The Greater Western Sydney GIANTS will be looking for their fifth win in a row this Saturday when they take on the Belconnen Magpies at Robertson Oval in Wagga at 12pm.
After defeating NT Thunder, Tuggeranong, the Sydney Swans Reserves and Brisbane Lions Reserves, the young guns are storming towards the NEAFL finals with the club’s biggest ever winning streak.
GIANTS reporter Beck Mills caught up with Leeton’s Jacob Townsend to find out how the team is feeling in the lead up to their first finals campaign and who is coming to watch him play in Wagga on Saturday.
So Jacob, how are you feeling on the back of an impressive win against NT Thunder on Saturday?
I’m feeling really good about our game on the weekend. It was a good team effort and now we’ve beaten every team we’ve played in the NEAFL competition.
It was especially good to beat NT Thunder after they won in Darwin earlier in the year.
The team suffered a few big injuries in a fast paced match on Saturday; will the loss of Kurt Aylett and Dylan Shiel affect the GIANTS chances against Belconnen?
It shouldn’t affect the team’s confidence. You don’t like to see your teammates hurt but every side has injuries and there are people who can fill in.
What will the team’s focus be going in to Saturday’s match?
We will stick to the same structures that we have been. We’ve won four games in a row so we’re confident that if we play our style of football we will win.
We’ll aim to get more of the contested footy and put plenty of pressure on the ball.
Are you excited about heading back to the Riverina to play on Saturday?
I’m very excited to play near home on Saturday. I haven’t been back down that way for ages. I’ve played at Robertson Oval before in Junior and Senior footy.
Do you have many family and friends coming to watch you on Saturday?
Yes. Mum, Dad, my two sisters, cousins, aunties and uncles and friends will all be down there watching.
My old club is playing just outside of Wagga so Leeton will come and watch after their game as well.
Do any of your family or friends have GIANTS jumpers with #31 on the back?
All of my family has GIANTS gear. They don’t have numbers on the back yet but that will come.
Is the team excited about your first finals berth?
Yes we are. We’re just trying to keep our momentum up and take every game as it comes. That should put us in good stead for the finals.
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GWS GIANTS v Belconnen
Robertson Oval, Bolton Park, Wagga Wagga
Gates open 8am
Match starts at 12pm
If you’re in Wagga on Friday don’t forget to head down to Robertson Oval at 4.45pm to join in an AFL Super Clinic with the GIANTS!
