MATCH PREVIEW: Brisbane v Sydney

NEAFL ROUND 5

Saturday, May 4, 2019
Brisbane Lions (1st) v Sydney Swans (2nd)
South Pine Sports Complex, 12pm

SUMMARY

A mouth-watering clash of the NEAFL’s top two undefeated team awaits at South Pine Sports Complex as the Brisbane Lions lock horns with the travelling Sydney Swans.

The Swans have won their four matches of the year by an average of five goals, while the Lions have cruised to a percentage of 255.61% with an average win margin of 76 points.

Both sides celebrated big wins over their cross-town rivals in Round 4, and the temptation of a four-point buffer over the competition will make this contest a thriller.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 18, 2018: Brisbane 18.8 (116) d Sydney 8.7 (55) at the SCG.
Round 13, 2018: Sydney 12.8 (80) d Brisbane 7.9 (51) at BISP.
Round 8, 2018: Sydney 10.10 (70) d Brisbane 7.12 (54) at South Pine Sports Complex.

TALKING POINTS

1. Explosive Swans pair Colin O’Riordan and Robbie Fox were superb in their battle with the GWS GIANTS, gaining a whopping 179 and 193 Champion Data Ranking points respectively. The duo will be in contention for senior football following their AFL squad’s third consecutive loss featuring some less than impressive performances, however if they end up featuring at NEAFL level this weekend, the Lions will be having some headaches controlling them.

2. Saturday will see the league’s two highest scoring sides take each other on. Both clubs average over 100 points per game. The Lions’ young forward line starring Sam Skinner, Tom Fullarton, Toby Wooller and Ben Keays have combined for 187 of the Lions’ 501 points this season.

3. With Sydney’s injury list double the length of Brisbane’s, the Swans’ academy players have become vital to the team’s success thus far. With 11 non-listed players taking part in Round 4 for the Swans, and a similar line-up predicted this weekend, the youngsters will need to be switched on.

ROOKIE WATCH

The performances of Sydney’s Matt Belbasis and Brisbane’s Cody Stackelberg will be fascinating this Saturday as both will be eager to continue impressing in 2019. Belbasis – in his NEAFL debut – had 18 disposals, four tackles and four marks playing on the wing against the GIANTS, while Stackelberg notched 17 touches, six marks and goal.

STATS THAT MATTER

From 32 scoring shots last week, the Sydney Swans managed 13 goals, while the Lions slotted 24 goals from their 39 scoring shots. It’s crucial that the Swans address their inaccuracy if they’re to match it with the high-scoring Lions. The Lions scored 61% of the time they went inside 50, while the Swans went at just under 50%. It’s a difference like this that could be the game-changer.

PREDICTION

Lions by 12 points.

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