swannies
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Couple of great games this round, with some incredibly important results to be found.
For those that follow the AFL more closely, this is the round to get down to Bassendean Oval or Claremont Oval to have a look at some open, flowing games of footy and to see the future stars in action. If you have kids younger than 15, they're admitted free, although I'm not sure if they'll be allowed on the bouncy castle? - the can bar in the outer, sure!
Tigers v Royals - The Royals need to keep the momentum going if they want to catch the top 4, although they're only 1 game and percentage out. The tiges want to keep their own momentum at the top of the table going.
We all know what the Tigers have and what they are capable of, but sitting in their reserves are more quality players. The Royals will need to stop the run of Blackwell, Brabazon, Stevenson, Swift, Foster, Schammer - is your head spinning yet? That'd beat the Eagles midfield comfortably. Then you have Chad Jones kicking 6 goals per match, Richardson, Ninyette, Weedon and whoever else they want to put on the flanks in the forward line.
The Royals need to take the intensity from the Lions match and replicate this and maintain for the whole match. Can the aging legs of Wulff, Pickering, Swan, combined with Sweet, Clarke, Noakes, JON keep up with the Tigers all day? Prior, Shepheard, Cadwallader, Merrington need to provide consistent targets up forward and Webster, Noakes and the backs need to be on their mettle against Cones and co.
Should be an interesting game, but I can't see the Royals having the Run. Clarke poses as the biggest threat to the Tigers, to get the Royals momentum out of the middle, IMO.
Tigers comfortably.
Thunder v Bulldogs - Sunday game. There should be a mercy rule brought in for the Thunder this year, 100 points and it's over. Or they get a 15 minute headstart on the other team, not sure which?
The Thunder, where to from here? There midfield is pedestrian, their defence is young and getting hammered week in week out and the forwards, without Buszan and Battye, have no key focus. Yet, they've still won two games and have some of the hottest young talent in the state, they just need to get games into them. The likes of Luff, Mason, Filo, Bennell (John), Williams are their future and they've got to keep these kids improving. They need to keep the likes of Battye, R O'Brien, Buszan around the club to assist these young kids.
Souths are playing for a lot more, being just a game and percentage out of the 4. They have'nt beaten a top 4 side but they must take the chance to bury the Thunder and improve their percentage. Phillips needs help, Reece Adams was better in his 2nd/3rd game last week, Collica was lively and Hunt, Bossong and McCarrey provide solidity down back. Hams should have a big say in this one and Dell'Olio, Palumbo, McGrath can all find some form in this match.
Surely Souths won't let this one slip?
Demons v Lions - The Lions crept back into the top 4 last week, despite losing. The demons have a host of AFL listed kids wanting to put their names in the front of selectors, so they should be up for this challenge.
Can Sullivan, Bollenhagen, Ruffles, Smith put in big ones to keep their names in front of AFL selectors. Will Mzungu continue on with his great form? The Demons need to run all day to beat Subi and they have the players to do it. Add in, to those already named, O'Sullivan, Sneeujwagt, Elari, Siekerka, Moody and there's a pretty good running division. Ferguson up forward with Houghton was good last time I saw them and Billings down back with Sibosado is also a good pairing. The Sibosado v Campbell match up will be vital and both are similarly athletic but can wander away for periods of time.
The Lions rely on Cossom, Keevers, Cockie and Broadhurst to give them drive. Read and Bristow are important players when in the team, but youngsters Blechynden and Kerr have been progressing well. Randall is a class act and Rumble and Parker, whilst slowing, are still very good defenders. Re is learning the caper but Campbell needs more support up forward and lately the Lions have been robbing Peter to pay Paul, by sending Broadhurst down back.
Still, the Lions should get over the line in this one.
Swans v Sharks - clearly MOTR. This should be a cracker, 2nd v 3rd, with Swans looking to put a couple of games between themselves and 3rd placed Sharks.
Swans have got their running game going to good effect in the last month or so, but then have a fairly potent forward line with Hansen, Geappen, Notte, Krakouer and Simpson. Krakouer and Colreavy have been great acquisitions to the club and Riggio seems to be starting to hit his stride. The big questions this week will be, are we without a ruckman? and will our 4th forward be missing? The ruck is the big worry, although Harvey or Lammie will come in to replace Spaanders I would expect either Spencer or Notte to take more ruck contests.
We know the Sharks have a great running brigade and Masten may well come in to play league, to complement McNamara, McGough, Bucovaz, Hall, Fasolo, etc. Up forward is still going to be their worry, with Spangher probably going to have to pinch hit there, if Dunn is injured. Defensively the Sharks are pretty well set up with Warren, Spangher, Brennan, Green, Stephen. Bucovaz was very good forward last week, but Ames, Jetta and Spencer are a different challenge to Peel. Jetta has become about the best back pocket in the league, IMO and has improved immensely over summer. Kyanga would be a handy in for the pocket.
Swans in a bottler, by a hairs breadth!
For those that follow the AFL more closely, this is the round to get down to Bassendean Oval or Claremont Oval to have a look at some open, flowing games of footy and to see the future stars in action. If you have kids younger than 15, they're admitted free, although I'm not sure if they'll be allowed on the bouncy castle? - the can bar in the outer, sure!
Tigers v Royals - The Royals need to keep the momentum going if they want to catch the top 4, although they're only 1 game and percentage out. The tiges want to keep their own momentum at the top of the table going.
We all know what the Tigers have and what they are capable of, but sitting in their reserves are more quality players. The Royals will need to stop the run of Blackwell, Brabazon, Stevenson, Swift, Foster, Schammer - is your head spinning yet? That'd beat the Eagles midfield comfortably. Then you have Chad Jones kicking 6 goals per match, Richardson, Ninyette, Weedon and whoever else they want to put on the flanks in the forward line.
The Royals need to take the intensity from the Lions match and replicate this and maintain for the whole match. Can the aging legs of Wulff, Pickering, Swan, combined with Sweet, Clarke, Noakes, JON keep up with the Tigers all day? Prior, Shepheard, Cadwallader, Merrington need to provide consistent targets up forward and Webster, Noakes and the backs need to be on their mettle against Cones and co.
Should be an interesting game, but I can't see the Royals having the Run. Clarke poses as the biggest threat to the Tigers, to get the Royals momentum out of the middle, IMO.
Tigers comfortably.
Thunder v Bulldogs - Sunday game. There should be a mercy rule brought in for the Thunder this year, 100 points and it's over. Or they get a 15 minute headstart on the other team, not sure which?
The Thunder, where to from here? There midfield is pedestrian, their defence is young and getting hammered week in week out and the forwards, without Buszan and Battye, have no key focus. Yet, they've still won two games and have some of the hottest young talent in the state, they just need to get games into them. The likes of Luff, Mason, Filo, Bennell (John), Williams are their future and they've got to keep these kids improving. They need to keep the likes of Battye, R O'Brien, Buszan around the club to assist these young kids.
Souths are playing for a lot more, being just a game and percentage out of the 4. They have'nt beaten a top 4 side but they must take the chance to bury the Thunder and improve their percentage. Phillips needs help, Reece Adams was better in his 2nd/3rd game last week, Collica was lively and Hunt, Bossong and McCarrey provide solidity down back. Hams should have a big say in this one and Dell'Olio, Palumbo, McGrath can all find some form in this match.
Surely Souths won't let this one slip?
Demons v Lions - The Lions crept back into the top 4 last week, despite losing.
The demons have a host of AFL listed kids wanting to put their names in the front of selectors, so they should be up for this challenge.Can Sullivan, Bollenhagen, Ruffles, Smith put in big ones to keep their names in front of AFL selectors. Will Mzungu continue on with his great form? The Demons need to run all day to beat Subi and they have the players to do it. Add in, to those already named, O'Sullivan, Sneeujwagt, Elari, Siekerka, Moody and there's a pretty good running division. Ferguson up forward with Houghton was good last time I saw them and Billings down back with Sibosado is also a good pairing. The Sibosado v Campbell match up will be vital and both are similarly athletic but can wander away for periods of time.
The Lions rely on Cossom, Keevers, Cockie and Broadhurst to give them drive. Read and Bristow are important players when in the team, but youngsters Blechynden and Kerr have been progressing well. Randall is a class act and Rumble and Parker, whilst slowing, are still very good defenders. Re is learning the caper but Campbell needs more support up forward and lately the Lions have been robbing Peter to pay Paul, by sending Broadhurst down back.
Still, the Lions should get over the line in this one.
Swans v Sharks - clearly MOTR. This should be a cracker, 2nd v 3rd, with Swans looking to put a couple of games between themselves and 3rd placed Sharks.
Swans have got their running game going to good effect in the last month or so, but then have a fairly potent forward line with Hansen, Geappen, Notte, Krakouer and Simpson. Krakouer and Colreavy have been great acquisitions to the club and Riggio seems to be starting to hit his stride. The big questions this week will be, are we without a ruckman? and will our 4th forward be missing? The ruck is the big worry, although Harvey or Lammie will come in to replace Spaanders I would expect either Spencer or Notte to take more ruck contests.
We know the Sharks have a great running brigade and Masten may well come in to play league, to complement McNamara, McGough, Bucovaz, Hall, Fasolo, etc. Up forward is still going to be their worry, with Spangher probably going to have to pinch hit there, if Dunn is injured. Defensively the Sharks are pretty well set up with Warren, Spangher, Brennan, Green, Stephen. Bucovaz was very good forward last week, but Ames, Jetta and Spencer are a different challenge to Peel. Jetta has become about the best back pocket in the league, IMO and has improved immensely over summer. Kyanga would be a handy in for the pocket.
Swans in a bottler, by a hairs breadth!
