25 JUL 2019 BY: BEN HUNTER (NEAFL MEDIA)
NEAFL ROUND 17
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Aspley Hornets (4th) v Sydney University (7th)
Voxson Oval, 12pm
SUMMARY
In what’s been a whirlwind of a season for Aspley, the now white-hot Hornets have no time for complacency as they line up against Sydney Uni, a side hungry for a top six finish.
Six wins from their last six matches sees the Hornets in fourth spot, and the most dangerous side in the competition behind the Lions. Aspley has done more than enough to assert themselves in the competition and should feel confident on their home turf to take down the Students.
Count out Sydney Uni at your own risk, however. Fresh off a bye, and a win over Gold Coast the week prior, the Students have plenty to play for this weekend. Currently seventh, Uni could clamber back into the top six, but need to correct the woes of six weeks ago that reckoned a 65-point loss to the Hornets.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
Round 11, 2019: Aspley 14.18 (102) defeated Sydney Uni 4.13 (37) at Voxson Oval
Round 1, 2019: Sydney Uni 15.17 (107) defeated Aspley 9.6 (60) at BISP
Round 11, 2018: Aspley 12.10 (88) defeated Sydney Uni 11.9 (75) at BISP
TALKING POINTS
1. When they last met, the two clubs were in almost opposite situations. Sydney Uni saw themselves in fifth with four wins, four losses, while the Hornets were seventh and emerging out of their early season slump with a 3-5 record. The Hornets have remained undefeated since Round 10 and the Students are outside the top six.
2. Sydney University would be hoping for a lift this weekend, with Jack Hiscox playing his 100th NEAFL match against the Hornets. The former Sydney Swan has proved an important cog in the Students’ midfield in 2019. With the multitude of milestone men this season inspiring big results for their sides, don’t be surprised for the Students to really step up.
3. The Hornets are the third-highest scoring side this season, averaging 89 in 2019. While the Students sit sixth on this ranking, they only average 10 points less than the Hornets per match. Which forward line can fire this week?
ROOKIE WATCH
Aspley are yet to have a Rising Star nominee in 2019, but 19-year-old Tom Baulch is doing plenty to push his name into contention. Sharing his field-time between the midfield and the forward line, the East Perth product has averaged 17 disposals, three tackles and a goal over his last three outings, and seems to thrive in front of a home crowd.
STATS THAT MATTER
In Round 11, when Aspley last met the Students, Sydney Uni’s four goals and 13 behinds was the worst scoring accuracy seen this season at 23.5%. This was the worst scoring accuracy in a NEAFL match since the Swans in Round 17 of 2016 when they recorded 4.19 for an accuracy of 17.4%. Aspley is renowned for its stingy, high-pressure defence, so the Students will be cautious to make sure the weight of the occasion doesn’t get to them in front of the big sticks.