By CHARLIE GOODSIR / NEAFL MEDIA
NEAFL ROUND 9
Friday, June 1, 2018
Sydney University (1st) v Sydney Swans (4th) at the SCG, 4.05pm
*This match will be streamed live on NEAFL TV (youtube.com/northeastafl)
*Live Champion Data statistics available on the Official NEAFL App
SUMMARY
The two in-form teams of the competition in the Sydney Swans and Sydney University will go head-to-head in a Friday night footy curtain-raiser before the Swans take on Carlton at the SCG.
The Swans have won three games on the trot, which have included a thumping win against the Southport Sharks and a major upset last against the Brisbane Lions.
The Students remain undefeated after their first seven matches and are two games above on top of the table. However, Sydney Uni’s biggest test will be against a Swans outfit who have gone from last to the top four in the space of three weeks.
A NEAFL premiership favourite may be decided in this fixture on Friday afternoon.
*Full teams to be announced Friday morning.
RECENT ENCOUNTERS
Round 13, 2017. Sydney University 9.10 (64) def by Sydney Swans 15.16 (106)
Round 8, 2017. Sydney University 10.5 (65) def by Sydney Swans 15.17 (107)
Round 21, 2016. Sydney University 5.13 (43) def by Sydney Swans 10.8 (68)
TALKING POINTS
1. Sydney Uni have traditionally struggled against the AFL clubs, in particular the Sydney Swans who have had the edge over the Swans in recent times, losing their last four games against the Swans by an average of 42 points. The last time the Students won against the Swans was Round 12, 2015 and if Sydney Uni want to affirm themselves as premiership favourites, they’ll need to get past their arch rivals.
2. The Sydney Swans boast four players in the top 10 for disposals in the competition. Daniel Robinson (averaging 36.8 disposals a game), Nic Newman (33.6), Robbie Fox (29.3) and Harry Marsh (29.2). These players in the past three weeks have been instrumental in the Swans remarkable turnaround from bottom of the table to fourth, and all four of those players will be players to watch on Friday night.
3. At the beginning of the year, Sydney Uni coach Tom Morrison declared that this would be the year that the Students would “reach the summit” and win their inaugural NEAFL flag. Sydney Uni have beat last year’s effort of winning their first six games of the season, and have won seven matches in a row. The Swans of Friday will be their biggest test and will give an indication of whether the Students are genuine premiership contenders.
ROOKIE WATCH
Jake Bartholomaues has had a solid start to season 2018 with Sydney Uni, averaging 13 disposals a game with 75 per cent disposal efficiency along with four tackles and two clearances. Bartholomaues has played in every game this season other than Round 1, and at only 21 years of age, his best footy is still ahead of him.
STATS THAT MATTER
Sydney Uni are the best team in the competition at clearances. The Students average 44.3 clearances a game, well above the competition average of 38.7. Four players in the Sydney Uni squad are averaging over five clearances per game – Craig Bird (9.8 clearances per game), Shaun Edwards (5.8), Jack Dimery (5.3) and Tom Young (5.1). Conversely, the Sydney Swans are ranked equal last (alongside NT Thunder) for clearances, averaging 35.4 per game.