AFL Sydney Premier Division Men’s & Women’s- Round 12 Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
As June turns into July, the race towards the finals continues to heat up.
For the Men’s Premier Division, this week takes us to two-thirds of the way through. Seven rounds to go, for most clubs it’s six games; although North Shore and ladder leaders UNSW-ES have a game in hand. Sydney Uni have the bye this week. The Women’s Premier Division has five rounds remaining.
In both comps, it’s extremely tight. Not just premiership points, but percentage. And there’s plenty of games this weekend involving finals contenders that will be critical to their hopes of being part of the playoffs.
There’s been seasons when the final five have looked to be settled by now. Not this year.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v East Coast Eagles
Picken Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
Inner West Magpies have been the competition’s big improvers in 2022 and have lifted themselves to a position where they are not only a strong contender to be in the finals, but are in the running for the double-chance. But to get there, they can’t afford a slip-up in games like this.
The Magpies are in third place, only behind Sydney Uni on percentage; and with the Students having the bye this week, they can leap-frog them into second. Last week at Sydney Uni No 1, the Magpies blew the game out with an explosive eight-goal second quarter; and kept coming up with the goals in the second half to prevent the Students from running them down. Ben Zoppo came up with six goals, while Luke Jamieson picked up numerous possessions around the ground. There’s a spring in the Magpie step that we haven’t seen for quite a few years.
East Coast are yet to salute this year, and found themselves at the wrong end of a 70-point result at Olds Park against St George last week. Baylee Jones and Zac Johns kept putting the effort in, but it was another day when the Eagles struggled to match it against a strong opponent. No finals for the Eagles this season, but the remaining third of the season will be an opportunity to develop talent and lay the foundation for more success in future seasons.
The two sides met in round seven at Kanebridge, and on that occasion it was an 86-point win to the Magpies. Having had a draw, the Magpies’ percentage is only a factor when compared to Sydney Uni; and they’ll be looking for a big win to boost that percentage. But the Eagles will have something to say about that. They won’t be playing finals this year, but they won’t want to finish the season without a win; and this is a scalp they’ll be keen to take.
St George Dragons v UTS Bats
Olds Park, Saturday 2:30pm
In such a tight battle for finals positions, clashes like this one at Olds Park will count for plenty. For the winner, four valuable points; and even more valuable because there’s four points that the loser doesn’t get. And then there’s the question of percentage.
St George go into this clash with winning form on the board, on the back of a 70-point result against East Coast last week. Noah Casalini leads the league’s goal-kickers with 32 major scores so far this season, including four last week; while Tyler Gorman-Brown was impressive around the ground last week. The Dragons have made their wins count, having a better percentage than North Shore, Pennant Hills and UTS; standing them in good stead for their position within the top five.
The Bats have had quite a roller-coaster of a season, with some strong wins but some heavy losses. But last week they kept themselves well and truly in contention with a cracker of a win against Pennant Hills at Trumper Park. Reid McNamara and Kyle Emley starred for the Bats, as they opened up a strong lead in the second quarter and went on to record a 21-point win. But they need to back that up with another strong performance this time round. In a competition where seven out of nine teams are in realistic finals contention, there are few easy games.
When the two sides last met, in round six, the game was played at Blacktown and the Dragons controlled proceedings from start to finish to win by 83 points. The Bats can’t afford a replication of that game. A game behind the five and with the lowest percentage of any of the teams in finals contention, a loss for the Bats would see them at risk of falling behind the pack. Expect to see a fired-up UTS side here, working hard to keep this game close. Their finals hopes depend on it.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Weldon Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
The Wolves take on the Bulldogs at Weldon Oval in a game that is unlikely to have a significant bearing on the ladder; but there’s still plenty to play for.
Manly have had to struggle for much of this season, and have only managed a single win so far. Last week they went to Gore Hill to take on North Shore, but didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Bombers and went down by 55 points. Kyle Martin and Hayden Washington put plenty of effort in, but it was another day when things didn’t go to plan. But this week the Wolves are at home, and ready to make an impression.
The Bulldogs are on fire, six points clear on top of the table; and they’ll go into this game refreshed after last week’s bye. Their last start was in round 10, and resulted in a comfortable 107-point win over East Coast. Max Ries and Jake Brown were instrumental in the Bulldogs’ success. The Bulldogs have plenty of match-winners in their lineup, and the Wolves are going to have to defend resolutely to hold them out.
When the two sides met at Henson Park in round four, the Bulldogs powered away to a 67-point win. The ladder leaders with just one loss taking on a team with one win, the Bulldogs will be the hottest of favourites for this clash. But the Wolves are ready to do some damage here. In a season where not everything has gone to plan, the Wolves would love nothing more than to claim the scalp of the competition front-runner. But they’re going to have to put on a special performance to get it done.
Pennant Hills Demons v North Shore Bombers
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 2:40pm
Tune in LIVE and FREE on Kayo Sports CLICK HERE or via the AFL Sydney Facebook Page from 2:35pm this Saturday for the AFL Sydney Men’s Premier Division ‘Match of the Round’
Pennant Hills and North Shore have had some epic battles over the years, and another one is promised at Mike Kenny this week; which will be of major importance for two teams in finals contention. And if you can’t get up to Cherrybrook for this one, you can catch all the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
The Demons are under the pump, having lost their last three in a row. Last week they fell out of the top five with a 21-point loss to UTS at Trumper Park. Despite the best efforts of Mitch Blow and Nick Eynaud, the Demons were unable to come back from a big half-time margin and found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreboard. These are tough times for the Demons, and the challenge will be to bounce back this week.
North Shore re-entered the top five last week, doing it in style as they led from start to finish to record a 55-point win over Manly at Gore Hill. The Bombers were well led by a five-goal haul from Josh Rayner, while Jack Campbell was magnificent in defence. The Bombers haven’t been totally consistent this year, but when they’re on song like they were last year they’re a hard team to stop.
The previous meeting between the two sides was in round seven at Gore Hill, and saw the Bombers take out an 11-point win. This one should also be close. The stakes are high, especially for the Demons. If the Demons go down here, and if St George get up, the Demons risk finding themselves two games out of the five. Not impossible, but it would be hard to make the finals from there. But the Bombers would fall out of the top five if they were to drop this game, and they won’t be letting that happen without a fight.
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v East Coast Eagles
Picken Oval, Saturday 10:20am
The round starts with a morning clash at Picken Oval, and it’s a much-anticipated clash between two of the competition’s heavyweights as Inner West Magpies plays host to East Coast Eagles.
Inner West Magpies were contesting for the competition lead a few weeks ago, but three losses from their last four games has seen them drop to fourth. Last week at Sydney Uni No 1, they were unable to score a goal until the last quarter as they went down to Sydney Uni by 23 points. Jasmine Smith and Elly Jenkins kept putting the effort in, but it wasn’t enough to get the points. There’s been some good news from their squad, with Eilish Sheerin being drafted; but as she travels to Melbourne to take her place with the Tigers, her season with the Magpies is over.
The Eagles have only dropped one game this season, and showed the form that has propelled them to top spot last week when they travelled to Waratah Oval and returned home with a convincing 86-point win over Southern Power. The Eagles had winners all over the ground, with Rylee McGartland booting six goals to extend her season tally to 35, easily the competition’s leading goal-kicker; while Jade Swabey also featured prominently. The Eagles have lifted the bar in women’s footy this season, but this is a clash that will test them.
The Magpies are the only team to have defeated the Eagles this season, which came in round seven at Kanebridge when the Magpies took out a 25-point win. Since then the Magpies have struggled, but the sight of the competition’s front-runners again could be the kick-start the Magpies need to get back on track. They’ve climbed the mountain once, and can do it again. If they don’t, a season that promised so much threatens to slip away.
Pennant Hills Demons v North Shore Bombers
Mike Kenny Oval (Lower Oval), Saturday 12:30pm
Tune in LIVE and FREE on Kayo Sports CLICK HERE or via the AFL Sydney Facebook Page from 12:25pm this Saturday for the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division ‘Match of the Round’
A lunchtime clash on the lower oval at Mike Kenny renews the keen inter-club rivalry between the Demons and the Bombers. And for those unable to get to Mike Kenny, you can catch all the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
Pennant Hills go into this game desperate to get back on the winning list, after being unable to land a goal after quarter time at Trumper Park last week and going down to UTS by 39 points. Tayla Duguid and Madison Hare worked hard, but it wasn’t enough to get the Demons the points. If they go down in this one, their mathematical finals hopes are over, they just have to throw everything they have into this clash.
The Bombers are hanging on to fifth place, after being outclassed by a red-hot Manly side at Gore Hill last week; never being in the contest as they went down by 66 points. Tilly Eder and Jemma Thorp put the effort in, but the Bombers were unable to stop the Wolves from a runaway performance. This week they have to lift their effort and hit back hard against an opponent they remain ahead of on the ladder. Their position in the top five depends on it.
It’s the second clash between the two sides in 2022. The previous meeting was in round seven at Gore Hill, and resulted in the Bombers taking out a comfortable 34-point win. You can expect to see plenty of desperation in this clash. The Bombers can maintain their hold on a position within the top five if they can get the win here. And there are no more chances for the Demons, for them it’s now or never.
Southern Power v UTS Bats
Waratah Oval, Saturday 12:30pm
It’s been a tough season for Southern Power. They won’t be part of this year’s finals; but it’s not too late to salvage something from this season and lay the platform for future seasons. And they have an opportunity this Saturday at Waratah Oval as they play host to UTS.
The Power are yet to salute in 2022, and last week they were given a tough lesson by East Coast, as the Eagles dominated from start to finish to take out an 86-point result. Natalie Murray and the experienced Kathryn Hull kept working hard, but it was another difficult day at the office for the Power. Although the Power won’t be playing finals this year, they have some promising talent working its way into the senior ranks; and the remainder of this season will be planning for a rise up the ladder in seasons to come.
UTS returned to form in style last week at Trumper Park, as they controlled proceedings after quarter time to record a 39-point win over Pennant Hills. Charlotte Owen and Ruby Reid were prolific ball-winners all day, showing the form that the Bats will need to demonstrate again in this clash. It was a result that keeps the Bats within striking distance of the finals; but to be a contender, they need a percentage-booster win in this clash.
When the two teams last met in round six, the Bats held the Power to one point in recording a 60-point win. And the stakes are high for the Bats this time. Like their men’s team, the Bats are a game behind the five and with a poor percentage. They need a win, a big win, to keep in touch. And if the Power can shake off their disappointments of this season and pull off the upset, it would make life very tough for UTS.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:30pm
Manly have hit some impressive form in recent weeks, and this time they return to their home at Weldon and are looking to continue their purple patch against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
The Wolves have worked their way into second place, and last week at Gore Hill the Bombers were no match for the Manly juggernaut as the Wolves dominated from start to finish to record a 66-point win. Jacqui Green and Amee Dawson were the pick of them, but the Wolves had plenty of contributors all over the field; and that’s the form they’ll be looking to replicate this week as they seek to maintain the momentum they’ve built for themselves.
The Bulldogs also go into this game with winning form behind them after recording a 27-point win over Macquarie Uni at David Phillips last week. It was a win built around the efforts of Gabrielle Anthony and April Devine, and it sees the Bulldogs only outside the top five on percentage. It’s been a roller-coaster of a season for the Bulldogs, but they remain in the finals race; but need to claim the scalp of a top contender to stay there.
When the two sides met at Henson Park in round four, the Wolves controlled proceedings to win by 44 points. The Wolves, with their impressive form, will be keen to do that again and will go into this game as hot favourites. But the Bulldogs won’t be easybeats here. They can’t afford a loss here and particularly can’t afford another hit to their percentage. A loss won’t end the Bulldogs’ finals hopes, but depending on other results it could become very difficult for them.
Macquarie University Warriors v Sydney University
Macquarie Uni Oval, Saturday 3:20pm
A twilight encounter completes the round, with the Warriors taking on Sydney Uni in front of the grassy banks of Macquarie Uni Oval.
The Warriors have gradually improved as the season has progressed, but it wasn’t enough to claim the points when they travelled to David Phillips last week to take on UNSW-ES and went down by 27 points. Emily Davie and Abbie Lewis toiled tirelessly all day, and the Warriors will be looking for them to dig deep again this week. One of their number is again destined for higher honours, as Jodie Hicks rejoins GWS Giants for the upcoming AFLW season.
Sydney Uni continue to grow in form and confidence, and go into this game in third spot on the ladder on the back of a 23-point win over Inner West Magpies last week. The Students were again difficult to score against, and the Magpies did not manage a major score until the final quarter. Bella Gray and Saskia Johnson led the way for the Students, continuing their run of form. Week after week they get the job done, and they’ve worked their way into prime position to wrap up the double-chance in the finals.
There wasn’t much in it when the two sides met in round six; with the Students getting up by 14 points in a game that was shifted at short notice to Mike Kenny Oval. This time it’s on the Warriors’ turf, and the home side will be looking to take advantage. The Warriors won’t be playing finals this year, but they are a much-improved side as the season has unfolded. They’ve claimed a couple of big scalps already, but this one would be exceptional. But the Students have been in red-hot form, and the Warriors will need to do something special to pull off the upset this time.
