VFL Grand Final: Sydney Swans Reserves v Giants @ Blacktown Sunday 11th Sept 1.30pm

[Triple B]

...is on SUNDAY at 1:30pm at Blacktown.

Shame it's not a curtain raiser at either Spotless or ANZ, but happy it's not on Saturday at Blacktown so at least most can get there...

[liz]

Probably works better for the two clubs, and especially the three players from each side likely to be named as emergencies for Saturday's game. Means they should all get to compete in the NEAFL grand final.

[ugg]

I sincerely urge every Swans supporter who can make it to come as the team will need our support. The Giants had really good support at their semi final on Saturday, replete with a few flag wavers - something I'll admit I haven't seen at Blacktown before.

[mcs]

I sincerely urge every Swans supporter who can make it to come as the team will need our support. The Giants had really good support at their semi final on Saturday, replete with a few flag wavers - something I'll admit I haven't seen at Blacktown before.

So disappointed it is not on the Saturday (but in particular the points made by Liz make a lot of sense as to why it is not).

I would of stayed in Sydney and made a weekend of it, but have other commitments here in Canberra on the Sunday. Will be watching as much of it as I can on the live stream though. Should be a really good game against two top quality sides.

[AnnieH]

Whooo hooooo.
I'll be there.

[goswannies]

Whooo hooooo.
I'll be there.

Enjoy Annie! Wish I was going too!

[AnnieH]

Enjoy Annie! Wish I was going too!

You should have booked for the first final.
Then we could have done both.

[goswannies]

You should have booked for the first final.
Then we could have done both.

Had to plan for "the big one", if we're lucky enough

[AnnieH]

Had to plan for "the big one", if we're lucky enough

I hope you are planning.
Gotta have our after footy date on Sunday morning at Albert Park.

[goswannies]

I hope you are planning.
Gotta have our after footy date on Sunday morning at Albert Park.

Planning underway

Always looking forward to the date

[ugg]

Cunningham, Davis, Dawson, Derickx, Foote, Galloway, Hiscox, B.Jack, Jones, Laidler, Leonardis, Melican, Murray, Nankervis, Newman, T.Richards, Robinson, Rose, Towers

In: Cunningham, Dawson, Galloway, Hiscox
Out:

Baron-Hay, Cooper, Hebron, Reinhard, Wilson

In: Baron-Hay, Wilson
Out: James Bell, Jake Brown, Will Gowers, Jarrod Osborne

[rb4x]

Hi ugg. Braon-Hay and Wilson both in and out?

[ugg]

I've split the team into listed and non listed players

[ugg]

A combined 36 AFL-listed players named for #NEAFL Grand Final. Who will win? MATCH PREVIEW: https://t.co/pfAN9R7SPa pic.twitter.com/x0iWDl7YU4

— NEAFL (@neaflofficial) September 9, 2016

[ugg]

NEAFL 2016 Grand Final

Sydney Swans Reserves v Giants @ Blacktown

Sunday 11thSeptember 2016
1.30pm
Blacktown International Sports Park

The first NEAFL grand final to be held in Sydney is appropriately played out between 2 Sydney based sides and the 2 best ranked sides in 2016. Despite finishing 3 games clear of the Giants on the ladder, the Swans actually have a losing record against their crosstown rivals this year, winning 1 and losing 2 of our 3 clashes this year. Overall, dating back to the start of the NEAFL in 2011, the Swans hold a 11-10 record against the Giants.

The pick of the 3 games was in Round 11 at Spotless Stadium, where a fast finishing Giants outfit managed to pip a Swans side who were weakened by a few in-game injuries. The last match in Round 17 at the SCG is probably one to forget for Swans fans, coaches and players alike where a really windy day combined with some poor goalkicking (4.19) ended up costing the Swans any chance of victory that day.

With no listed players restrictions being enforced, both sides will bring back players to bolster what are already strong sides. Hiscox and Galloway for us and Barrett, McKenna and Flynn for them. There are tantalising prospective matchups all over the ground, with players on both sides putting up great performances lately but unlucky not to be in their AFL team due to the strength and form of their senior counterparts.

Both sides will be aiming for their first NEAFL flag: this will be the Swans's 3rd attempt after losing to the Lions Reserves in 2013 and then Aspley in the 2014 decider. The Giants have never qualified for the NEAFL Grand Final.

NEAFL Ladder
Recent Form
Reserves
Giants

Past Meetings
2016
Round 17 @ SCG
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Round 11 @ Spotless Stadium
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Round 2 @ Blacktown International Sports Park
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2015
Round 20 @ Spotless Stadium
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Round 13 @ Blacktown International Sports Park
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Round 5 @ Spotless Stadium
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Round 2 @ Tramway Oval
Last game
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Team List
Listed players
Changes
In: Cunningham, Hiscox, Dawson, Galloway
Out:

4 ins brings the total of listed players to a season high of 19. Cunningham's inclusion will give Shaw more options in the midfield - alongside Towers, Jack, Foote, Jones Rose and Robinson. He might even be asked to tag one of the many gun midfielders that the Giants possess. Hiscox and Dawson can also slot into the midfield but will more likely play as high half forwards. Galloway to provide a tall target up forward alongside Nankervis.

Robinson spent some time in the back pocket last week and Leonardis all game up forward but Shaw will not be afraid to shuffle the players around. Flexibility has been one of the trademarks of this 2016 NEAFL team.

Academy Players/Topups
In: Baron-Hay, Wilson
Out: James BELL, Jake BROWN, Will GOWERS, Jarrod OSBORNE, Ned REINHARD

Reinhard a little unlucky to miss out. He started the season really well, had a little flat match mid-year but I felt he had returned to form in the last few weeks. Cooper's been playing in defence lately but could find himself shifted forward given the strength in numbers down back.

Statistics
Kicks
Handballs
Disposals
Marks
Tackles
Hitouts
Clearances
Inside 50s
Rebound 50s
Goals
Coaches Votes
NEAFL MVP Votes

Giants (listed players in bold)
In: Barrett, Flynn, McKenna
Out: Jack STEELE, Brandon CLARK

A huge blow for the Giants midweek with star onballer Jack Steele going down with a foot injury. Steele had been producing stellar numbers (averaging 34.9 disposals, 8.4 marks, 7.4 tackles, 7.3 clearances and almost 1.5 goals a game) and would have been the major cause of concern for the Swans. In his absence the focus will now turn to former AFL Rising Star winner Rhys Palmer who had a field day against Uni in the semi final with 35 disposals, 14 clearances and 11 inside 50s. Palmer was also the star player in our epic Round 11 clash and will need to be closely marked.

Joining Palmer in the midfield the 2 Kennedys - Adam and Matt, former number 4 draft pick Will Hoskin-Elliott and ball magnets Lloyd and Barrett.

Up forward, Sam Reid and James Stewart form a deadly duo averaging 2.8 and 2.6 goals respectively. They seem ideal matchups for Laidler and Richards leaving their two resting ruckmen (out of Simpson, Downie and Flynn) and the swingman Finlayson to the likes of Melican, Baron-Hay and Cooper.

The Giants look particularly strong in defence with Mohr, Buntine, Himmelberg and Corr all having had AFL experience. Mohr and Corr more likely to play on the taller Nankervis, Galloway or Derickx with the more agile Buntine and Himmelberg likely to tackle the likes of Rose, Dawson and Leonardis.