks win there will be a 3 game break between 4th and 5th, which will be very hard to run down in the remaining 11 rounds.
The Sharks looked good early last week and then succumbed to the run of the Bulldogs. Their defense looked pretty shaky when under siege, bar a couple of players. In attack once BOB was quelled, there were no other consistent avenues to goal and the mids pumped it in their plenty of times. The Sharks need Warren or Dunn to fire up forward to take the focus off BOB. Tropiano goes hard at the ball, like his style and Monaco and Fasolo, with Stevens, complement this style. Young will be well tested by McDougall in the ruck and will need to be on his game to give the mids a chance.
The Dees were in the game all last week, bar a 15 minute lapse, but just couldn't get over the line. It's the senior, more experienced players, like Armstrong, Moody, Young, K-T that need to lift, IMO. Sibosado back in should give them more drive in defense, whilst Busher continues to shine up forward. Florio is developing and has a very good skillset, rarely wastes a possie. O'Sullivan, Siekerka and the fellow running brigade will need to be on their mettle, or the talls will need to take their grabs, which is always difficult down at Shark Park.
Moss St is rarely a good visiting place for the Demons and I can't see it being any better this week.
Teams
Sharks
B A Stephen S Dodd J Brennan
HB B Bucovaz L Weller C Yeo
C T Houlihan R O'Brien B Dalziell
HF A Tropiano M Warren R Dunn
FF J Mcnamara B O'Brien L Teakle
F R Young M Mcgough K Stevens
Emergemcy S Horsburgh A Waight R Lester-Smith
Int. D Chidlow, J Monaco, L Fasolo, S Lee-Steere,
In L Teakle, J Monaco, S Lee-Steere, S Horsburgh, A Waight, R Lester-Smith,
Out K Monteath, A Ricciardello, T Howlett
Demons
B C Vidot A Zucconi D Robinson
HB M Tedesco C Sibosado B Hodge
C M Florio J Jacobs J Pitt
HF J Kayler-Thomson H Busher S Armstrong
FF J Brennan M Moody S Siekierka
F A Mcdougall R Young A Elari
Int. D O'Sullivan, D White, N Kane, R De Jongh, M Rogers, J Hansen,
In C Sibosado, J Brennan, J Hansen, R De Jongh,
Out J Leeson
Thunder v Falcons
Whilst the Thunder have improved steadily, the Falcons have looked a bit wobbly. Ebert out for the Thunder will be a big blow to their chances of a major upset, whilst the Falcons regain the services of Strijk from the Eagles.
The Thunder have been playing a lot more consistent football but the last time they met the Falcons they were blown out of the water in the last half. That was a watershed game, IMO, because the Peel team have shown a lot more application since that match. P-S has been great in the ruck, I rated this kid when I saw him in colts, he's continued to improve and forms a pretty potent big man division with Lycett and Williams. Lycett has really been pumped up in the West this week and this will be a big test against the ladder leading Falcons, to see if he can back up his recent form. The Thorntons' were on fire last week, particularly Bryce, I thought. and Green, Brown, Jones, Beswick were very good. Fotheringham has been a good pick up from the Royals.
The Falcons will also welcome back Rice, with Strijk. LeCras at CHB has been finding a lot of the pill so I would want Herring just to provide a contest and defensive pressure, whilst the Falcons will have Tedesco, Burns, Fleay and VB to run it out. The Falcons forward line of Zanetti, Slick, Strijk and Mellington (if he plays) is pretty potent, so the young defense will have their work cut out. It's in the big man department I can see Peel having an advantage, but at stages I thought they struggled with their run and that will be fatal against the Falcons.
Sorry thunder fans, the Falcons comfortably.
Teams
Thunder
B R Beswick B Wilson D Beswick
HB M Green J Jones D Mcfarlane
C B Thornton K Thornton C Eddy
HF B Holmes R Herring B Fotheringham
FF B Jones M Battye S Lycett
F P Pohlenz-Saw R Nye M Brown
Int. J Williams, R Mason, L Meyers, A Heal, R Healey, R Senior, A Thornton
In R Mason, J Williams, A Heal, L Meyers
Out B Ebert
Falcons
BJ Van Berlo D Hunt D Burns
HB D Fleay B Lecras L Tedesco
C J Salecic R B artholomew C Shadbolt
HF M Guadagnin S Zanetti J Gobbells
FF A Saylor A Tsalikis J Mellington
F C Keunen M Hutchings J Pearce
Int.S Tregear, S Bewick, S Browne, M Crisp, F Stockley, K Manning, J Rice
In M Crisp, S Bewick, J Rice, K Manning
Out A Black
Royals v Lions
In the battle of the co-tenants, where not a lot of love is lost, it's a big match. The loser could almost be out of contention for finals.
The Royals started sharply against the hated enemy last week but couldn't maintain the run for the course of the whole match. Prior, if he get's back to the form of late last year, could be a big in for the forward line, help mix it up abit and keep the ball locked in. His attack is usually very good and it releases Polak to an on ball role, which I think he has looked better in when I saw him earlier in the year. Brookes provides another big body around the contest and hopefully he can get involved heavily.
The Lions have 3 big outs, Cockie, Headland and Pickett. Cockie has been in very good form, Headland has been better than many expected and whilst father time appears to be cathing Pickett he still provides X-factor. Broadhurst and Anthony potentially provide a formidable forward pairing and Anthony's defensive pressure sounds like it was a lot higher last weekend. Blechynden and Kerr have been good for mine and need more support on the ball for this game, especially with Cockie out. Hughes move up to the wing looks a decent move, good mover, knows how to attract the ball.
I think the Royals will just get over the line.
Teams
Royals
B N Blee L Sampey S Payne
HB J Lalich B Hancock P Travers
C J Oakley-Nicholls F Clutterbuck M Seal
HF C Wulff J Smith G Moss
FF R Brookes A Prior K Pettifer
F G Polak A Sweet B Lee
Int. J Delborrello, B Higgins, N Kommer, D Macaulay, R Maldenis, H Shepheard, B Dobson,
In A Prior, R Brookes, S Payne, D Macaulay, B Higgins,
Out D Roberton, R Saylor,
Lions
B R Forrest C Wheeler K Bloxsidge
HB B Randall A Parker B Keevers
C D Hughes C Phelan S Hildebrandt
HF P Hassett J Anthony R Mcdonnell
FF R Sheehan B Broadhurst D Rumble
F M Rix J Bristow K Horsley
Int. J Joyce, R Blechynden, R Kerr, S Douglas, A Davey, B Stevenson, S Worthington,
In R Sheehan, J Joyce, S Worthington, R Blechynden, A Davey, S Douglas,
Out A Cockie, D Headland, A Pickett
Bulldogs v Swans
Last chance saloon for the Swans too, I reckon, to have an impact on the top 4. Was impressed with what I saw of Souths on Monday, that's probably the factor going for Swans, the 5 day turnaround. Swans team, on paper, is one of the less inspiring teams i've seen in the last 5 years from them, but I am pessimistic by nature.
The Bulldogs had some superb run in last week's game, with the cream being the spectacular return from a major knee injury by Phillips. Lovely skills, left or right side, especially when the big sticks are in the picture. The bigs work really hard for the Bulldogs, but they're not the main focus. They provide good work and a strong contest and then leave the little men to run riot. Kelly, Wilson did this through the forward post last week. Dell-Olio and Phillips returned to some really good form. Jayden Woods was lively and Mugumbwa and Hase popped up in important phases of the match. The defense was good early, when they were under siege for the first quarter and a half from the Sharks, held firm and rebounded well.
Swans go in with a top heavy forward line and if the ball hits the ground, you're only going to see vapour trails as it's whisked out of there by the opponents. If they take every grab that comes in, then it could be a contest. Outridge to a wing and young Faulkner on the ball to give a bit of run and grunt will be a welcome move. Lammie named in the ruck just made me reach for the scotch and write this game off (either that or burst a blood vessel and I know which is better for me), but we'll see, I guess. Ames and Notte, with Jacky, Davis, Jetta, Parry will be under siege, IMO, so they will need the mids to work hard to get in and support, give them an outlet, because I have faith in Ames and Notte halving most of their contests.
I was buoyant early in the week, even tipped Swans, but seeing team selections think the Bulldogs will get over the line.
Teams
Bulldogs
B T Adams J Head A Mccarrey
HB R Adams D Ross H North
C R Cook N Phillips J Winter
HF C Dell-Olio C White P Mugambwa
FF A Gaff C Wilson L Kelly
F R Murphy A Hams P Hasleby
Int. T Bairstow, T Mcgrath, J Woods, M Leece, M Cooper, K Miller, J Palumbo,
In T Mcgrath, A Gaff, A Hams,
Out
Swans
B K Hams T Ames S Parry
HB R Davis T Notte J Jacky
C M Outridge G Jetta T Roach
HF J Simpson T Geappen A Hunter
FF B Colreavy A Hansen B Wolfenden
F W Lammie M Riggio B Robinson
Int. A Faulkner, B Van Groningen, D Johnston, L Spaanderman, M Aitchison, J Williams, R Smith,
In D Johnston, W Lammie, R Smith, M Aitchison, J Williams,
Out L Miles, M Walters
Sharks v Demons
The Sharks and Dees are both on the rebound from losses last week and will be keen to recover. If the Sharks win there will be a 3 game break between 4th and 5th, which will be very hard to run down in the remaining 11 rounds.
The Sharks looked good early last week and then succumbed to the run of the Bulldogs. Their defense looked pretty shaky when under siege, bar a couple of players. In attack once BOB was quelled, there were no other consistent avenues to goal and the mids pumped it in their plenty of times. The Sharks need Warren or Dunn to fire up forward to take the focus off BOB. Tropiano goes hard at the ball, like his style and Monaco and Fasolo, with Stevens, complement this style. Young will be well tested by McDougall in the ruck and will need to be on his game to give the mids a chance.
The Dees were in the game all last week, bar a 15 minute lapse, but just couldn't get over the line. It's the senior, more experienced players, like Armstrong, Moody, Young, K-T that need to lift, IMO. Sibosado back in should give them more drive in defense, whilst Busher continues to shine up forward. Florio is developing and has a very good skillset, rarely wastes a possie. O'Sullivan, Siekerka and the fellow running brigade will need to be on their mettle, or the talls will need to take their grabs, which is always difficult down at Shark Park.
Moss St is rarely a good visiting place for the Demons and I can't see it being any better this week.
Teams
Sharks
B A Stephen S Dodd J Brennan
HB B Bucovaz L Weller C Yeo
C T Houlihan R O'Brien B Dalziell
HF A Tropiano M Warren R Dunn
FF J Mcnamara B O'Brien L Teakle
F R Young M Mcgough K Stevens
Emergemcy S Horsburgh A Waight R Lester-Smith
Int. D Chidlow, J Monaco, L Fasolo, S Lee-Steere,
In L Teakle, J Monaco, S Lee-Steere, S Horsburgh, A Waight, R Lester-Smith,
Out K Monteath, A Ricciardello, T Howlett
Demons
B C Vidot A Zucconi D Robinson
HB M Tedesco C Sibosado B Hodge
C M Florio J Jacobs J Pitt
HF J Kayler-Thomson H Busher S Armstrong
FF J Brennan M Moody S Siekierka
F A Mcdougall R Young A Elari
Int. D O'Sullivan, D White, N Kane, R De Jongh, M Rogers, J Hansen,
In C Sibosado, J Brennan, J Hansen, R De Jongh,
Out J Leeson
