The UWS GIANTS notched their eighth win in a row against Sydney University and have their sights firmly set on the NEAFL finals.
The GIANTS are entrenched at the top of the NEAFL ladder with 12 wins for the season, one game ahead of the Swans reserves who had the bye last weekend.
With just four games to go the UWS GIANTS are looking to fight it out for their first NEAFL title after losing in the semi-finals in their first finals experience last year.
The GIANTS defeated eighth-placed Sydney University by 45 points at Spotless Stadium on Saturday afternoon but NEAFL coach Brett Hand said his side didn’t have it all their own way.
“We started really well, we played in some fits and farts I guess you could say,” Hand said.
“We kicked three goals in the first quarter in the space of eight minutes and the same again in the second quarter and then three goals at the start of the third quarter in about four minutes.
“We played some really good passages of footy and then we sort of lapsed away a little bit and allowed them to get back in the play. The second half was a real good contest.”
Second-year utility James Stewart starred, particularly in the first half, with midfielders Mark Whiley and Jacob Townsend also strong through the midfield.
“James Stewart had an exceptional first half, had plenty of the footy on the wing, worked hard back and forward and kicked a couple of early goals which was good,” Hand said.
“He continued on in the same vein throughout the game with a different focus in the second half.
“Townsend and Whiley really led from the front on-ball and Cam McCarthy showed good signs up forward which was really pleasing.”
The GIANTS have a bye this weekend before games against the Sydney Hills Eagles, Queanbeyan, the Swans reserves and the Brisbane Lions reserves to round out the season.
“We’ve still got four games to go until finals so it’s important for us to keep working on the little things, sticking to our structures and doing the basics quite well,” Hand said.
“There’s a whole feeling across the club at the moment that if you’re at NEAFL level you’re expected to do exactly what’s expected at AFL level.
“At the moment that’s working at NEAFL level and we’re winning games ... So it’s a culture we want to breed here. We go out and try and win every game and we’ll continue to do that.”
UWS GIANTS 21.9 (135) def. Sydney University 13.12 (90)
Goal Kickers: J. Lamb 4, C. McCarthy 3, S. Reid 3, J. Giles 2, J. Stewart 2, A. Johnston 2, J. Finlayson , J. Townsend , C. Bance , K. Jaksch , M. Whiley
Best Players: J. Stewart, M. Whiley, J. Townsend, S. Reid, S. Frost, A. Phillips
