Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Blacktown International Sports Park 11am
SUMMARY
The Sydney Swans are now just two wins away from finally conquering their NEAFL demons and winning their first ever premiership, after three heartbreaking Grand Final losses. And when we say heartbreaking, we mean it – that trio of defeats owns a combined margin of 14 points (eight, two, and four in 2013, ’14, and ’16). For the second year in a row, Sydney has finished with the best record in the competition, and are the overwhelming favourites for the premiership. They will be desperate to make sure another shock loss does not befall them before their assumed hoisting of the NEAFL flag.
The Gold Coast Suns may be up against it as they attempt to steal a Grand Final berth from the Swans in Sydney, but with nothing to lose, Stephen Daniel’s men will not go down without a fight. With the recall of AFL stars such as Mitch Hallahan, Michael Rischitelli, and Jack Bowes among others, and young stars such as Round 18 Rising Star nominee Jacob Dawson, Gold Coast could very well prove a tricky prospect for the Bloods, but are they capable of arguably the greatest NEAFL upset of all time?
See the full teams here.
RECENT ENCOUNTERS
Round 21, 2017: Sydney 23.12 (150) d Gold Coast 13.5 (83) at Metricon Stadium
Round 15, 2017: Sydney 21.10 (136) d Gold Coast 4.5 (29) at the SCG
Round 9, 2017: Sydney 16.24 (120) d Gold Coast 4.8 (32) at Newcastle Oval
TALKING POINTS
1. While one year has no bearing to the next, the fact remains Sydney finished minor premiers convincingly last year (top of the table after every round, 12 points clear of second), but failed to finish off the job with a premiership. Should they shockingly see their season ended this week or next, Sydney may start to think they are cursed if they can’t go all the way in 2017.
2. The Suns should be happy with where their season finished off – two wins better than last year, and having already bettered last season’s finals showing. Regardless of a win or a loss this weekend, it is their best ever finish to a NEAFL season. The Suns Academy system appears to be beginning to produce the AFL talent it should be, which is providing the NEAFL system with a big boost. A tip of the cap to the Suns of the Gold Coast sky.
3. A hopeful reading of the tea leaves will reveal that one of the Swans’ two losses this season came at Blacktown International Sportspark, and it came against a Queensland AFL side, the Brisbane Lions. Of course, if these are the kinds numbers Gold Coast are focusing on, they’ve got it all wrong, but nevertheless, it may provide some level of comfort.
ROOKIE WATCH
Young Suns ruckman Brayden Crossley has averaged 48 hit-outs in the last month of NEAFL, including a monster day against this week’s opponents in Round 21. That day against Sydney, the 18-year-old had 60 hit-outs, the eighth-most ever in a NEAFL game and he is the youngest player to reach over 50 hit-outs in the competition. An Under-18 Allies representative and Under-18 All-Australian, Crossley is in superb form, and will have shot up draft boards of late.
STATS THAT MATTER
Sixty-seven points was the margin when these two sides played in Round 21, and while it will be far closer this time, 12 individual Bloods goalkickers is the number Gold Coast should be worried about. That was one less goalkicker than Suns had kicked goals, and with such a wide variety of players able to hit the scoreboard, Gold Coast can simply not afford that sort of all-around impact again if they’re to be a chance against the minor premiers.
