AFL Sydney Premier Division Men’s & Women’s- Round 8 Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
The season rolls on, and the ladders of our Premier Division competitions are taking shape. But there’s still a long way to go, and plenty of time for those teams outside the top five to make a run for the finals.
And after rain and last-minute ground changes last week, the prospect of playing under blue skies at home grounds this weekend is definitely a change for the better. There’s plenty of promise of exciting football this weekend.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION
East Coast Eagles v UTS Bats
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 1:20pm
It will be a battle for redemption at Kanebridge Oval as the Eagles play host to the Bats. Both teams looking to bounce back, but only one can succeed.
The Bats will go into this game refreshed after last week’s bye, a chance to regroup and reset ahead of their upcoming challenges. Their last start was back in round six at Blacktown, when they found themselves at the wrong end of an 83-point result against St George. Despite the efforts of Pat Gillingham and Dara McVeety, it wasn’t enough to challenge the Dragons. A season that started so promisingly threatens to unravel; and the Bats will have needed this break to re-focus and get the season back on track.
East Coast have had a season they’d rather forget so far, and it was another tough evening for the Eagles at Kanebridge last week when they went down to the Magpies by 86 points. The Eagles received tireless service from the likes of Josh Cutting and Brandon Clark; but were unable to find the firepower to match it with an opponent in strong form. It was an all-too-familiar tale for the Eagles this season; but one they’ll be going all out to turn around, and this game is one they’ll have pencilled in as the game where that can happen.
It’s the second meeting between these clubs in 2022. Back in round two at Mike Kenny, the Bats controlled proceedings to run out 49-point winners. But the Bats have only won once since, while the Eagles are yet to sing the song this season. Expect plenty of desperation and a fiercely fought affair. Wins aren’t easy to come by, but here is a chance for four valuable competition points.
Sydney University v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 2:00pm
They’ve played off in the last three Premier Division Grand Finals, and there’s always plenty at stake when the Students and the Bulldogs face off. Another chapter in this university rivalry will be played out at Sydney Uni No 1 on Saturday afternoon. And if you can’t get to the campus, you can still catch up with all the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
Sydney Uni re-entered the top five last week at Weldon Oval, getting off to a flying start and knocking off the Wolves by 68 points. Spencer Krochmal was a ball magnet all day, ably assisted by four goals from Lewis Stevenson, as the Students put up a morale-boosting performance to return to form and give them plenty of momentum to take into this contest. A win can kick-start the campaign, and the Students will be keen to carry on how they left off last week.
The Bulldogs remain undefeated this season, but were given a scare by St George at Gipps Road last week. Looking down the barrel at half time, a five goal third quarter was enough to get the Bulldogs over the line, but only just; and without the heroics of Max Geddes and Tom Baxter the Bulldogs may have fallen short. But the undefeated streak continues; and while the Bulldogs remain two games clear on top of the ladder, they will maintain favoritism in any game they play.
It’s the second time these teams have faced off in 2022. The previous meeting was in the opening round of the season, when the Bulldogs got out to a big lead but had to hang on for dear life in the final minutes as the Students came home with a wet sail. It’s never over until the final siren sounds; and with so much at stake, you can expect this one to go down to the wire.
St George Dragons v North Shore Bombers
Olds Park, Saturday 2:30pm
The Dragons and the Bombers have had some keen contests over the years, and another big clash is anticipated at Olds Park this Saturday; in a game that will tell us plenty about the double-chance aspirations of both sides.
The Dragons weren’t able to break the Bulldog bubble at Gipps Road last week, but it was a close-run thing. The Dragons led at the long break, and in the end fell just nine points short of pulling off the boilover. Helped on their way by the likes of Kirian Ayres and Tim Coenen, it was an impressive fighting effort by the Dragons; the form that, when they can turn it on, sees the Dragons match it with the best sides in the league. And they’ll need to put in an effort like that against this opponent.
North Shore also had a close contest last week, but came out on top after an arm-wrestle with Pennant Hills at Gore Hill Oval; kicking the last three goals of the game to come out 11 point winners. In a low-scoring contest, it was the likes of Max Thomas and Will Edwards who stood up to be counted when the game was there to be won. The Bombers are back in the top three, but don’t look to have hit their potential yet; and they’ll be looking for another solid effort this time round.
Both teams are coming into this game on the back of hard-fought close encounters last week. In a tight battle for the top three, and the double-chance in the finals, it’s games like this that will determine who gets in and who misses out. The Dragons have the home turf and will appreciate that advantage after missing out on it last week. This has the potential to be another close encounter, and neither side will be willing to hand over any advantage to the other.
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 2:40pm
When Manly entered Premier Division in 2013, they quickly gained a rivalry with Pennant Hills when the Wolves and the Demons faced off in back to back Grand Finals. And another chapter in the rivalry will be played out at Mike Kenny Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Demons remain second on the ladder, but missed an opportunity to establish a solid break from the pack of teams chasing them when they went down to North Shore by 11 points at Gore Hill last week. The Demons led at three quarter time, but were unable to last the distance; despite a great fighting effort from the likes of Nick Richards and Tom Edmonds. But back at home against an opponent lower on the ladder, the Demons have a chance to maintain their ladder position and establish a buffer ahead of the teams chasing them.
Manly haven’t won since the opening round of the season, and last week at Weldon was a day that didn’t go to plan for the Wolves; as they were only able to manage three goals against Sydney Uni and went down by 68 points. Kieran Le Jeune and Taine Wright battled tirelessly for the Wolves, but they weren’t able to keep in the contest against the Students. This will be another tough contest, and the Wolves will be all too aware they must lift their intensity for this one.
Both sides will be looking to hit back, but only one will succeed. The Demons are still well placed on the ladder, but risk falling back if they are unable to rise to the occasion in this clash; while the Wolves are looking to kick-start a season where wins have been hard to achieve. There will be no holds barred in this clash, and the stakes are high.
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
Sydney University v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 11:45am
Our broadcast match is a university derby, matching up two teams who have stepped up to some impressive form in recent weeks. You can catch this game live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page; so wherever you are, you don’t have to miss a thing.
Sydney Uni have moved up to third place on the ladder, after last week claiming the scalp of Manly at Weldon Oval. It was a close-run contest, with only four points separating the sides at the final siren; but the win underlines the form the Students have worked up to. Keep an eye on the form of Emma Gelsomino and Maryanne Harley, who were dominant last week and will be looking to maintain that momentum this time round.
Meanwhile the Bulldogs have won three on the trot, the most recent being a 27-point result over Southern Power at Blacktown last week. The win was spearheaded by the efforts of Imogen McDonald and April Devine; and the Bulldogs will again be looking to them to deliver plenty of possessions. Confidence is growing in the Bulldogs camp, and there’s plenty of anticipation at what they can achieve this season.
These two teams have been massive improvers this season. It’s their second meeting in 2022. In the opening round, Sydney Uni prevailed by four points. At that point in the year, few would have imagined that both teams would be in the top five by now; but that’s the way it’s unfolded. But they’ll need a win to stay in the five, and only one team can achieve that. In the context of the season, this could be a high-stakes encounter.
Southern Power v North Shore Bombers
Blacktown International Sportspark – Oval 1, Saturday 12:10pm
It hasn’t been an easy season for Southern Power, and it won’t get any easier this week as North Shore pay them a visit at Blacktown International SportsPark- Oval 1. But the Power must lift, and there’s finally some encouraging signs for them.
The Power are yet to record a win this season. But last week, in a game moved to Blacktown at the last minute, they put in a much-improved performance against a top five team; and although they went down by 27 points, it was nothing like some of the losses they’ve experienced so far this season. With Brodee Mowbray again looking impressive, and well assisted by Dakota Mason, the Power are finally looking up and counting down to their first win.
Meanwhile North Shore returned to form at Gore Hill Oval last week when they recorded a 32-point win over Pennant Hills; hitting the ground running before holding the Demons scoreless in the second half. Lucy Krimmer and Liv Edwards led the way, and the Bombers will be looking for another big effort from them in this match. The Bombers are a game out of the top five, but with a better percentage than all the teams a game ahead of them; and a big win here will enhance their chances of re-entering the five.
The Bombers need a win to get back into the top five, but the Power won’t be making it easy for them. Finally they had an encouraging result last week against a good opponent, and they’ll be looking to build on that momentum. The Bombers can’t expect to rock up and get the points without putting in a strong four-quarter effort against what is sure to be a determined opponent.
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval (Lower Oval), Saturday 12:40pm
It’s desperation stakes at Mike Kenny Oval as the Demons take on the Wolves; with both teams looking to hit back after being on the wrong end of results last week.
Pennant Hills last week travelled to Gore Hill, but were unable to return home with the premiership points after they were unable to score in the second half, going down by 32 points. The Demons, after winning their first two games this season, haven’t won since. Elizabeth Gordon and Alex Wade were prominent performers for the Demons last week, and they’ll need to put in the effort again this time if the Demons are to return to the winning list.
The Wolves were stunned by Sydney Uni last week. It was close at the end, with only four points between the two sides; but the Wolves’ loss sees them drop out of the double-chance position. It wasn’t all bad news for Manly, with some encouraging form and effort put up by Caitlin Johnson and Roxy Beuzeville; but dropping that game falls short of the lofty standards they’ve set for themselves since joining Premier Division. A hard week at training, and they’ll be keen to bounce back this time.
The Demons are at risk of having a promising season slip away. To some extent, so are Manly. But here is a chance to break the cycle, bounce back and get the momentum start to run their way. This is a game neither team will want to drop, and you can expect to see plenty of hard-fought desperation out there.
Inner West Magpies v Macquarie Uni Warriors
WH Wagener Oval, Saturday 3:15pm
It’s been quite a few years since Wagener Oval has hosted Premier Division footy. But the Ashbury turf is looking a treat for some top-flight footy; and the home side will go into this clash with plenty of anticipation.
The Magpies are on a roll, and last week were the first team to knock off the ladder-leading East Coast. Leading all the way, the Magpies never let the Eagles back into the contest and completed a well-earned 25 point win. Jasmine Smith and Eilish Sheerin picked up plenty of the ball all night; and there was plenty of passion in the team song after the game as they celebrated an impressive win. But there’s no time to rest on their laurels, and the Magpies know all too well that they have to back up and get the job done again this week.
Macquarie Uni’s late night last week didn’t eventuate, with the game moved at the last minute to Rosedale. And for much of the afternoon the Warriors held the lead in a low-scoring slog before two late UTS goals broke the Warriors’ hearts. Jodie Hicks and Chelsea Quinn kept putting in the solid efforts, working hard on a heavy track. It wasn’t enough to get the points this time, but the Warriors showed that they can scrap and make it hard for a top five team; and went so close to pulling off the boilover.
The Magpies will go into this game as the hottest of favourites, and it will take something special for the Warriors to bring about the upset in this clash. But the Warriors on their day can trouble the top sides. If they can pile on the pressure, contest every possession and catch the Magpies only slightly off their best; that may be the something special they need.
East Coast Eagles v UTS Bats
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 3:45pm
In every season is a series of challenges; and the Eagles now face a new challenge. The undefeated run is over, but can the Eagles regroup? This week they take on a UTS side that will be doing everything they can to compound the Eagle suffering.
The Bats are in form, and have a winning streak of four games under their belt. But they had to dig deep at Rosedale last week to get past Macquarie Uni, unable to score a goal until late in the game before two late major scores got them over the line. It took some magic from Taylah Canobie and Grace Hill to get the Bats over the line. But to be a finals contender, you have to find a way to win when it’s tough and you’re struggling; and the Bats have passed that test.
The Eagles faced defeat for the first time in 2022 at Kanebridge last week, when they found themselves slightly off their best and were blown away by the Magpies, going down by 25 points. Despite the determined efforts of Renee Tomkins and Bryany Parker, the Eagles never looked like getting back into the contest. The undefeated run is over, and the big question is how the Eagles will bounce back.
When the two teams faced off in round two, the Bats were unable to score a goal as the Eagles dominated with a 63-point win. But times have changed. The Bats have their tails up, the Eagles are under pressure for the first time this year. We can expect a closer contest this time.
