NSW flood, Sydney weather cancels AFL NSW/ACT Summer Series, NSW Premier Cricket

UPDATED: The Summer Series for budding Giants and Swans players - along with NSW Premier Cricket matches - has fallen foul of NSW floods, road closures and evacuation orders

Action in round two of the Summer Series. Photos: Merrillie Redden.

UPDATE: NSW/ACT AFL has made the early call to cancel this weekend’s round of the Summer Series for aspiring AFLW players as the NSW flood worsens and Sydney weather intensifies.

With evacuation orders growing, along with road and school closures, is likely to force the cancellation or postponements of multiple sporting events this weekend.

The Summer Series involves players from across the state, many who could not attend due to flooding and dangerous road conditions.

It is planned that the final round of the series will be played at Picken Oval at Croydon Park on March 13.

This weekend’s round was to have been played at Blacktown.

The Beach Volleyball tour at Manly this weekend was cancelled on Wednesday.

On Thursday afternoon NSW Cricket made the call to can all its round 16 matches.

NSW Cricket confirmed both two day and one day games in Sydney grade had all been called off due to the NSW flood and Sydney weather crisis.

“All matches will be declared a draw and that round has been abandoned,’’ said Cricket NSW’s Cricket’s Roy Formica.

NSW Surf Life Saving state title events on Saturday and Sunday on the northern beaches are also expected to be cancelled later today.

SUMMER SERIES ‘PRICELESS’ FOR BUDDING STARS

For too long some of the best and brightest talent from NSW and the ACT headed south for better playing opportunities.

GWS Giants head of women’s football Briana Harvey believes those days could soon be over thanks to AFL NSW/ACT’s current Summer Series and the upcoming Winter Series for top female prospects and rising stars in the game.

SCHOOL MATES SHARE AFLW DREAM

Giants Charcoal is full of players from ACT/SNSW.

Harvey said being able to get form, fitness and match play into players is “priceless’’ and could help prevent a talent drain in the near future.

“It is fantastic. We have been pushing for this for a couple of years now,’’ said Harvey, who said NSW talent often heads south to Victoria for more playing opportunity.

GIANTS Orange is full of players from the Sydney comp.

GIANTS Charcoal (ACT/SNSW) vs. GIANTS Orange (Sydney)

“We have really lacked a program for NSW and to be able to look at the talent is great.

“We will also get another five or six games in the Winter Series which will be with the Swans, Northern Territory and hopefully Tassie.

GIANTS Orange were convincing winners.

Harvey said she has already seen improvement in players after just two rounds of the Summer series.

“It’s definitely going to strengthen the ranks of the players we have. It’s a state based draft (in AFLW) so it is critical we develop the talent.

Close contact in the match between Giants squads.

Round two was played at Blacktown on Saturday

“We’ve lost a lot of girls to the VFL because we haven’t offered anything. Now we will be able to keep them.’’

There was plenty of tall timber in the games.

Swans White (Sydney) vs. Swans Red (HCC/NNSW)

AFL NSW/ACT SUMMER SERIES ROUND TWO RESULTS

GIANTS Orange: 13.17.95

Goals: 3 Tapugoa, 2 Halvorsen, 2 Kitchener, 2 Smith, 2 Sheerin, Kennedy,

Behan DEFEATED

GIANTS Charcoal: 2.1.13

Goals: Dobing, Woolley-Blain

The two Swans sides played each other on the weekend.

Swans White (Sydney) vs. Swans Red (HCC/NNSW). Photos: Merrillie Redden

Swans White: 8.9.57

Goals: 2 Convery, 2 Barnard, Morris, Heads, Phillips, Pounsett

DEFEATED

Swans Red: 4.5.29

Goals: McBride, Martini, Ives, Simpson

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