NEAFL ROUND 5
Friday, April 28, 2017
NT Thunder (4th) v Sydney Swans (3rd)
TIO Stadium, 7.30pm

SUMMARY
A win and more will be on offer as the third-placed Sydney Swans fly north to Darwin to taken on the fourth-place NT Thunder at TIO Stadium on Friday night. The Swans and Thunder are comfortably placed just four games into the season, although with four teams equal on two wins apiece and separated only on percentage, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Round 4 saw both sides firm closer to legitimate contenders in 2017, as Sydney disposed of reigning premier the GIANTS in the Grand Final rematch whilst the Thunder secured another four points against Redland in their annual ANZAC Round fixture. The Swans’ Round 4 side featured 16 AFL-listed players, with a similar number expected to be named again this week given no serious injuries occurred to their AFL team. The Thunder boasts a much less experienced unit, however, after demolishing powerhouse Aspley at TIO Stadium in Round 1, nothing is off limits.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS
Round 20, 2016: NT Thunder 14.8 (92) d Sydney Swans 8.6 (54) at TIO Stadium
Round 14, 2016: Sydney Swans 19.13 (127) d NT Thunder 9.7 (61) at Sydney Cricket Ground
Round 16, 2015: NT Thunder 15.7 (97) d Sydney Swans 6.8. (44) at TIO Stadium

TALKING POINTS
1. Both teams sit even with two wins in their previous four matches against one another, however, when the Swans travel to the Top End, then tend to struggle. In fact, Sydney are yet to taste victory away against the Thunder since the league’s inception. NT have hosted the Swans five times since 2011, winning all with an average margin of 39.8 points.

2. Friday night’s game also features two of the NEAFL’s most inform players in NT’s Adam Sambono and Sydney’s Brandon Jack, if he remains at NEAFL level this week. Following the completion of Round 4, both players occupied two of the top three spots in the NEAFL MVP leaderboard only behind Southport’s Jordan Keras. After averaging 26 disposals in 2016, Jack has gone on to average 30.6 in his three games this year, whilst Sambono has booted 11 goals to kick-off his campaign – the third most in the league.

3. Cameron Ilett stands comfortably among the NEAFL’s best ever midfielders, but a role change this season has seen the 157-game veteran enjoy a new lease on his career. Deployed across half-back, Ilett’s composure and experience has been a haven for the Thunder when rebounding from defence. His current 6.3 rebound 50s per game ranks his among the top handful in the league, and something the Swans will need to account for on Friday night.

ROOKIE WATCH
Swans rookie Shaun Edwards will make his return home to Darwin this week to play in front of his family and friends at TIO Stadium. The Territory product has averaged 24 disposals in the NEAFL since Sydney gave the 23-year-old a career lifeline in last year’s Rookie Draft. A big match on home soil might remind footy fans of just how much talent he has to offer.

STATS THAT MATTER
Cameron Ilett’s switch to defence is reaping huge rewards for NT Thunder. He is ranked second in the competition for rebound 50s (for players who’ve played one or more games) after Round 4, with an average of 6.3 per match.