We’re now over a third of the way into the 2016 season.
4 of 7 Student sides sit in finals contention, headlined by the Golds who have won their last 6 games.
In 2016, SUANFC will provide readers with a rolling Best & Fairest coverage, highlighting impressive performances from players across all 7 SUANFC teams every 3 weeks. The voting system for SUANFC B&F awards uses a 6-5-4-3-2-1 system, with the best player on the day receiving 6 votes.
NEAFL
In the only Students game at Drummoyne for 2016, the NEAFL boys came from 29 points down at quarter time, to register a comprehensive win against Canberra.
Tom Young was a standout for the Students in heavy conditions, collecting 32 disposals and kicking a goal.
Lewis Stevenson continued his promising form, picking up 24 disposals and a game-high 8 tackles.
Nick Winmar followed up his best-on-ground performance in Round 3 with 3 goals against the Demons.
A loss to Aspley in Round 5 was just the Students second loss of 2016.
Rising Star nominee Michael Manteit had 25 disposals and kicked a goal against the 2014 premiers, while Lewis Stevenson once again was named among the best.
Nick Winmar was named among the best for the 3rd week in a row, after kicking 2 goals against the Hornets.
In defence, Tim Barton and Sam Fong were both strong, despite the 43-point loss.
After enjoying a week’s break, the Students returned to the winners list with a 10-point win over Brisbane.
Tom Young, with his 36 disposals and 1 goal, was unstoppable for the Students.
Damien Bonney and Tom Ayton were both lively through the middle of the ground, collecting 24 and 21 disposals respectively.
Up forward, Jake Derickx and Nick Winmar were too much for a young Brisbane defence, kicking 7 goals between them.
The second game away to Southport in 2016 made for an entertaining 4 quarters, with the Students enjoying a 14-point win over the Sharks.
Jake Derickx was once again the focal point of the Students forward line, kicking 4 goals.
Mike Manteit collected 25 disposals to go along with 2 goals, while Matt Rawlinson was also prolific.
Austin Lucy was productive in his return from study commitments, kicking 2 goals and providing a wealth of experience to the 23-man side.
Prems
The Prems haven’t tasted success since Round 1, having lost 3 games since the bye in Round 4.
Round 5 saw the Students suffer their worst loss to date, falling to Manly-Warringah by 58 points.
Luke Vella returned to form with a best-on-ground performance in the tough loss, while Rowdy Friend was named among the best in his first game of Premier Division football.
James Lewington was named among the best for the third consecutive game, kicking one of only 3 goals for the Students against Manly.
The Prems returned to No.1 Oval for the first time in 2016, facing top-of-the-table St George.
Competitive for 3 quarters, the Students can only blame themselves for a second quarter lapse which saw St George open up an unassailable lead.
Luke Vella was once again named in the best for the Students.
Matt Powys was best afield for the first time in 2016 against St George, while NEAFL rookies Al Clarke and Lachlan Maples showed glimpses of their potential.
UNSW recorded their first win of 2016, after a visit to No.1 Oval last weekend.
The Students were outplayed in the first half, and were unable to catch the Bulldogs, as any hope of finals footy, quickly faded.
James Lewington was once again the stand-out for the Students, kicking 5 goals and providing the spark for a final quarter comeback, which just fell short.
Blues
Since Round 3, the Blues have experienced both the highs and lows of mid season football.
Liam Blue and Andrew Holmes were best afield in the Blues Round 4 encounter with Balmain.
Nik Dale booted 4 goals, while Nick Bertino kicked a goal on his senior debut.
Round 5 saw a trip to the undefeated Macquarie University fall short by 47 points.
Jack Caspersonn was best afield for the Students, while Adam Birman was named among the best for the third time this season.
The first draw recorded for SUANFC in 2016 occurred between the Blues and St George in Round 6.
Michael Fogarty returned to his early-season form after being named best afield.
Forwards Nik Dale and Gabe Robbie booted 3 goals each , while Jethro Braico kicked a goal, and was named in the best for the second week in a row.
The blues returned to the winners list in Round 7, with a 26-point win over Western Magic.
Once again, Nik Dale, Gabe Robbie and Jethro Braico were the stars down forward, combining for 9 goals.
Charles Allworth was named on best-on-ground for the first time this season, while Tom Whitaker backed up his 2 goals in Round 6, being named in the best against the Magic.
Reds
A trip to Manly in Round 4 saw Sam Bailey named among the best for the third consecutive week.
Luke Freemantle featured among the Reds best for the first time in Round 4.
Stephen Lloyd, once again, was named in the best for the Reds, who currently sit 8th on the ladder.
Round 5 saw a visit from South-West Sydney make for an entertaining game of football.
4 players featured in the best for the first time in 2016, with Gordon Willis, James Nettle, Tim Air and Solomon Hanks the standouts on the day.
North Shore proved too much for the Reds in Round 6, as the Students suffered a 51-point loss in St Leonards.
Luther Canute and Harry Murdoch were the standouts in the Reds midfield, winning numerous clearances despite the convincing margin.
Round 7 saw the Reds suffer their biggest loss for 2016, going down by 123 points against the recently relegated UNSW.
Peter Lloyd kicked two goals for the losing side, while Harry Skacel and Charlie Yeates put in commendable efforts.
The Reds were back on the winners list after a well-deserved Round 8 win over rivals, UTS.
A trip to Trumper Park is never an easy game, as the Reds held off a fast finishing UTS side to win by 1 point.
Brent Pollock was solid down back, while James Nettle booted 3 majors up forward.
Adam Birman, Luke Hayward and Stephen Lloyd were also outstanding for the Students.
Golds
The Golds sit 2nd on the Division 4 ladder, after stretching their unbeaten run to 6 games.
A trip to Weldon Oval in Round 4 made for an entertaining game of football, as the Golds fought off a tough Manly-Warringah in the last quarter to come away with a 22-point win.
Jordan Pickard kicked 2 goals and was named among the best on his debut for the Students, while Harry Murdoch earned a spot in the Round 5 Reds midfield after his best-on-ground performance for the Golds.
The Golds enjoyed a comprehensive 55-point win over UNSW in Round 5.
Ryan Nyberg regained some of his early season form as the midfielder was named best afield.
Sam Walker was vital in keeping the Bulldogs to just 4 goals for the game, while John Dean and Paul Oscar booted 3 goals each.
A trip to North Shore wasn’t enough to end the Golds unbeaten streak, as the Students won by 59 points.
Sam Walker was once again the star down back, while Lachlan Godfrey kicked 5 goals up forward.
Paul Oscar kicked 3 goals for the second week in a row, while Jordan Pickard, Tim Lay and Jack Hunter all kicked 2 goals each.
Western Magic visited No.1 Oval on Ladies Day with the goal of knocking off the heavily favored Students side.
From the first bounce, the Golds proved too much for the Magic, with the final margin by 72-points.
Leigh McWhirter booted 5 goals in a dominating display up forward.
Jordan Sanders, Paul Chidrawi and Henri Portet were named in the best for the Golds, who enjoyed a week off in Round 8.
Plats
An defeated Pennant Hills visited No.1 Oval in Round 5 to hand the Plats their biggest loss of 2016.
The Plats could only manage 2 goals for the game, as the Demons booted 24 majors to win by 139 points.
Tom Jeffries kicked the Plats only 2 goals, while Pat Francis, Tom Hurley, Chad Abbot and Chas Wilkinson were named among the best.
Axel Norris was best-on-ground in the Students Round 6 encounter with the Nor-West Jets. Norris kicked 2 goals from the midfield, but despite the teams best efforts, the Jets won 46 points.
Tom Hurley was named in the best for the second week running.
In their first game for the Plats, Manning Begg and Angus Robinson were named best afield in the Plats 93-point loss to UNSW at Village Green in Round 7.
Begg kicked 1 of 2 Students’ goals, while fellow first gamer, Tom Whitehead kicked the other.
Axel Norris was named among the best for consecutive games.
The Plats were one of only 3 Students’ sides to play in Round, suffering a tough 3-goal loss to South-West Sydney.
Blair Mcfarlane, Manning Begg, Nigel Tao and Kyall Homberg (2 goals) were named among the best for the Plats, who will be looking to break their 6-game losing streak with a win against Campbelltown this Saturday.
Colts
With the bye in Round 4, the Colts traveled to Weldon Oval to extend their unbeaten run past 5 weeks.
Lawrence Neil-Smith was the standout on debut, booting 6 goals in the absence of both Xavier Nelson and Rowdy Friend who debuted for the Prems.
Will Gowers was dominant in the centre of the ground, winning clearance after clearance and also hitting the scoreboard with a goal of his own.
Jack Fox, Nick Bertino and Rob O’Hara all continued their good start to 2016.
The Colts held off a battling South Coast Thunder in Round 6, winning by just a goal to remain in contention for top spot in the U19s First Division.
Gareth Maples was named best afield for his efforts in the backline, while Luke Egan was among the best for the second week running.
Charlie Mannix, Harry Harvey and Henry Lamshed were dominant up forward, kicking 7 goals between them.
The Colts unbeaten start to 2016 came to an abrupt end in Round 7, losing to St George by 95 points.
Charlie Mannix was strong down forward despite the final score, kicking 3 goals (6 in 2 weeks).
Jack Fox and Luke Egan were once again among the best, while Samuel Lawson played his best game for the season.