MATCH PREVIEW: Aspley v Gold Coast

NEAFL ROUND 6

Saturday, May 11, 2019
Aspley Hornets (7th) v Gold Coast SUNS (9th)
Voxson Oval, 1:30pm

SUMMARY

The hunt for a second consecutive win will be complete for one of these teams on Saturday afternoon as the 1-4 Aspley Hornets face the 1-5 Gold Coast SUNS at Voxson Oval.

With the Hornets coming off of a 53-point win away from home in the Quandamooka-Turrbal Trophy clash against Redland, and the SUNS recording their first ever win in Darwin with a 70-point victory over the Thunder, this could be a season-defining match for both clubs looking to climb toward the top six.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 2, 2018: Gold Coast 11.10 (76) d Aspley 8.8 (56) at Voxson Oval
Round 14, 2017: Gold Coast 25.13 (163) d Aspley 5.6 (36) at Metricon Stadium
Round 3, 2017: Gold Coast 13.9 (87) d Aspley 10.13 (73) at Southpine Sports Complex

TALKING POINTS

1. Aspley haven’t beaten the SUNS since Round 2 of 2016, when the John Blair-lead Hornets wrestled a 19-point half-time deficit back into their favour to finish as two-goal winners at Metricon Stadium. It’s a hoodoo the home side will be desperate to break this weekend.

2. Gold Coast SUN Tom Nicholls has been superb in the ruck over the past fortnight, with strong performances against experienced ruckmen in the Lions’ Archie Smith and Jack Hannath of the Thunder. This Saturday’s bounces will be a fascinating battle as Nicholls takes on consistent Hornets’ rucking duo Jake Spencer and Will Wolbers.

3. As the SUNS senior side looks to amend their scoring woes, young forwards Jack Lukosius and Ben King will be keen to continue improving their NEAFL form this week in the hope to fill the SUNS void inside forward 50.

ROOKIE WATCH

How can you not be excited about Fitzroy Greenwool? The 19-year-old Cairns local nabbed the Round 5 Rising Star nomination from his 17-disposal and four goal effort against the NT Thunder in Darwin. Earning not only the nomination, but plenty of praise from coach Nick Malceski, Greenwool has a definite x-factor that could very well see him drafted at the year’s end.

STATS THAT MATTER

The Hornets currently sit as the NEAFL’s second-lowest scoring team, averaging 78 points per game. 23 of Aspley’s 44 goals this season have come from the boot of two players, electric small forward Billy Murphy and imposing ex-Lion Jono Freeman. The Hornets simply need more avenues to goal, so they’ll not only need Murphy (six goals last week) and Freeman (three) to maintain their form but need their other forwards to stand up.

PREDICTION

SUNS by 6 points.

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