By MYLES STEDMAN
NEAFL ROUND 17
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Sydney University (4th) v GIANTS (8th) at Spotless Stadium, 1.10pm
*This match will be streamed live on NEAFL TV (youtube.com/northeastafl)
*Live Champion Data statistics available on the Official NEAFL App
SUMMARY
With a win over Southport last week, Sydney University went some distance to erasing from their memories their horror 110-point thrashing at home at the hands of the Queenslanders in Round 10. The Students will also hope the win can kick-start a return to the form they were in prior to that loss, when they were at the top of the ladder and rolling to what many thought would be their first NEAFL premiership. If a week is a long time in football, two months is almost a generation.
With arguably more to play for are the GIANTS as they attempt to stay in and around the finals conversation. Their last two games, neither of which they have won, have been decided by a total of two points. Round 15 saw them drop a heartbreaker to Gold Coast, and last week’s game was not decided at all, coming to a close with the GIANTS and Lions stranded on 99 points each. Despite a good fortnight of footy, they have failed to beat the very two clubs between them and a finals berth at present. To say there’s a lot riding on this game would be a gross understatement.
RECENT ENCOUNTERS
Round 17, 2017: GIANTS 12.12 (84) d Sydney University 11.5 (71) at BISP
Round 2, 2017: Sydney University 20.8 (128) d GIANTS 12.13 (83) at BISP
Preliminary Final, 2016: GIANTS 17.15 (117) d Sydney University 4.6 (30) at BISP
TALKING POINTS
1. To establish some context for how important the GIANTS’ last two results have been, had they won both games, they would now be sitting in at least 6th, level on points with the Aspley Hornets in 5th, with a very similar percentage. Three hypothetical behinds have changed all that, with the GIANTS not slipping to eighth, two points and percentage behind Gold Coast and Brisbane respectively. They simply need to win this week to stay in the hunt for finals.
2. Sydney Uni played inspired football last week to win a tough, contested arm wrestle against Southport, in what could be the second turning point in their season. They won their first seven games, dropped five of their next six, before last week’s upset victory over the then ladder leaders. If the Students can build momentum off the back of that win, they’ll be back in to serious premiership contention.
3. Aidan Bonar is having an impressive debut season for the GIANTS, and his athleticism and ability to break the lines will be crucial against Sydney University this week. The No.11 pick in last year’s AFL Draft is averaging 21 disposals, 4.5 inside 50s, six tackles and six clearances a game – an impressive return from an 18-year-old who is in the mix for NEAFL Team of the Year honours.
ROOKIE WATCH
Lachlan Hayres has recently taken up post in a vaunted Uni backline that holds its weekly standards to no less than a win and a convincing positional victory. Since making his debut earlier in the season, his play has been strong – you’re not invited back if it isn’t. Keep an eye out for the young Student on the weekend.
STATS THAT MATTER
While first and foremost comes the victory, Sydney University will want to keep one eye on the percentage. They languish a whopping 23.6 per cent behind Canberra , 30.2 per cent behind Southport and 52.07 per cent behind Sydney. With finals seeding as important as it is, their sub-100 percentage needs to improve fairly rapidly if they want to lie in best position come the post-season.
PREDICTION
Sydney University by 18 points.