ROUND 1
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Clubs with a Bye
Dylan Buckley in action for GIANTS. Photo: Keith McInnes/NEAFL
NEAFL ROUND 9
Saturday, June 1, 2019
GWS GIANTS (5th) v Gold Coast SUNS (8th)
GIANTS Stadium, 10:05am
SUMMARY
The NEAFL Round 9 will kick off bright and early when the
GWS GIANTS and the Gold Coast SUNS go head to head in a curtain raiser on
Saturday morning at GIANTS Stadium.
The GIANTS will head into the match seeking redemption after
a seven goal loss to the Brisbane Lions last week, where injuries took their
toll in the second half.
Similarly, the Gold Coast SUNS will head into the match keen
to jump back on to the winners list after their loss against the Sydney Swans
last week.
With both teams expected to feature plenty of AFL-listed
players interested in earning a spot in their respective AFL teams, this match
will be an interesting one to watch for spectators.
RECENT ENCOUNTERS
Round 3, 2019: GIANTS 14.10 (94) d Gold Coast 8.8 (56) at
Blacktown International Sportspark
Round 19, 2018: GIANTS 20.9 (129) d Gold Coast 9.5 (59) at Metricon Stadium
Round 15, 2018: Gold Coast 10.1 (70) d GIANTS 8.2 (68) at GIANTS Stadium.
TALKING POINTS
1. The GIANTS will be willing to prove that they shouldn’t
be underestimated despite a plague of injured players. In their Round 8 match
against the Brisbane Lions, the GIANTS were forced to play the final quarter
with only 17 men on the field after losing Jye Caldwell, Zach Sproule, Kieren
Briggs, Shaun Driscoll, Callum Brown and Jai Reed all to injury.
2. Despite their depleting players list and eventual loss
last week, there is no doubt that some of the GIANTS players stood up to the
challenge and demonstrated some impressive form. In particular, Jackson Hately
and Aiden Bonar were very busy in the midfield whilst Connor Idun impressed in
the backline.
3. If the Gold Coast SUNS are serious about making it into
the top six to play finals football, what better place to start then with a win
against the GIANTS this week? To do so, they’re going to need to harness the
same impressive form that led them to their wins against the NT Thunder in
Round 5 and the Aspley Hornets in Round 6.
ROOKIE WATCH
The GWS Giants forward James Peatling will be the one to
watch this week. With two NEAFL Rising Star nominations in as many seasons, the
18-year-old is a creative player who reads the game well, making him a threat
given his great agility and speed.
STATS THAT MATTER
Gold Coast averages seven more inside 50s per game than the
GIANTS, yet conversion has been an issue for them all year. The SUNS are ranked
ninth in the competition for conversion, scoring 42% of the time they go inside
50. The GIANTS are ranked third with 48%.
PREDICTION
The GIANTS by 20 points.
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