MATCH PREVIEW: Redland v Aspley

NEAFL ROUND 18

Saturday, August 3, 2019
Redland Bombers (9th) v Aspley Hornets (4th)
Scottsdale Park, 1.30pm

SUMMARY

Aspley and Redland crash in an all Queensland affair this Saturday with both coming off the back of disappointing losses in Round 17.

Redland were touted to return to the winners circle last weekend against the Thunder with the Bombers going down by seven points in a thriller at Traeger Park.

Aspley’s six match unbeaten run was ended in dramatic fashion with a seven-point loss to Sydney University at home last weekend, halting the Hornets run into the top three.

RECENT ENCOUNTERS

Round 10, 2019: Aspley 13.20 (98) def Redland 9.8 (62) at Voxson Oval
Round 5, 2019: Aspley 18.19 (127) def Redland 10.14 (74) at Scottsdale Park
Round 20, 2018: Aspley 19.12 (126) def Redland 8.11 (59) at Graham Road

TALKING POINTS

1. A lot has been made of Aspley’s form of the past two months with the Hornets peaking with finals only a month away. Aspley’s winning streak sat at six matches before Sydney University shocked the Hornets at home last weekend. Does this loss halt the momentum Aspley were creating or will they be able to keep their form going forward with last week only a minor speedbump?  

2. Last week’s loss against the Thunder proved devastating for the Redland faithful with so much made of their performance against Southport the week prior. Unfortunately, this is a worrying trend for Redlands with the Bombers often in the contest against top of the table teams but just cannot pull a complete performance together against lower ranked sides.

3. An absolute blockbuster of a matchup will take place this weekend in the ruck between Aspley’s Jake Spencer, who had a major day out last weekend finishing with 64 hitouts to go with 21 disposals, coming up against Craig Malone who had 44 hitouts to go with 18 disposals against the Thunder. These two big men have endured fantastic battles in recent times, and this weekend should be no exception.

ROOKIE WATCH

First year recruit Tom Baulch was impressive in Aspley’s loss last week recording 19 disposals, six tackles and a goal. The 19-year-old came across to the club from East Perth in the off season after playing his junior football in Mackay and is beginning to make his mark in the Aspley side. Baulch is proving quite the accumulator in the second half of the season averaging 17 disposals across his last five games. Look for him to have a strong end to the season.

STATS THAT MATTER

Redland’s losing streak against Aspley is now up to six games. The Bombers haven’t beaten Aspley in nearly two years, stretching back to Round 19, 2017 where Redland won by 43 points at Scottsdale Park.

PREDICTION

Aspley to prove last week was just a hiccup on the crusade towards finals. Hornets by 30.

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