First-year GIANT Nick Shipley put in another sterling performance, while defenders Lachie Keeffe and Jeremy Finlayson starred as the GIANTS Reserves made it two wins in a row in the NEAFL, with a 51 point victory over the NT Thunder.
Shipley’s work rate again impressed GIANTS NEAFL coach Adam Schneider in the 14.12 (96) to 6.9 (45) win at TIO Stadium on Saturday.
Keeffe put in a best-on-ground performance in shutting down NT Thunder goalkicking star Darren Ewing, while Finlayson, who divided his time playing on-ball and in defence, was particularly damaging early, picking up nine first-quarter disposals as the GIANTS established ascendency.
“It’s never easy travelling that far and playing NT up there, but it was a super win for the boys and I couldn’t be happier for them,” Schneider said.
NT Thunder 1.2, 5.3, 5.7, 6.9 (45)
GIANTS 3.5, 6.7, 12.9, 14.12 (96)
The NEAFL GIANTS Reserves host the Gold Coast Suns Reserves at Spotless Stadium at 1.10pm this Saturday, June 9, as a curtain-raiser to the AFL match between the GIANTS and the Suns.
GIANTS NEAFL coach Adam Schneider on the performance of GIANTS AFL-listed players:
Nick Shipley
“He just keeps picking up little things to add to his traits, which he’s doing really, really well. His work rate is phenomenal. He gets back to our back line and helps out and just keeps working. He’s growing each week and getting confident. He’s been fantastic for us.”
Jeremy Finlayson
“An absolute superstar when ball-in-hand for us, he was elite in so many things. Again, he was very influential for us, especially in the first quarter. He had nine touches and set up a few things. His ball use is magnificent. We played him in an inside-midfield roll for first half and went back to the back flank for the second half.”
Zach Sproule
“Sproule just keeps doing what he’s been doing. His work rate is super, he works really well for us and he’s been in great form.”
Matt Buntine
“Bunts was a little bit of a slow to start this week, but his leadership and organisation down our back makes other people better players around him. He just puts his head in places it shouldn’t be put and he’s just super for us down there and makes the younger guys better players for being next to him.”
Isaac Cumming
“Interesting game for Cheese, he didn’t get a lot of the football this week. We put him on as an inside-mid in the second half, and it was a tough little battle in there. When he gets ball in hand, he’s very dangerous for us and continues to fight for the game.”
Matt Flynn
“Flynn was very dangerous for us in the contest, took some great contested marks along the line and really followed up well. He played like a big fella should play and did a really good job for us.”
Aiden Bonar
“A little bit quieter on the weekend, Bonar, he found it a bit tough inside against some quality opposition, but credit to him, he never gave up and fought the game out strongly.”
Jake Stein
“Stein was really good. Started a little bit slow, had a very dangerous opponent who got a goal on him early, but after that, he really wound him in and kept him quiet and gave us an impact in the offence as well.”
Brent Daniels
“Binga was very lively. His work rate was really great, he got up the field this week and got some really good front-and-squares, which is something he’s been working on. He kicked 1.3 and could’ve easily kicked four goals.”
Dawson Simpson
“Dawson was good for us again. With 26 hitouts – he kicked a goal for us as well – he just gave our mids first use in there.”
Lachie Keeffe
“He played on the best goalkicker in the NEAFL, who has won their goalkicking nearly every year, I think, and kept him goalless. I think he’s only been goalless eight times in his career. He was outstanding for us, Lachie. He just didn’t give him an inch, bodied him up all day, and I dare say Darren Ewing will be having nightmares about Lachie Keeffe if he has to play him again.”
Jack Buckley
“Jack was on limited game time this week. He came back in and slowly built into the game and hopefully he’ll be more confident moving forward.”
