NSW/ACT Notebook: Round 6 Review

Gold Coast Suns 20.14 (134) def. GWS GIANTS 13.16 (94)
 
The GIANTS have gone down to fellow expansion side Gold Coast by 40 points at Metricon Stadium.
 
Jonathon Patton marked and goaled to open the game, however accuracy was the story of the first quarter and it favoured the home side.
 
The Suns booted 6.1 in the opening term compared to 1.6 for the GIANTS.
 
The GIANTS made up some ground before half time, but the Suns found an answer each time their lead looked in slight danger.
 
Suns forward Tom Lynch kicked a career-high five goals, while Gary Ablett kicked a Goal of the Year candidate and had 30 touches.
 
Jeremy Cameron kicked four goals for the GIANTS and was joined in the best players by Callan Ward (32 disposals, one goal) and Adam Tomlinson (87 percent disposal efficiency, one goal).
 
Adam Treloar (28 disposals) and Stephen Coniglio (27) were also prominent.
 
The GIANTS had yet another dominant game in the ruck, winning the hitouts 51-27 on the back of 42 taps by Jonathan Giles.
 
The Suns dominated the inside 50s however, winning 72-55. They also out-tackled the GIANTS 69-58 and won the contested possessions 163-131.
 
GWS host the red-hot Port Adelaide at Startrack Oval this Saturday.
 
Melbourne 5.8 (38) def. by Sydney Swans 9.15 (69)
 
Paul Roos couldn’t pull off an upset against his former side, with the Swans prevailing over Melbourne by 31 points at the MCG.
 
It was a low-scoring contest, with the Dees being held to one goal in each of the first two quarters and the Swans held goalless in the second.
 
On the back of their stronger first term, the Swans went into the main break up by 17 points and proceeded to run out the game from there.
 
Both Dan Hannebery and Rhyce Shaw had 34 disposals, Hannebery also having 13 clearances and a goal.
 
Kieren Jack was the game’s only multiple goal scorer with two majors among his 23 touches.
 
Lance Franklin was subbed out of the game as a precautionary measure after a knee concern. He is unlikely to miss next week’s game as a result.
 
Despite losing the hitouts 48-26, the Swans got on top in the clearances 35-29. They also got the ball forward far more often, with 57 inside 50s to Melbourne’s 37.
 
He didn’t get the result he was after, but Roos described his side’s performance as “a significant step forward”.
 
The Swans have another road game this week, travelling to face the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
 
NSW/ACT Notes
 
Lenny Hayes (Pennant Hills) again impressed for St Kilda, racking up an impressive statline of 34 disposals, seven clearances, eight tackles and six inside 50s in the loss to Brisbane.
 
Josh Bruce (Eastlake) was another Saint to impress with nine one-percenters along with 12 touches (all effective).
 
Sam Rowe (North Albury) had a ridiculous 17 one-percenters for Carlton in their win over West Coast. He’s now ranked third in the AFL for that stat.
 
Will Langford (East Sydney) had career-highs for disposals (20) and tackles (8) to register his best game yet for Hawthorn in their win over Richmond.
 
Isaac Smith (Temora) had 19 disposals and took eight marks. Taylor Duryea (Wahgunyah) had 19 disposals at 84 percent efficiency.
 
Matt Suckling (Wagga Tigers) picked up 22 touches. Luke Breust (Temora) was quieter than usual yet still managed to bag two goals.
 
Sam Lloyd (Deniliquin) took five marks for the Tigers before being subbed out.
 
Tom Hawkins (Finley) kicked 3.2 for Geelong in their loss to Port Adelaide. Hamish McIntosh (Lavington) had 19 hitouts.
 
Kieren Jack (Pennant Hills) had 23 disposals and two goals for the Swans. Craig Bird (Nelson Bay) had 23 disposals and laid 10 tackles.
 
Ben McGlynn (Wentworth) had 19 touches, nine marks and a goal. Jarrad McVeigh (Pennant Hills) was in form with his 18 disposals at 83 percent efficiency and six tackles.
 
Dane Rampe (UNSW-ES Bulldogs) had 25 possessions at 80 percent efficiency.
 
Daniel Cross (Albury) picked up 26 disposals for the Dees and had five clearances. Dean Terlich (Osborne) had 16 touches with six tackles.
 
Jarrod Witts (St Ives) had a season-high in hitouts (16) and a career-high in tackles (seven) during Collingwood’s Anzac Day win over Essendon.
 
Zac Williams (Narrandera) took four marks and generated three inside 50s for GWS.
 
Tom Young (Wollondilly) had 12 disposals for the Western Bulldogs in their loss to Adelaide.
 
NEAFL (Round 5)
 
Brisbane Lions 6.14 (50) def. by Sydney Swans 7.9 (51)
NT Thunder 15.15 (105) def. Redland 10.11 (71)
Gold Coast Suns 9.8 (62) def. by UWS GIANTS 17.20 (122)
Eastlake 2.9 (21) def. by Southport 22.18 (150)
Sydney University 14.7 (91) def. Ainslie 13.12 (90)
Hills Eagles 16.17 (113) def. Belconnen 11.6 (72)
Queanbeyan 6.14 (50) def. by Aspley 15.10 (100)