SIX teams remain in the race to win the first Smithy’s VFL premiership in three years, and for the first time in history there will be no finals played in Victoria this weekend.
Any fears expressed at the start of last year that NEAFL clubs would not be able to be competitive in the Victorian state league have been emphatically put to bed, with four of the six teams still standing being from the former NSW/Qld/ACT/NT competition – Southport, Brisbane Lions, Sydney and Gold Coast.
Three of those will be in action this week, with the Lions to host Carlton – a team they have never beaten – in what could be the last VFL game as a Lions home venue at Moreton Bay Sports Complex’s Red Rooster Park with their new facility at Springfield getting closer to completion.
The other semi-final, on Sunday, sees the Swans playing host to the Suns at Blacktown International Sports Park, and the home team will be desperate to avoid such a promising campaign ending in straight sets against a team that has beaten them five times in a row.
Let’s look at Saturday second semi-final and the history of clashes between the clubs.
4.SYDNEY (13-6) v 5.GOLD COAST SUNS (13-6)
1ST SEMI FINAL
Sunday, September 4, 1.05pm @ Blacktown International Sports Park
(Channel 7 and 7plus; Stream on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App, 1pm)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Sydney 22-10
At Blacktown International Sports Park: Sydney 4-2 (Suns 2 in a row)
Streak: Gold Coast 5 (last loss May 25, 2019)
THIS SEASON
Round 2, April 1, 2022, at Blacktown
Gold Coast 3.4, 7.9, 11.10, 15.13 (103)
Sydney 4.2, 7.2, 14.9, 15.11 (101)
Goals: GOLD COAST: S. Day, M. Rosas 4, C. Burgess, J. Tsitas 2, C. Budarick, M. Dumas, J. McLennan. SYDNEY: L. McDonald 4, L. McAndrew 3, B. Ronke 2, P. Ladhams, S. Reid, M. Sheather, A. Sheldrick, C. Sinclair, L. Taylor.
Disposals: GOLD COAST: J. Tsitas 25, E. Hollands 22, C. Constable 20, N. Moyle 19, M. Rosas, J. Farrar, D. Macpherson 18. SYDNEY: R. Clarke 33, M. Roberts 31, J. Bell 29, A. Sheldrick 23, L. Taylor 22.
Marks: GOLD COAST: C. Burgess 7, S. Day, N. Moyle, P. Murtagh 5. SYDNEY: L. McDonald 8, S. Reid 6, L. Taylor 5.
Clearances: GOLD COAST: C. Constable, N. Moyle 6. SYDNEY: R. Clarke 11, P. Ladhams 8.
Tackles: GOLD COAST: C. Constable 14, J. Tsitas 9, J. McLennan, D. Macpherson 8, J. Farrar 7, S. Flanders 6. SYDNEY: N. Shipley 8, A. Sheldrick 7.
Hitouts: GOLD COAST: N. Moyle 32, M. Conroy 12. SYDNEY: P. Ladhams 24, C. Sinclair 19.
Coaches Votes: GOLD COAST: M. Rosas 9, N. Moyle 3, J. Tsitas 3. SYDNEY: R. Clarke 7, M. Roberts 7, L. McDonald 1.
PREVIOUS FIVE HEAD-TO-HEAD
June 12, 2021: Gold Coast 17.5 107 def Sydney 16.8 104 (Lakeside Oval)
April 24, 2021: Gold Coast 14.11 95 def Sydney 12.9 81 (Austworld Centre)
August 17, 2019: Gold Coast 13.18 96 def Sydney 9.7 61 (Lakeside Oval)
June 29, 2019: Gold Coast 16.9 105 def Sydney 12.5 77 (Blacktown)
May 25, 2019: Sydney 17.14 116 def Gold Coast 8.10 58 (Metricon Stadium)
PREVIOUS FINALS
2017 NEAFL Semi Final: Sydney 21.16 142 def Gold Coast 11.8 74 (Blacktown)
PAST FIVE MATCHES
SYDNEY
QF: 7.10 52 lost to Casey Demons 14.15 99 (Casey Fields)
R22: 15.12 102 def Box Hill Hawks 6.9 45 (Box Hill)
R21: 10.7 67 def Collingwood 9.10 64 (SCG)
R20: 13.17 95 def North Melbourne 11.9 75 (Arden St)
R19: 10.17 77 def GWS 5.9 39 (SCG)
GOLD COAST SUNS
EF: 13.16 94 def Box Hill Hawks 10.11 71 (Metricon)
R22: 12.11 83 def North Melbourne 11.11 71 (Arden St)
R21: 14.10 94 def Southport 12.13 85 (Metricon)
R19: 19.14 128 def Port Melbourne 8.11 59 (Metricon)
R18: 13.13 91 def Brisbane Lions 13.11 89 (Red Rooster, Moreton Bay)
SEVEN KEY MATCH-UPS
Barry O’Connor (Sydney) v Chris Burgess (Gold Coast): With Lewis Melican having suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury late in the qualifying final, the developing Irishman will have to take on a lockdown role on the Frosty Miller medallist. O’Connor has been impressive in his development as a rebounding defender and this could be a perfect chance to add another string to his bow. Burgess was held to two goals last week and it will be a win for the Swans if they can do the same.
Will Gould (Sydney) v Josh Corbett (Gold Coast): The matchwinner against the Hawks, Corbett has flown under the radar due to Burgess’ outstanding season but is a more than capable key forward in his own right, having won a Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal coming out of the goalsquare for Werribee. He also has the ability to get up the ground, which is where Gould’s extra mobility and spoiling ability comes in. The Swan’s raking left foot will also make Corbett accountable in the other direction.
Callum Sinclair (Sydney) v Ned Moyle (Gold Coast): Peter Ladhams’ untimely suspension means the Swans’ retiring workhorse is likely to be called upon to lead the big man division at least one last time – and it will be nothing new to him to take on one of the best tap ruckmen in the competition. If Moyle can give first use to Tsitas, Hollands and co, the suddenly undersized Swans defence will have their hands full – especially if bogey goalkicker Sam Day is fit to play.
Lewis Taylor (Sydney) v Elijah Hollands (Gold Coast): The former NAB AFL Rising Star versus the No.7 draft pick who is starting to hit top gear after his knee reconstruction. Taylor has missed the past two games and the Swans need him back to help youngsters Matt Roberts and Angus Sheldrick provide enough entries for the tall forwards to strut their stuff. Hollands, James Tsitas and Sam Flanders will have other ideas though.
Matt Roberts (Sydney) v James Tsitas (Gold Coast): The midfield extractors are where these teams will get the upper hand and give those forwards (Swans Joel Amartey, Hayden McLean and Lachlan McAndrew and Suns Burgess, Corbett and Day) their opportunities to win the game. Roberts is in terrific touch and will need to be watched, while Tsitas returned to his best in the win over the Hawks.
Ben Ronke (Sydney) v Jez McLennan (Gold Coast): Ronke is in season-best form with seven goals in his past two games and was the only forward to stand up to the Casey Demons last week. He is much more dangerous as a foil to the big men but is more than capable of winning a game off his own boot. Captain McLennan is developing as a defender without being able to break into the AFL team and leading this team into its first ever preliminary final would be a major filip for his career.
Joel Amartey (Sydney) v Rory Thompson (Gold Coast): Amartey had a rare quiet game last week in being held goalless by the Demons and will need to get back to his best if the Swans are to turn the tables on the Suns. Thompson has finally had some luck with his body this year and is a big reason why the Suns are in the position they are in. Fellow key forward McLean could return to make things easier and stretch the Gold Coast backline. Don’t be surprised if Gold Coast calls on James Frawley to lend a hand.
SUMMARY
Losing Ladhams and Melican leaves the Swans a lot more vulnerable than they already look against a team that boasts five wins in a row against them, including three where they have come from more than five goals behind. Going to Blacktown won’t scare the Suns either given two of those five wins have been at the venue. Both teams have quality midfields and match-winning forwards and the Suns also have a remarkable ability to win close games. If this game was in Queensland, there would be no hesitation backing the Suns to put the Swans out in straight sets. They still might start favourites in Sydney.
EARLY PREDICTION: Sydney by 6
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
To thank football fans for their outstanding support throughout the 2022 season, the AFL is pleased to announce that entry to all matches in Weeks One to Three of the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be free.
For the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free.
All remaining matches in the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Finals Series will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 and 7plus, including the 2022 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final.
Viewers outside of Victoria can tune in to Seven’s Smithy’s VFL coverage via 7plus. This weekend’s match between Brisbane Lions and Carlton will also be available on 7mate for viewers in Brisbane.
All finals, including the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final, will be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
