As the second half of the 2016 season begins, 4 of our 7 sides remain in finals positions, while the Prems, Reds and Plats all having improved on their recent form.
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 used for the SUANFC B&F awards is a 6-5-4-3-2-1 system, with the best player on the day receiving 6 votes.
NEAFL
The annual visit to the SCG for the NEAFL side kicked off Round 9, with the Students taking on an undefeated Swans side.
Kane Murphy was the standout for the Students in a tough loss, gathering 19 disposals and laying 12 tackles.
Tom Young and Matt Rawlinson combined for 55 disposals, while Jake Derickx booted 3 goals in the 59-point loss.
A trip to Redland in Round 10 saw the Students lose their second consecutive game for the first time in 2016.
Matt Rawlinson once again led all players for disposals, while Will Sierakowski played his best game in 2016, setting up the Students from half back.
Jake Derickx continued his goal kicking form with 2 goals, while Monty Krochmal and Zac Fyffe collected 19 & 18 disposals, in their best games for the season.
The Students returned to the winners list in Round 11, beating Gold Coast by 13 points at Henson Park.
Damien Bonney was best afield on the day, collecting 27 disposals along with his 4 goals.
SUANFC co-captains enjoyed impressive games as Tom Young gathered 36 disposals and 9 marks, while Austin Lucy had 25 disposals and 3 goals.
Matt Rawlinson was among the best for the third week in a row, following his 29 disposals and 2 goals.
Jake Derickx and Nick Winmar were also handy on the day, kicking 2 majors each.
The second clash between GWS and SUANFC in 2016 saw GWS enjoy a hard-fought 17-point win at Spotless Stadium.
Tom Young and Matt Rawlinson shared 61 disposals between them, while Kane Murphy gathered 23. Young also led the Students for tackles with 11 (Max Wilson was next best with 6).
Jake Derickx booted 4 goals to remain second in the NEAFL Goalkicking Leaderboard, while Tim Barton and Aaron Day were vital down back.
PREMS
In their first clash for 2016 with old foes North Shore, the Prems came out winners, for the first time since Round 1.
After being dropped from NEAFL duties, Nick Foster and Monty Krochmal were outstanding through the middle of the ground, with Aron Everett, Allister Clarke and Luke Vella also contributing to the much-needed win.
Spencer Krochmal was impressive down back, repelling numerous North Shore attacks with strong contested marks.
Round 10 saw the Prems visit Pennant Hills in true winter conditions.
Goals were hard to come by for the Students, kicking 2 goals for the entire game in the tough 31-point loss.
Allister Clarke and Spencer Krochmal were named in the best for the second week running after their efforts in and around the contest, while Jacob Swarts and Chris Reichman were solid down back.
Tom Elkington returned to form with a solid game away from home, while Aron Everett dominated in the ruck for the second week in a row.
Following a 2-week break, the Prems returned to action at Picken Oval against Western Suburbs.
Tom Elkington was a handful up forward all day, booting 5 goals in a dominating display.
Luke Vella continued his recent run of form, winning the ball out of the middle for the duration of the game.
Lachlan Maples put in a good performance in his return from a concussion, while Aron Everett was dominating in the ruck despite the side’s 5-point loss.
BLUES
After a solid start to season 2016, the Blues have continued to build and cement their spot within the top 5.
Round 9 saw the Blues enjoy a comfortable 72-point win over Southern Power away from home.
Adam Birman was named best afield for the Students, while Nik Dale and Gabriel Robbie each kicked 3 goals.
On the wettest weekend of the year, the Blues visited Mike Kenny Oval to play Pennant Hills in Round 10.
Battling in the ruck for all 4 quarters, Ryan Kennedy was named among the best in the 40-point loss, besides the likes of Ronan Geraghty, Brendon Clendenning and Frank Greco.
Following the long weekend, Balmain visited No.1 Oval as the Blues looked to get back on the winners list.
In his first game for the season Clint Wells booted 5 goals, while regulars Sean Stokoe, Jethro Braico and Ronan Geraghty were named among the best.
The Blues Round 13 clash saw them pitted against Holroyd-Parramatta, a side they had already suffered a heavy defeat to in Round 1 this season.
Despite going down by 22 points, the Blues were in the game from start to finish, with just a handful of lapses costing the side its 7th win of the season.
Ryan Kennedy and Jethro Braico were once again among the best for the Blues, while Sam Crichton and Nik Dale shared 5 goals between them.
REDS
Following their 1-point win over archrivals UTS in Round 8, the Reds were back at home against an in-form Penrith Side, who sat 2nd on the Division 2 ladder.
The Reds were competitive for a majority of the game, but were unable to overcome the Rams, who have now won 9 of their 11 games in 2016.
Backmen Nathan Danckert and Dane Roberton were named best afield, while Harry Skacel, Luke Freemantle and Jonathan Weir were also strong contributors on the day.
The Reds suffered their 2nd consecutive loss when they visited South West Sydney in Round 11.
Once again, the Reds were within striking distance for the majority of the game, but it was the Magpies who were able to break the game open when it mattered.
Luke Freemantle was best on ground for the Reds, while up forward James Nettle, Sebastian Duggan and Peter Lloyd kicked 6 of the Reds’ 8 goals for the game.
A visit to Camden was the Reds next task, as they took on the top team in Division 2.
In what was always going to be a tough task, the Reds put up a fight in the first and final quarter, but a 2-quarter effort wasn’t enough.
Jonathan Mbakwe was the Reds only multiple goal kicker (2). Luke Freemantle put his hand up for Blues selection following consecutive mentions in the best.
Stephen Lloyd battled hard in the ruck all day, while Brent Pollock and Hugh Greenwood were solid down back.
GOLDS
Travelling south with the Blues, the Golds registered a convincing 76-point win over Southern Power in Round 9.
Lachlan Godfrey and Tim Lay shared 9 goals between them in a dominating display up forward.
Ryan Nyberg and Harry Murdoch were impressive on ball, while first year player Jordan Pickard provided plenty of run on the wing.
The Golds backed up their win over the Power, with another convincing 40-point win over the South West Sydney Magpies at Rosedale Park.
Lachlan Godfrey registered 4 goals up forward, to take his Golds tally to 15 after just 5 games. Ryan Nyberg was named among the best after another dominating display on ball, backed up by the likes of Adam Clark, Jack Hunt and David Rountree.
The Golds’ 8-game winning streak came to an end in Round 13, falling to St George by 14 points at No.1 Oval.
Leading at quarter time and the final break, the Dragons kicked 3 goals to zip in the final quarter to storm home unlikely winners.
Josh Heazlewood, Ben Hunter and Josh Flanagan were best afield for the Golds, Lachlan Godfrey kicked 3 goals.
In his 100th game for the Club, Blair McFarlane was mentioned in the best for the 2nd-placed Golds.
PLATS
Round 9 saw the Plats travel to Campbelltown and record a 143-point win.
Keeping the Blues scoreless up until the final quarter, the likes of Samuel Prendergast (5 goals), Jared Boccanfuso (4 goals) and Tom Hurley (3 goals) had a field day up forward, with the Plats recording 7 multiple goal kickers.
Tom Whitehead dominated in the ruck throughout the day, providing midfielders Manning Begg and Axel Norris with excellent service.
It took almost a month for the Plats to return to the field, following a horrid run with weather.
A visit from Nor-West always provides a challenge, but this time, it was the Plats who would conquer, winning by 57 points.
Forwards Patrick Hoey (2 goals), Trent Millsteed (2 goals) and Samuel Prendergast (2 goals) converted their chances in front of goal, while midfielders Chas Wilkinson, Axel Norris and Christian Hammerton fought hard in the middle.
Wednesday night’s rescheduled fixture against Balmain was a popular event, with a huge crowd filling No.1 Oval.
Balmain led by as much as 38 points at halftime, before the final margin was reduced to 25 points as the Plats fell short of a historic comeback.
Kyall Homberg kicked 3 goals for the Plats, while Geordie Costello and Chris Hardy toiled hard down back.
COLTS
The Colts Round 9 clash with Pennant Hills ended in a disappointing loss, following a 6 goal to 1 last quarter which saw the Colts give up a 26 point lead at 3-quarter time.
Will Gowers was named best on ground for the Colts after a dominant display on ball, assisted by the likes of Rowdy Friend and Luke Egan.
Yarlalu Thomas will be one to watch come the end of the season after he was named in the best for the Colts once again.
Suffering their 3rd successive loss away to Camden in Round 10, the Colts dropped out of the top 4 for the first time this season.
Henry Lamshed, Bilal Mohammad, Michael Nettheim and Tom Doyle were the only goal kickers for the Colts in their visit to Camden.
Yarlalu was named best on ground, along with Gareth Maples, Jack Fox and Joseph Stapleton.