Across a great divide but not streets apart
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, July 14
LITTLE did Nic Newman and Lachie Whitfield know when they were growing up just two houses away that they’d end up being sworn enemies in one of the AFL’s fastest growing rivalries.
The neighbours from Cumberland drive in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula used to beat each other up playing basketball in the driveway.
They united to win footy premierships as juniors but on Saturday night stand on opposite sides of Sydney’s AFL divide in teams with big chances of winning this year’s flag.
There is also a very good chance they will lock horns with each other at Spotless Stadium on Saturday night.
“It’s huge for both of us,” Newman told the Daily Telegraph.
“We want to stay in the eight and they want to stay up the top. There’s a very high chance we’ll be playing on each other on the wing. We played against each other in the NEAFL last year when he was coming back from illness.”
If they do match up, look out for fireworks. Those clashes as youngsters were serious stuff. Back then it was the older Newman taking on Whitfield and Nic’s younger brother Josh, who is now in the VFL with Williamstown.
Swans and Giants have big guns back for derby
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 14
THE Swans and Giants are leaving nothing in the bag for tomorrow night’s Sydney Derby XIII bringing back all their stars for the crunch match at Spotless Stadium.
GWS have named Toby Greene, Zac Williams and Steve Johnson and Sydney have included skipper Josh Kennedy. Greene (ankle) and Williams (hamstring) have missed the last two games and Johnson (knee) is returning after missing last week’s draw against Hawthorn.
“We wouldn’t bring them back if they weren’t 100 per cent,” Giants coach Leon Cameron said. “They all trained hard on Wednesday and pulled up well today so we’re confident they’ll contribute on Saturday night.”
Kennedy missed just his fourth game in his eight seasons in Sydney and is set to play a huge role in what’s expected to be a heavily contested game of football.
“Josh leads by example,” Swans midfielder Isaac Heeney said. “He’s someone I look up to massively and it gives me a lot of confidence playing alongside him in the midfield along with Luke Parker as well. They get in and under and really drive us and their physicality will be crucial especially early in a game like this.”
GWS defence gets on front foot
Neil Cordy
Daily Telegraph, July 14
THEY say you start defending from the front and that’s where the alarm bells are ringing for coach Leon Cameron and his GWS Giants.
The Giants look to be flying high in second place but consecutive draws have allowed Adelaide to take top spot in what’s shaping as a congested top eight.
Their forward-half pressure is one of the worst in the AFL and that stress will only increase if they lose to bitter rivals the Sydney Swans in Saturday night’s 13th Harbour City derby.
In an era where forwards are expected to tackle and harass to keep the ball locked inside their forward 50m, the Giants are allowing their opposition to run the ball out and set up goals.
They are ranked second last in the AFL for allowing the ball to rebound from their half-back line into their forward 50 and in conceding scores from half-back.
Big guns back for Sydney derby
Andrew Wu
SMH, July 14
GWS are set to field one of their strongest sides for the year after naming three big guns for the Sydney derby, as Swans young gun Isaac Heeney declared the Giants would provide a gauge for the surging club's premiership hopes.
The Giants are welcoming back Toby Greene, Steve Johnson and Zac Williams, while the Swans will regain the services of captain Josh Kennedy for Derby XIII.
Rocked by injury for much of the season, the Giants are now without only a handful of their first-choice team in an ominous sign to the rest of the competition. The return of the star trio is a major fillip for the Giants, who were starting to feel the pinch of their long injury toll with just one win from their past four games. All-Australian forward Greene and speedy ball-carrier Williams return after missing the Giants' pair of draws against Geelong and Hawthorn, while Johnson comes back after one week out.
Their returns come weeks after key forward Rory Lobb and goal sneak Devon Smith came back from lengthy lay-offs. Star forward Jeremy Cameron has been named despite missing the club's main training session on Wednesday.
"It's great to be able to bring Toby, Zac and Steve back into the side," Giants coach Leon Cameron said. "They all trained hard on Wednesday and pulled up well today so we're confident they'll contribute on Saturday night. We wouldn't bring them back if they weren't 100 per cent and we're looking forward to seeing them back out on the field."
They come in at the expense of Sam Reid, who is injured, Tendai Mzungu and Daniel Lloyd, who are both omitted. Kennedy's return is a massive boost for the Swans in a game where the contested ball is set to play a key part. The Swans' midfield bull did not play against the Gold Coast due to a minor quadriceps injury.
"He was touch-and-go whether he'd play last week, he was just a little bit too tight on the Saturday so we gave him that extra week," Swans coach John Longmire said. "It's great to have him back in the team, he's obviously a key player for us particularly around that stoppage area which is so important against the Giants.
Mummy primed for another crack
The Australian, AAP, July 14
Greater Western Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford doubles as both battering ram and barometer at the club.
Pleasingly for the Giants, Mumford seems to save his best performances for former side Sydney. Mumford left the Swans after the 2013 season, having been squeezed out of the club to accommodate the arrival of superstar signing Lance Franklin.
The former boilermaker made an immediate impact at his new club, earning the three Brownlow votes in GWS’s season-opening win over the Swans in 2014.
In round five of this year, Mumford helped himself to 62 hit-outs in the Sydney derby and was awarded the Brett Kirk Medal as best on ground in GWS’s 42-point win.
“Hopefully he can replicate that for us,” GWS midfielder Dylan Shiel said ahead of tomorrow night’s Sydney derby at Spotless Stadium.
“The way he attacks the ball and attacks the man is as good as I’ve ever seen. Shane has a massive influence on our football club and, in particular, our midfield.
“When he’s up and going, everyone knows that he’s crashing packs.”
