Round 10 - Saturday June 19
Team GWS vs Gippsland Power
Shepley Oval, Dandenong - Please note the venue change 1:00pm
This Saturday Team GWS will travel to Melbourne to take on Gippsland Power for the first time this season.
Coming off an impressive performance in their loss to the Stingrays two weeks ago, GWS are refreshed and ready to challenge the Power for a spot in the top eight.
In their last two outings the Power has been impressive, going down to competition leaders the Knights by one goal and a convincing win over the Pioneers. However the fast improving GWS side is in form and looking for an upset.
With the NAB AFL U18 Australian Championships taking place in Queensland this week, Team GWS will lose ten key players to the NSW/ACT Rams representative side, highlighting the talent within the club.
The departing players leave a side similar to the one that put in an inspiring performance against the highly skilled Stingrays last round.
Head Coach Alan McConnell said he was extremely impressed with Team GWS effort against the Stingrays.
"Even though we were beaten by seven goals, it was my most proud performance as Coach this year, especially with so many out for the Rams.
"It was a fantastic achievement with such a young playing group, showcasing how far we have come as team."
With so many boys out again for the Rams, Team GWS will name a further three debutants this week against the Power, leaving McConnell to call on his team to work together as one.
"We will need everybody to play a role in the game, protecting our young players through rotation and support."
McConnell labeled his young list as a very competitive side, highlighting Jed Anderson, Stuart Turner and Jackson Dwyer as deserving leaders.
"These young boys have demonstrated that they are not only in the side because of injury and availability, but because they have showed their deserving starters."
McConnell and Team GWS have trained hard with the week off, focusing on the boy’s choice of disposals.
"Our decisions with the footy, particularly by foot will be important this week, we have struggled to choose between our short, long and wide options, turning the ball over in the middle of the ground due to our choice of disposal.
"But we can only improve on our disposals if we are consistently competitive throughout the game. We must maintain our competitive approach, then improve our decision making."
In what will be a good test for Team GWS, McConnell said that what he cares about most is the improvement and development of his side.
"I’m not phased by any opposition, it’s all about us, our development as a team and our ability to improve individually every week is what we pride ourselves on."
Follow the lives scores on Team GWS Twitter and Facebook with quarterly updates, in what is set to be a great clash for an improving Team GWS.
