- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
GIANTS Academy<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Tasmania Devils<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nSaturday April 29, 9:30am @ Austworld Centre Oval<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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IN A SENTENCE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Tasmania Devils can snatch top spot with a win when they travel to face the Giants Academy, who remain without a victory in 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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FORM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sitting pretty at 3-1, the Devils have clicked into gear over the last fortnight with impressive wins over Eastern and the Northern Territory Academy. That latter was last week’s sole fixture, and plenty of Tassie players filled their boots in the 136-point drubbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, the Giants Academy has lost all four of its Talent League outings to date, including the last three by an average margin of 67 points. On a positive note, the Giants have progressively trimmed those margins and have some handy talent coming into the side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ONES TO WATCH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tasmania\u2019s forward line was absolutely humming last week, spearheaded by Jack Callinan<\/a>\u2019s seven-goal haul. He, and fellow National Academy member Colby McKercher<\/a> are in fine form, with the latter leading this year\u2019s Rookie Me Central Medal count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Giants skipper Harvey Thomas<\/strong> has not been named to return after making his VFL debut last week, but inclusions from last game like Matthew Brown<\/strong> and Dayne Posthuma<\/a> should begin to find their groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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PREDICTION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tasmania is a side which tends to improve the more it has time to jell. After four games together, the Devils should be far too strong for the Giants here. Devils by 35.<\/p>\n
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\n\n- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
SUNS Academy<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Northern Territory Academy<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nSaturday April 29, 11:30am @ Heritage Bank Stadium<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IN A SENTENCE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Suns Academy will be hunting its first Talent League win of 2023, while there is plenty of improvement for the Northern Territory to seek amid their final outing in the competition.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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FORM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gold Coast is one of the four northern academies without a win this season, having lost all three games thus far at an average margin of 49 points – which has increased each time. Last time out, the Suns went down by 71 to Northern without their three National Academy stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pure numbers don’t read much better for the Northern Territory when it comes to form. Entering the fray in Round 4, the Thunder underwent a baptism of fire in their 173-point loss to Calder, before being beaten by Tasmania to the tune of 136 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ONES TO WATCH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Gold Coast will be buoyed by the returns of Jed Walter<\/a>, Ethan Read<\/a>, and Jake Rogers<\/a>, still fresh of their National Academy duties. The trio looms as the main watch in this game from a draft perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NT produced some nice moments last week, mainly via the agency of Orlando Turner<\/a> and Will Rowlands<\/a>. Meanwhile, Stanley Waistcoat<\/a> is back in the mix after making his WAFL Colts debut for South Fremantle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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PREDICTION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is essentially either side’s best chance of picking up a Talent League win this season, so they should both come out hungrier than ever. The home ground comfort will inevitably suit the Suns, who have had to travel down to Victoria each week, though the NT will appreciate a shorter trip. Gold Coast by 40.<\/p>\n
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\n\n- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Lions Academy<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Swans Academy<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nSaturday April 29, 1:30pm @ Austworld Centre Oval<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IN A SENTENCE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Swans Academy can set themselves apart with a second win for the season, while the Lions Academy will hope to get on the board when they clash in the final match of the triple-header.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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FORM<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Arguably the best performed academy, Sydney is 1-2 from its three games with one of those losses coming by just four points. Last time out, the Swans were outclassed by Oakleigh to the tune of 54 points, which seems somewhat of an outlier among their overall performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lions Academy is winless but has been largely competitive, even going down to Oakleigh by a slightly lesser margin than the Swans. Brisbane’s other two defeats have been settled by a three-goal margin, with short lapses costing the Queensland side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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ONES TO WATCH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sydney is another academy team which welcomes back national representatives, namely midfielders Caiden Cleary<\/a> and Lachlan Cabor<\/a>. Watch for Indhi Kirk<\/a> to impress too, after making his VFL debut alongside Cleary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>