AFL Sydney Premier Division Men’s and Women’s – Round 2 Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
The opening round of the Premier Division season brought us some interesting results. For some, a flying start tells us they’re well placed. But there’s still a long way to go, and plenty of time for those teams that didn’t record a first-up win to hit back.
After an opening round bye, North Shore enter the Mens Premier Division competition this week; while Pennant Hills start their Easter break early. And a full round in the Womens comp gives us an opportunity to get a good feel for how the competition is going.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION
Sydney University v St George Dragons
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:00pm
The Students host the Dragons at Gore Hill Oval on Saturday afternoon. Both sides are looking to hit back after narrow first-round losses, but only one will get their 2022 campaign on the scoreboard.
Sydney Uni’s opening-round clash against UNSW-ES at Henson Park last Friday night looked to be drifting away from them when the Bulldogs were eight goals up midway through the third quarter. But the Students suddenly found their rhythm, and a seven-goal final quarter saw them racing towards the finishing line. After looking like crashing to a heavy defeat, they ended up just five points short of what would have been a remarkable comeback. Sam Bennett and Jack Dimery starred for the Students, building momentum that they will be looking to carry forward into this clash.
The Dragons also suffered heartbreak last week. After leading all day against Pennant Hills, the Dragons were pipped at the post, going down by just two points. Noah Casalini and Connor Flanagan were tireless workers towards the Dragon cause all day; putting in the effort that the Dragons will need to see again if they are to claim the scalp of the Students in this encounter.
The two sides met once last year, at Olds Park in round five; and on that occasion the Students were 57 points too good for the Dragons. This time round there’ll be plenty of desperation. Neither team will want to go into Easter with a 0-2 record. It’s going to be a day for the mudlarks; and there’ll be no holds barred in this encounter.
East Coast Eagles v UTS Bats
Mike Kenny Top Oval, Saturday 2:20pm
East Coast Eagles look to the keenly-anticipated Saturday afternoon clash against UTS. The Eagles will be looking to bounce back from an opening round loss; while the Bats will be striving to build their momentum and keep themselves in the top reaches of the ladder.
The Eagles faced Manly at Gore Hill last week, but found themselves falling behind the pace early and were never able to match it with the Wolves, going down by 28 points. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, and the Eagles will be encouraged by the form of Matthew Eastman and Zac Johns, who made solid contributions last week. But the Eagles will need to lift this week to match it with the Bats.
The Bats unveiled a new-look lineup when they took on the Magpies at Gore Hill, and delivered an emphatic statement with a comprehensive 85-point result. Gabriel Lipinski and Billy Kanakis announced their presence as key players in the UTS lineup as they accumulated enormous amounts of possession; building a momentum that they’ll be keen to build further on in this clash.r
When the two sides last met, in round six last year, the Bats held on by just two points at Waverley. But this is a different UTS side this year, a significantly bolstered lineup that has high hopes of moving up the ladder. The Eagles will also need to lift if they are to claim the scalp of a much-improved team this season.
Manly Warringah Wolves v North Shore Bombers
Weldon Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Another installment in the Northern rivalry will be fought out at Weldon Oval, as Manly play host to North Shore in a game that’s sure to have plenty of passion in it.
After the bye last week, this is North Shore’s first appearance. The Bombers were undefeated last year when the competition was cut short; and they have some unfinished business to play for. The Bombers will be all too aware that they have under-performed in finals in recent seasons; and they’ll be looking to put that right in 2022. But they have to make the finals first, and that journey begins here.
And they’ll be up against a Manly side with their confidence up after an opening round win when they led all day against East Coast at Gore Hill and took out a 28-point win. Aidan Butler and Jack Field got off to a flyer last week, and they’ll be keen to carry that momentum into a clash against a local rival and claim a big early-season scalp.
Last time the two sides faced off was round five last year at Gore Hill. On that occasion, North Shore took control to record a 101-point win. This time round the Wolves have the home advantage on what will be a very heavy track, and you can expect to see a hard-fought slog in tough conditions. There’s some hard work to be done by whichever team is going to take the four points in this one.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Inner West Magpies
Henson Park, Sunday 1:30pm
A Sunday afternoon clash at Henson Park sees the Bulldogs host the Magpies. This match will be shown live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page; so wherever in the world you are, you can take in the action.
The Bulldogs go into this game with winning form behind them, but only just. The Bulldogs looked to be cruising to a big win during the third quarter, but in the end they had to hang on for dear life to get past Sydney Uni by just five points. Mitchell Conn and Max Geddes made pivotal contributions for the Bulldogs, especially when they were setting up their lead; and the Bulldogs will again be looking to them to lead the way this time round.
The Magpies had a season opener that fell short of expectations when they went down to UTS by 85 points at Gore Hill last week. Patrick Wilmot and Michael Tuttle kept putting in all day, but it wasn’t the Magpies’ day. They’ll have been working hard this week, desperate to bounce back and get their 2022 campaign back on track.
The last clash between the two sides was in round seven last year, and on that occasion the Bulldogs dominated from start to finish to get up by 114 points. But the Magpies this time round will be desperate to turn the tables, and it should be a closer contest here. Percentage could be critical in determining ladder positions, and after a heavy loss last week the Magpies can’t afford a big margin again this time. They’ll be throwing everything they have at the Bulldogs, and the UNSW-ES side will have to absorb plenty of pressure to get up in this contest.
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
Sydney University v Southern Power
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 9:30am
A clash to keep an eye on will be fought out in an early morning encounter at Gore Hill Oval, as the University side host Southern Power.
Sydney Uni started their season on the right note, getting up by four points in a thriller against UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Georgia Mann and Nikki Seroukas were in impressive touch for Sydney Uni, with their efforts at critical moments in the match being enough to get their team over the line. There wasn’t much in it, but the four points will be immensely valuable to Sydney Uni in their hopes to return to finals action this season.
Southern Power put up a fighting effort against Pennant Hills at Henson Park in last week’s opening round, but in the end fell 12 points short. Emily Eaves and Jemima Wrigley dug deep for the Power cause, and their efforts kept the Power in the contest; but in the end it wasn’t enough to take the four points. But although they were unable to take the win, there was plenty to like about the efforts of the Power; and this week they’ll need to turn that start into some winning form.
The only clash between the two sides last year saw the Power get up by 17 points at Waratah Oval. It would be no surprise to see this clash go down to the wire.
Pennant Hills Demons v Macquarie University Warriors
Mike Kenny Top Oval, Saturday 11:00am
It’ll be a hotly-contested north-western affair on the top oval at Mike Kenny as the Demons play host to Macquarie Uni.
The Demons have winning form on the board, getting up by 12 points over Southern Power at Henson Park in last week’s season opener. Elizabeth Gordon and Eliza Harvey were in impressive form, picking up plenty of the footy and leading the Demon charge as they worked well against a highly-rated opponent and showing the touch and class that gives the Demons cause for optimism as to their prospects for this season.
The Warriors didn’t have the start to the season they were hoping for, when they were never in the contest against North Shore at Gore Hill last week and went down by 75 points. Jodie Hicks and Chelsea Quinn tried hard against the odds, but it wasn’t the Warriors’ day; and they’ll have been working hard at training during the week looking to put things right this week.
The last encounter between these teams was in round five last year, and on that occasion the Demons were 42 points too good. This time the Warriors have their backs to the wall and will have to come out swinging, throwing everything into the contest and making the Demons work hard for every possession. With a determined fight, the upset is possible.
Manly Warringah Wolves v North Shore Bombers
Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:30pm
There’s always plenty of feeling when these two northern rivals face off; and Saturday afternoon at Weldon will be no exception as the Wolves and the Bombers face off for another keenly-anticipated match-up.
Manly’s opening round didn’t go to plan, when they were never in the contest against East Coast and went down by 30 points at Gore Hill. The Wolves struggled for much of the game but finally hit a rhythm in the last quarter to reduce the damage. Caitlin Johnson and Olivia Cameron were standout contributors; and the Wolves will be looking for another big effort from them this time round.
The Bombers go into this game with an impressive round one performance under their belt, when they dominated against Macquarie Uni to record a 75-point result. Alyce Keating and Alannah Green were at the peak of their game, getting their seasons off to a flying start and showing the form that the Bombers will need to see regularly to be a force this season.
It was a thriller when the two clubs last met, in round five last year at Gore Hill. On that occasion the Wolves got up by just two points. With the Wolves determined to bounce back and the Bombers going into this clash full of confidence, another close encounter is probable this time.
East Coast Eagles v UTS Bats
Mike Kenny Top Oval, Saturday 12:40pm
It’ll be a hot contest as the Eagles will look to capitalise on their impressive opening-round form when they take on the Bats.
The Eagles were leading the way last season when their campaign was cut short; and last Saturday they showed they will again be the team to beat as they held Manly to a single goal in the first three quarters before coasting to a 30-point win at Gore Hill. Erin Naden and Bryany Parker led the way, and there were no shortage of Eagles who stood up to make an emphatic statement about their club’s prospects for the 2022 season.
It wasn’t the easiest of starts to the season for the Bats, who went down to Inner West Magpies by 62 points at Gore Hill last week. The Bats received untiring service from Melissa Lindsay and Amy Khuu; but it was a struggle against a well-drilled Magpies lineup. Not the start to the season the Bats were hoping for; but there’s a long way to go this year and with some hard work there are better times to come.
The Eagles would have to be hot favourites in this clash, but an upset result is not out of the question. It’s early days, and the Bats will have plenty of fighting spirit for this contest. The Eagles will need to turn up and play hard; and these will be tricky conditions in the mud and the wind where kicking a winning score will not be easy.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Inner West Magpies
Henson Park, Sunday 11:50am
A Sunday morning game will complete this round, an east-west clash that sees UNSW-ES host Inner West Magpies at Henson Park. This match will be shown live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
It was heartbreak for the Bulldogs at Henson Park in last week’s season opener, as they fell short against Sydney Uni by just four points after a low-scoring and hard-fought clash. Willow Smith and Emelye Blades were tireless in their efforts, and the Bulldogs will be looking for another big effort from them this time. It was close and tight all day, and the Bulldogs will need to keep this contest tight and prevent the Magpies from accumulating easy possessions.
The Magpies go into this game with plenty of form and confidence on the board, buoyed by a 62-point win against the Bats in last week’s opening round. Eilish Sheeran and Gillian Beehan led the way for the Magpies, but it was a solid all-round team effort that got the win on the board and which sees the Magpies well-poised and full of excitement about the possibilities ahead of them for 2022.
The Magpies won the only clash between the two sides last year, getting up by 68 points at Picken Oval. This time the Bulldogs have the home ground advantage, and they’ll be looking to make it count. Against one of the competition’s heavyweights, the Bulldogs will need to come out fighting and do everything in their power to keep the Magpies in check.
