R10 Preview – 110% about percentage this week

Photo courtesy of St George AFC Media.

 

Written by Michael Shillito

As we move into the second half of the home and away season, it is still a very congested ladder, with the makeup of this year’s finals far from settled. Every week is important, and there are some vital games this week.

 

East Coast Eagles vs. Western Suburbs Magpies

East Coast Eagles take on Western Suburbs at Kanebridge Oval on Saturday. It is last year’s Premiers against the wooden spooners, but this year the teams are a lot closer. The stakes are higher now too, with the winner moving into the top five.

It is the Eagles’ first game for three weeks, having had the bye after the long weekend. It has given them a much-needed chance to regroup and prepare for a sustained burst of footy, which they will need to get their premiership defence back on track.

The Eagles have the cattle to get a winning streak going. Daniel Spiteri had an impressive game last start, while a team with the Vlatko brothers in action is never one that can be taken lightly.

Wests have had a much-improved season this year. Three wins at the half-way point of the season is more than they achieved in all of last year, and puts them within striking distance of the top five.

Nick Salter has been AFL Sydney’s recruit of the season so far, and another eight-goal haul from him last start went a long way towards getting the Magpies over the line.

It is also pleasing for the Wests faithful, to see long-term Magpie Brent ‘Spud’ Mumme approaching his best form – he will be one to keep an eye on this week.

Expect a closely-fought battle in this game.

 

Sydney University vs. North Shore Bombers

It is first versus third in a blockbuster game at Sydney Uni No. 1 on Saturday evening, as Sydney University host North Shore.

The Students have had a stellar season so far in 2017, but they were given a run for their money by St George last week. Luckily for the Students, when the game was there to be won, they had the players to step up and be counted.

Alistair Gillespie’s goal-scoring prowess and the high possession count by Micael Fogarty, played key roles in getting Sydney University over the line last week. They will be players to keep track of in this game.

For North Shore, last week’s draw against Pennant Hills was one that got away, after the Bombers had led by three goals early in the last quarter.

Keep an eye on James Loneragan, who put in an exciting performance last week, including a contender for Mark of the Year. Also, Daniel Schacher whose work in defence has kept many key forwards quiet this season.

Sydney Uni have done most things right this year. Despite this, North Shore have beaten them once this season, and with a strong team available this week, will be going all-out to do it again. This won’t be a game the Students can take lightly.

 

St. George Dragons vs. UTS Bats

St George have a match against UTS at Olds Park, in a game that neither team can afford to lose.

The Dragons have an even win-loss record, sitting in fourth spot on the ladder. If North Shore go down to the current top side Sydney University, this game gives them a chance to secure the double-chance spot on the ladder.

The Dragons have some strong performers. Jack Hill was a standout last week with five goals, while the likes of Alex Wynn and Dom Michalak have consistently got the job done for St George this year.

UTS’s season hasn’t gone to plan so far, sitting at the bottom of the ladder with two wins – but they are still only six points out of the top five. If they can string some wins together, they won’t take long to re-enter finals calculations.

Louis O’Keefe has what it takes to spearhead the charge up forward, as he showed with his five-goal haul last week. Ben Hunt and Tom Larby are also doing good work in the midfield for the Bats.

The Dragons have the luxury of home-ground advantage for this game, though in recent years, the Bats have relished the challenge at Olds Park, and have taken it up to the Dragons.

This won’t be an easy game for St George, and the Bats will be desperate for a win to get them off the bottom of the ladder.

 

Manly-Warringah Wolves vs. UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs

Manly-Warringah will host UNSW Eastern Suburbs at Weldon Oval on Saturday evening in another game which could have implications for the finals line up.

The Wolves missed a chance to go into the top five last week when they went down to Wests. Despite the loss, there were many Manly highlights, including the form of Tyrone Armitage who got plenty of the ball and added four goals. He will be one player that the Bulldogs will need to keep quiet, along with prolific ball-winner Connor Pettersson.

The Bulldogs have had an impressive season to be sitting in second place. They were given a test by UTS last week but got away with the points, finding a way to win when much of the play was not going their way.

Jack Buckley continues his rise as an exciting young talent, and the Wolves will be desperate to keep him in check. Also keep an eye on Jeremy Daniher, who produces the goods for the Bulldogs week in, week out.

Manly have a special guest for the day, with Warwick Capper on the sidelines at Weldon. As his famous song goes – ‘I only take what’s mine’ – Manly will be hoping that’s the four points, but the Bulldogs will have other ideas about that.

 

Pennant Hills

Pennant Hills have the bye this week and it’s not a great time for them to have the bye either. With East Coast and Wests playing each other, one of them will leap-frog the Demons, and replace them in the top five. Though the Demons will have a game in hand later in the season to make up for it.

 

The premiership points, and the percentages, will be critically important for this week’s winners. This has been one of the most even seasons for years, and when the only certainty is uncertainty, there’s scope for some upset results that will make the ladder even more uncertain than it is now.