NEAFL ROUND 21

Friday, August 24, 2018

Sydney Swans (2nd) v Gold Coast SUNS (8th) at BISP, 2pm
*Live Champion Data statistics available on the Official NEAFL App

SUMMARY

Gold Coast might not be playing finals, but they can still impact what they will look like in 2018. The Swans, who were beaten by the SUNS last time they played, could host a Preliminary Final in two weeks or an Elimination Final in next week depending on this result of this contest.

The Swans seemed to recover from their losses to the SUNS and the Lions earlier this month, beating Canberra and the GIANTS in the last two weeks. Gold Coast, will be very inexperienced due to injuries but for the Swans, this cannot be a consideration as they prepare for one of the most anticipated NEAFL finals series in history.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 16, 2018: Gold Coast 11.10 (76) d Sydney 8.5 (53) at the SCG.
Round 11, 2018: Sydney 15.17 (107) d Gold Coast 6.4 (40) at Metricon Stadium.
Round 4, 2018: Gold Coast 8.10 (58) d Sydney 6.13 (49) at Fankhauser Reserve.

TALKING POINTS

1. Head-to-head contests between the two sides this year sees the Gold Coast leading 2-1. Considering they were unable to beat the Swans last year in their four attempts, this is a positive result. But they’ll be up against it this week with a number of injuries limiting the number of AFL-listed players Gold Coast are able to select.

2. The SUNS are likely to be without Michael Barlow again this week due to AFL duties who dominated last time these sides met. Barlow had 50 disposals, 10 clearances and eight inside 50s, receiving the maximum 10 NEAFL MVP votes.

3. Gold Coast’s season ended the same way last year playing the Swans at Blacktown, where they lost by 68 points. Although, different circumstances as it is the last round of the home and away not a Preliminary Final, the SUNS would not want their season to end the same way.

ROOKIE WATCH

Hewago “Ace” Paul Oea, demonstrated last week why the SUNS like him so much; his pace on the half-back was electrifying but composed. The 16-year old from Papua New Guinea has now played four games in the NEAFL and is getting better in every game he plays. It will be scary to see what he can produce next year, with a full-preseason with the SUNS academy.

TEAM

In: 31. Michael Gugliotta 22. Tom Nicholls 52. Harrison Arnold 55. Dirk Koenen 43. Max Spencer 

Out: 52. Ryan Gilmore (injured) 51. Bailey Scott (injured) 53. Kane Haua (omitted) 42. Cory Beaman (omitted)