2022 AFL Sydney Premier Division Fixtures Released
243…
243 days ago on Saturday, 19 June around 8:30pm the final siren sounded in the match between the East Coast Eagles and the Macquarie University Warriors in Women’s Premier Division at Kanebridge Oval. No one knew but that was it for Premier Division footy in 2021… Over the next seven days the COVID-19 outbreak gained momentum, forcing Greater Sydney into lockdown on Saturday, June 26, and ultimately ended the 2021 AFL Sydney season.
However, as we reach the midway point of February 2022, we dare to dream of getting back on the footy field and playing, coaching, officiating, volunteering, and cheering on the game and teams we love!
It won’t be long – the lines will be marked, the post pads strapped up, pregame routines perfected and that feeling of singing the team song will be back.
42…
42 days until AFL Sydney footy is BACK!
AFL Sydney are pleased to release the 2022 fixtures for; Men’s Premier Division, Women’s Premier Division, Premier Division Reserves and Under 19’s Division One.
See below for a fixture release snapshot for Men’s and Women’s Premier Division competitions.
Men’s Premier Division:
What a start to the AFL Sydney season we have in store for our footy community! The AFL Sydney season will commence on Friday, 1 April with a match under lights at Henson Park between the 2020 Grand Finalist UNSW-ES Bulldogs (9-1 in season 2021) and Sydney University (6-3-1). Whatever you are doing, make sure you get down to Henson to welcome back AFL Sydney footy in style – 7:10pm first bounce.
Note: In 2022 the Premier Division Men’s competition will have a bye (9 teams), with Camden moving into Platinum Division. All Premier Division Men’s teams will contest 16 matches (8 home and 8 away), along with having two byes during the 2022 season.
Round One also sees the St George Dragons (6-4), arguably the form team at the forced conclusion of season 2021 up against the Pennant Hills Demons (6-4). The Demons won’t have Chris Yard calling the shots for the first time in 10 years (Congrats to ‘Yardy’ from the AFL Sydney team on an outstanding tenure as Demons coach, which included Premierships in 2015 and 2017 along with AFL Sydney Hall of Fame induction in 2018) with Ben Roberts assuming head coaching duties in the off season. Roberts will no doubt have the Demons fit and ready for a massive challenge in round one versus the Dragons at Olds Park.
The UTS AFC Bats (4-6) are looking to build on an impressive resurgence in 2021, when they face the Inner West Magpies (4-5-1) who enter season 2022 craving a chance to play finals footy. Both the Bats and Magpies enter the 2022 season with continuity at the coaching position, with Kyle Emley and Ben Klemke back on board to lead their respective teams.
Across at Weldon Oval, the Manly Warringah Wolves (2-8) welcome the East Coast Eagles (2-8) in a battle of two up and coming teams desperate to make a successful start to the 2022 season. The North Shore Bombers (10-0) will have to wait a further week before they commence their season (away at Manly Warringah Wolves) due to having the opening round bye. Although not playing on the first Saturday of the season, Andrew ‘Buck’ Rogers and his Bombers will have their eyes set on the final Saturday of the season – could this be their year?
2022 Men’s Premier Division matches to circle in the calendar include:
Round 2 – Saturday, 9 April: Manly Warringah Wolves vs. North Shore Bombers (Weldon Oval)
Round 3 – Saturday, 23 April: UTS AFC Bats vs. UNSW-ES Bulldogs (Waverley Oval)
Round 3 – Monday, 25 April (ANZAC Day): Inner West Magpies vs. Pennant Hills Demons (Picken Oval)
Round 6 – Saturday, 14 May: UNSW-ES Bulldogs vs. North Shore Bombers (Henson Park)
Round 7 – Saturday, 14 May: North Shore Bombers vs. Pennant Hills Demons (Gore Hill Oval)
Round 8 – Saturday, 21 May: Sydney University vs. UNSW-ES Bulldogs (Sydney University No 1 Oval)
Round 10 – Saturday, 18 June: Sydney University vs. UTS AFC Bats (Sydney University No 1 Oval)
Round 12 – Saturday, 2 July: Inner West Magpies vs. East Coast Eagles (Picken Oval)
Round 13 – Saturday, 9 July: East Coast Eagles vs. Pennant Hills Demons (Kanebridge Oval)
Round 14 – Saturday, 16 July: St. George Dragons vs. Inner West Magpies (Olds Park)
Round 14 – Saturday, 16 July: Pennant Hills Demons vs. Sydney University (Mike Kenny Oval)
Round 15 – Saturday, 23 July: North Shore Bombers vs. St. George Dragons (Gore Hill Oval)
Round 17: Saturday, 6 August: Inner West Magpies vs. UTS AFC Bats (Picken Oval)
Round 18: Saturday, 13 August: Sydney University vs. North Shore Bombers (Sydney University No 1 Oval)
Download the PDF
Women’s Premier Division:
Before we check out the Premier Division Women’s fixture, AFL Sydney wishes to advise the broader footy community the traditional 18-round home and away season has been reduced to 16 rounds in 2022. In consultation with Premier Division Clubs and AFLW clubs the decision has been made to shorten the season by two weeks to maximise the possibility of AFLW listed (or newly drafted) players being available to compete in the full 2022 AFL Sydney Finals series.
With the Sydney Swans joining the GWS GIANTS as the only Sydney-based AFLW club in season 2022/2023, these potential impacts on player availability for the AFL Sydney Finals series will increase in 2022 as compared to previous seasons.
The league does not take this decision lightly, especially off the back of two interrupted (shortened) seasons of community football, however, in consultation with AFL Sydney Premier Division Clubs the league believe this decision is best for the Premier Division Women’s competition.
Onto the footy – and what a Women’s Premier Division season we have in store!
The East Coast Eagles (10-0) took all before them in 2021 and had a Premiership in sight prior to the season cancellation. However, it would be a brave person to write off the 2020 Premiers Manly Warringah Wolves (8-2) who started to round into ominous form or the Inner West Magpies (7-3). The Magpies have shuffled the coaching decks with Arron Convery moving into the Men’s program, while Mitch Ede joins the Magpies (having amassed plenty of coaching experience in the AFL Hunter Central Coast). In addition, the North Shore Bombers (6-4) and Southern Power (6-4) will be hungry for Finals footy and out to prove they are ready to take the next step.
Round one commences on Saturday, 2 April with a powerhouse matchup between Manly Warringah Wolves and East Coast Eagles at Weldon Oval. The top two teams (as at Round 10 last season) will be looking to set a tone for the year against a fellow pre-season favourite. Both sides enter the 2022 season with new coaches taking charge, with Baker Denneman taking over from Premiership winning coach Luke Slobin at Manly. Meanwhile at the Eagles Renee Tomkins steps in for Ash Moeller who is taking on a greater role with the GIANTS AFLW team.
The Pennant Hills Demons (2-8) have a formidable challenge first up, with a road trip down to Waratah Oval to face Southern Power. Both teams will be buoyed by the selection of multiple players for the Women’s Summer Series. While the Demons seek to build in 20220, the Power have premiership ambitions and have the talent to back it up.
The University derby between UNSW-ES Bulldogs (4-6) and Sydney University (4-6) will play out on Saturday at Henson Park, with both teams looking to move up the ladder and contest for a finals spot come August. UTS AFC Bats (3-7) are building a solid list, however, Miguel Limson and his team will face a tough challenge first up when they host the Inner West Magpies at Waverley Oval.
To round out the first Saturday of Premier Division Women’s footy, the battle for the north side of the bridge will play out at Gore Hill Oval with a building North Shore Bombers (6-4) with more than just a finals appearance on their mind in 2022, taking on a Macquarie University Warriors (0-10) team who are quietly building themselves.
2022 Women’s Premier Division matches to circle in the calendar include:
Round 2 – Saturday, 9 April: Manly Warringah Wolves vs. North Shore Bombers (Weldon Oval)
Round 3 – Saturday, 23 April: Southern Power vs. Manly Warringah Wolves (Waratah Oval)
Round 3 – Saturday, 23 April: UTS AFC Bats vs. UNSW-ES Bulldogs (Waverley Oval)
Round 4 – Saturday 1 May: East Coast Eagles vs. North Shore Bombers (Kanebridge Oval)
Round 6 – Saturday, 14 May: Inner West Magpies vs. Manly Warringah Wolves (Picken Oval)
Round 7 – Saturday, 14 May: East Coast Eagles vs. Inner West Magpies (Kanebridge Oval)
Round 8 – Saturday, 21 May: Sydney University vs. UNSW-ES Bulldogs (Sydney University No 1 Oval)
Round 10 – Saturday, 18 June: Macquarie University vs. North Shore Bombers (Macquarie University Oval)
Round 12 – Saturday, 2 July: Pennant Hills Demons vs. North Shore Bombers (Mike Kenny Oval)
Round 13 – Saturday, 9 July: UTS AFC Bats vs. Macquarie University (Waverley Oval)
Round 14 – Saturday, 16 July: Southern Power vs. Inner West Magpies (Waratah Oval)
Round 15 – Saturday, 23 July: Macquarie University vs. Pennant Hills Demons (Macquarie University Oval)
Round 16 – Saturday, 30 July: Sydney University vs. East Coast Eagles (Sydney University No 1 Oval)
Download the PDF
Stay tuned – next weekend AFL Sydney will release the fixture and season snapshot for Platinum Division.
Sam Zikman
AFL Sydney
