As we close in on the end of the 2016 season, SUANFC are well placed with six of eight sides in contention for finals footy. There are some pivotal matches coming up for all grades, including a blockbuster clash with the Sydney Swans Reserves in round 21 for the NEAFL side, and a Wednesday night clash between the Division 4 Golds and Macquarie Uni. Check out each grade’s run home below.
NEAFL
2nd. 10 wins, 5 losses. 108.46%.
Run Home
Round 18: Bye
Round 19: Home vs. Southport (Henson)
Round 20: Away vs. Canberra
Round 21: Home vs. Sydney Swans (Blacktown)
With only three games left to play, including two ‘home’ games, the Students are well placed for another finals campaign in 2016. The side will head into their run home with plenty of rest, after playing only ½ a game a week ago – thanks to sinkhole-gate – and with a bye this coming weekend. The students are tied on 40 points with 3rd placed Aspley, and are only one game ahead of both the Giants and the NT Thunder, so each game is huge for the students. Round 21 against the Swans shapes as a key matchup for the Students as they try to secure a top 2 finish.
From Coach Gilmore: “Bar season ending injuries to Max Wilson, Lloyd Perris, Lachlan Kilpatrick, and Jack Campbell, we are healthy, focussed, and have built trust in each other through our actions at training and on game day. We are well placed and stocked in talent to throw ourselves into the contest to pursue a first grade premiership in 2016 #noexcuses #wewillgiveourbesteffort”
Premier Division
8th. 2 wins, 10 losses. 66.83%
Run Home
Round 15: Away vs. St George
Round 16: Home vs. UTS (No. 1)
Round 17: Away vs. UNSW
Round 18: Home vs. Pennant Hills (No. 1)
While out of finals contention, the prems side still has plenty to play for as they round out season 2016. The side should be bolstered by the return of several key players from injury/absence, and is a real chance of chalking up another few wins as they look to spoil the finals party for a few sides on the cusp of the top 5.
From Coach Merson: “With one month remaining in our season we are going to remain focused on playing team football and playing the role designated to each of us. We are presented with the opportunity to upset the run into the finals of 3 out of 4 teams left on our fixture, starting with the team that has knocked us out of the previous two finals series and highlighted with old boys day at No 1 in two weeks time. We are ready for a strong four weeks of football!”
Division 1 (Blues)
4th. 8 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw. 114.84%.
Run Home
Round 15: Away vs. St George
Round 16: Home vs. UTS (No. 1)
Round 17: Away vs. Western Magic
Round 18: Home vs. Pennant Hills (No. 1)
The Blues face four potentially finals bound sides in their final four matches, making for a difficult run home as the side pursues an impressive 4th straight premiership. Wins over either St George (3rd place) or UTS (1st place) – or both – would be fantastic for the Blues, and would give them a huge boost in confidence for their final two matches against the 5th placed Magic and the 7th placed Demons. Look for the mature heads in this side to put the foot down in the final weeks.
From Coach Power: “We’re really looking forward to the challenging month ahead and the potential finals campaign that may follow. At this stage we aren’t taking anything for granted”
Division 2 (Reds)
9th. 3 wins, 12 losses. 43.64%.
Run Home
Round 16: Away vs. Western Suburbs
Round 17: Home vs. UTS (No. 1)
Round 18: Away vs. UNSW
The Reds are unfortunately not in finals contention, however they are a real chance of chalking up 2 or even 3 more wins to close the year out. Round 17 (Old Boys’ Day), against 10th placed UTS shapes as an exciting affair as the Reds get a rare chance to run around on the hallowed home of university football.
From Coach Millsteed: “With numbers on the improve as uni holidays conclude, the Reds squad are presented with a chance to finish the season as it started with the remaining games all very winnable. Although we won’t feature in the finals series, many of those who have played with the Reds have the opportunity to impress in the coming weeks for a potential place in the finals bound Blues squad”
Division 4 (Golds)
4th. 10 wins, 3 losses. 196.02%.
Run Home
Round 15: Away vs. UNSW
Round 15.5: Home vs Macquarie Uni (Wednesday 2nd August, No. 1)
Round 16: Home vs. UTS (No. 1)
Coach Stephenson has the Golds well placed to mount yet another finals campaign. Despite their healthy percentage, the Golds sit in 4th place, tied on 40 points with 3rd placed Mac Uni. As such, the mid-week showdown with the Warriors shapes as the pivotal match in the students quest for a top 3 finish. With the end of university holidays and subsequent return of players, all strengthened by a month of home cooking, the Golds are going to be hard to beat at the pointy end of the year.
From Coach Stephenson: “Ah, Augtember. My favourite quasi-month of the year. The equation is simple for us from here – win our remaining 3 games and finish on top, lose our remaining games and miss finals. Actually, upon further reflection, there’s a series of other permutations that could see us finish anywhere in between 1st and 6th, but let’s just assume it’s all or nothing. Come at us, Augtember.”
Division 5 (Plats)
5th. 8 wins, 6 losses. 118.93%.
Run Home
Round 15: Away vs. UNSW
Round 16: Home vs. UTS (No. 1)
The Platinums are basically starting finals this week, with two must-win matches to close out their year before a potential finals campaign. A healthy influx of players should bolster their ranks, and Coach Pollock is optimistic about their chances. With so many changes weekly, the Plats are working hard to gel together, and they should challenge both UNSW and UTS in their final two matches. The Plats have done well to get into this position and now have their fate in their hands.
From Coach Pollock: “The equation for finals is simple for the Plats. Two more games against two of the top teams: win both, we’re finals bound, but lose either and we’ll just miss out. We lost convincingly to both teams earlier in the year but a lot has changed for the Plats since then. It should be an exciting fortnight.”
Premier Division Colts
5th. 7 wins, 4 losses. 131.46%.
Run Home:
Round 15: Away vs. UNSW
Round 16: Away vs. North Shore
Round 17: Away vs. South Coast Thunder
Round 18: Home vs. East Coast (No 1.)
The Colts have had an up and down year, but have done enough to get themselves into finals contention as they enter the final few rounds. The next two weeks will be very telling with matches against two of the top three teams. A win in either or both of those matches, and the Colts will send a message to the comp that they are serious contenders. Pennant Hills, who sit a single game behind the colts, have a tough run home and significantly lower percentage, so the students are in the box seat to lock up a finals spot. The tough trip down the coast in round 17 might be a must-win for the students pending Pennant Hills’ results.
Women’s Premier Division
1st. 11 wins, 1 loss. 418.58%.
Run Home
Round 13: Away vs. Power Wolves
Round 14: Away vs. Macquarie Uni
Round 15: Away vs. UNSW
Round 16: Home vs. Newtown (No. 1)
Yet again, the Womens’ side are looking like serious premiership contenders. Tied on 44 points with UNSW, they sit atop the ladder thanks to their astonishing percentage. There is daylight between the top two sides and the rest of the comp, so their round 15 matchup is probably a grand final preview. A 2015 grand final rematch against Newtown in round 16 should be also be a telling affair and will be a great last hit out before the finals. We will learn a lot about this side in Rounds 15 and 16, but it’s all looking good at this stage for coach Celenk and his powerhouse side.
From Coach Celenk: “Your finals preparation tends to be the culmination of the second half of the season, and so importantly it is about getting the girls to recognise this and enjoy the remaining games left with great unity and discipline. Specific targeted training towards finals preparation will come later on. I am very confident of my team’s ability and conditioning to make the necessary adjustments when called upon”