AFL Sydney Men’s and Women’s Premier Division Match Preview – Round 5
Written by Michael Shillito
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April has turned into May. There’s a bit of a chill in the air, but the sun is still shining and the grounds are in good shape for what should be another big weekend of footy.
We’re without Pennant Hills in the Mens and North Shore in the Womens this week, as they take their byes. Both had built up some good momentum, with wins in their last two games and holding their opponents goal-less last week. With some good form, both would probably have rather played this week, but that’s the luck of the draw. Instead, they have a rest to get over any little niggles before getting back into it.
There’ll be some desperate teams this week. Teams that haven’t lived up to expectations so far, and are lower on the ladder than they expected to be. Teams that need a scalp, and here is the opportunity. There’s some hot favourites this week, but they can’t take their opposition lightly. All it takes is an upset or two to throw the form book out the window and the ladder wide open.
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MENS PREMIER DIVISION
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Henson Park, Saturday 12:20pm
It’s an early start for our broadcast game this week, just after high noon at Henson Park for the clash between the Bulldogs and the Wolves. For those who can’t make it to Henson, you can catch the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
It’s Coronation Day on Saturday, but the Bulldogs were already crowned with the title last September; and did their chances of retaining that title absolutely no damage at all last Saturday against UTS. In a game that was switched to Blacktown at the last minute, the Bulldogs dominated from start to finish with a resounding 112-point win. Kieran Emery was unstoppable up forward to finish with nine goals; while Oscar Peter and Tom Baxter also featured prominently. If the Bulldogs can replicate that sort of form this week, it’ll take something special for Manly to stop them.
Manly go into this game with a 2-2 record. Last week at Weldon Oval, they took the fight up to Sydney Uni, but one bad quarter cost them and they went down by 15 points. It was a credible performance by the Wolves, winning three quarters and well served by the efforts of Ryan Stubbs, Byron Laws and Kieran Le Jeune; but the Wolves will regret that second term when the Students ran through six unanswered goals. But with a solid four-quarter effort, they showed they can match it with the competition’s front-runners; and that’s what they’ll be looking for this time against another quality opponent.
The Bulldogs have dropped one game so far this season, but have looked dominant in all their other matches. This time they’re up against a Manly side that won their first two before dropping their next two games. The Wolves have plenty to play for this time round; and won’t want to have wasted such a promising start to the year. The Bulldogs will go into this one as favourites, but you can expect to see plenty of desperation and fight from the Wolves. This one could be a lot closer than the experts predict.
Sydney University v UTS Bats
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 12:40pm
University pride is on the line at Sydney Uni No 1 on Saturday, with the Students taking on the Bats in a game with plenty of implications for how the season progresses.
Sydney Uni so far haven’t put a foot wrong in 2023; but they were tested by Manly at Weldon last week. In the end, it was a burst of six unanswered goals in the second term that got the Students over the line by 15 points, keeping their unbeaten record intact. Harry Whitaker, Jack Dimery and Oscar Davis picked up plenty of the ball for the Students as they did enough to get the four points; although last week was the toughest test they’ve had so far in 2023. But when tested, the quality teams find a way to win; and the Students have so far passed that challenge.
Meanwhile the Bats faced a harsh reality check last week, when they took on UNSW-ES at Blacktown. Held to just two goals for the day, the Bats were unable to match it with the Bulldogs and went down by 112 points. Ash Buckland, Tom Borrillo and Nick McGill kept putting the effort in; but it was one of those days for the Bats and they were never able to get themselves in the contest. This week, on the smaller confines of the Sydney Uni ground, the Bats need to put the pressure on and deny the Students the easy possessions the Bulldogs were able to get from them last week.
While the Students have successfully answered any challenge that has been thrown their way so far this season, they can’t expect to have everything go their way this week. Last week was too bad to be true for UTS, and the Bats have a point to prove. They will come out swinging, looking to pile on the pressure. They have to.
Inner West Magpies v North Shore Bombers
Picken Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
The Magpies will be rested after the bye last week, but they will need those fresh legs to put in plenty of effort in this clash at Picken Oval, as the Magpies play host to the ladder-leading North Shore.
The Magpies’ last start was on ANZAC Day, and they didn’t make it easy for Pennant Hills that day. The Magpies held a four-point lead at half time, but fell away in the third term to go down by 16 points. Brad Rauter, Ben Klemke and Kel Evans were key performers for the Magpies that day. In the first half, the Magpies showed what they are able to do; and it wasn’t an easy result for the Demons. But against a talented and in-form lineup like North Shore, they’ll need to maintain that for four quarters.
North Shore have powered their way to the top of the ladder, and last Saturday at Gore Hill they wasted no time in showing their credentials as they dominated against St George. Four unanswered goals in the first term, and a nine goal second quarter set the platform for a massive 88-point win; with Sam Barkley, Nick Brewer and Mitch Crisafulli leading the way for the Bombers. They have played like a team on a mission so far in 2023, and the Magpies are going to have to pull out something special to stop the North Shore momentum this week.
The Magpies are yet to sing the song in 2023, and they face a massive task this time round to break through for their first win. But they’ve shown plenty of times before that they’re a side that gets up when challenged and can take it up to the competition’s top teams. They’ll need to put in one of those gritty, tenacious efforts that they’re capable of. If they can do that, they can put the Bombers under plenty of pressure.
St George Dragons v East Coast Eagles
Olds Park, Saturday 2:30pm
The teams desperate for a win will face off at Olds Park on Saturday. Both teams winless, with a percentage of less than 30. One of them will finally find something to kick-start the season, while the sword of a long, hard season will hang over the loser of this game.
Last Saturday at Gore Hill the Dragons had a day they would rather forget, as they were never able to get into the contest and were blown away by North Shore to an 88-point loss. Tim Coenen, Nathan Carey and Tyler Gorman-Brown never gave up; but too few Dragons were able to perform to their optimum ability on the day. It’s been a tough opening to the season for the Dragons, the draw hasn’t been kind to them. But there’s no more time to lose. They have to lift against the Eagles to turn their fortunes around.
The Eagles also find themselves in desperate times. Last week at Kanebridge they were held to just three points for the day; the lowest score in Mens Premier Division for many a long year. Harry Elbourne, Marshall Paynter and Daniel Saywell tried hard; but the Eagles couldn’t match it against a red-hot Pennant Hills team that were giving them nothing on the day. Four big losses to start this season, and the Eagles need to find the circuit-breaker that will change their trajectory for 2023.
Whoever wins this game will experience a lift in form and confidence; something to start up the motor and get the season under way at last. But for the team that doesn’t win, it’ll be a long, hard road ahead and already the top teams will be looking out of reach. These are desperate times, but this is the opportunity to turn their form around. The chance to find the lift and bounce back; a chance that only one team will take.
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WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
Sydney University v UTS Bats
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 10:55am
It will be a clash of two teams with vastly different fortunes in the early game at Sydney Uni No 1, when the winless Students face off against the undefeated Bats. But the Students aren’t without a chance in this match-up.
Last week at Weldon, Sydney Uni managed two early goals; but unfortunately for them were unable to manage another for the rest of the game to go down to Manly by 37 points. Mia Connors, Saskia Johnson and Lily Race battled tirelessly against the odds; but it wasn’t enough to get the Uni side over the line and they slumped to their fourth loss of the season. It’s been a tough opening for the season for the Students, but they’ll again be fine-tuning their lineup and looking for the spark that will kick-start a reversal in their fortunes.
Meanwhile the Bats continue on their winning ways, and have taken out all of their first four matches. Last week against UNSW-ES they were challenged early, with the Bulldogs running through three unanswered goals in the first quarter. But the Bats gradually reeled them in, drawing level at the last change and then getting in front in the last quarter to record a 20-point win. Taylah Canobie, Georgina McDonnell and Charlotte Owen starred for the Bats, as they again showed they know how to get the job done when under pressure. It’s an ability that’s held them in good stead so far in 2023, and something the Students will have to work hard to overcome this time round.
The Bats have been the big improvers so far in 2023, and deserve their current undefeated status. But the pressure is now on, and they won’t be sneaking under the radar any more. And on the postage stamp-sized Sydney Uni No 1, the blue and gold side will be piling on the pressure and making it difficult to earn easy possessions. The Students have some work to do to turn their fortunes around, and it starts here. They just can’t afford to go 0-5.
Pennant Hills Demons v Macquarie Uni Goannas
Mike Kenny Oval (top oval), Saturday 12:40pm
With the Demon men having the bye, it’s a slight change of setting for the Pennant Hills Womens Prems team this week, as they make the move upstairs to the top oval for their home clash against Macquarie Uni.
The Demons go into this clash with a 2-1 record. After winning their first two games, last week at Kanebridge they found themselves at the wrong end of a very strong East Coast lineup and went down by 50 points. Amie Maguire, Eliza Harvey and Elly Rudd never stopped putting the effort in; but it wasn’t enough to maintain the Demons’ unbeaten record. But there’s lessons to be learned, and back on their home turf this week they’re ready to bounce back.
Macquarie Uni return after the bye. Their last start a fortnight ago at Waratah Oval was a complete triumph, as they held Southern Power scoreless and bolted away to a 122-point win. Michala Ford helped herself to six goals and Lauren Easton five; while Lili Kablau, Abbie Lewis and Amanda Farrugia picked up doses of leather poisoning from getting so much of the footy. It was a dominant performance that leaves the Goannas with a 2-1 record and an impressive percentage. If they can get up here, they’ll be well placed for the season.
It’s 4th v 5th, both teams with a 2-1 record for the season; and this could be a pivotal clash to the destiny of both teams. The winner will find themselves well placed on the ladder and ready to challenge the top teams. The loser certainly isn’t out of the running for the top five, but will have some work to do to get there. This is the sort of game that determines who the genuine finals contenders are; and it’s an opportunity to make a statement and throw down the gauntlet to the finals challengers. And maybe just strike a key psychological blow. There’s plenty at stake in this one.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Henson Park, Saturday 2:40pm
A blockbuster match in a blockbuster timeslot at Henson Park, as the Bulldogs face off against the Wolves. It’s a big game, and for those who can’t be there, the action will be shown live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page; so wherever in the world you are, you don’t have to miss out on this one.
UNSW-ES last week had high hopes of causing the upset against UTS when they kicked three unanswered goals in the first term. But they were unable to hang on to that lead, with the Bats drawing level at three quarter time then pulling away in the last. But the Bulldogs during those early stages, with Chloe Anderson, Hayley Stanford and Ella Willey leading the way, showed that at their best they are capable of matching it with the top teams. Against a team with some of the biggest names in Sydney womens’ footy, they’ll need to keep that going for a full four quarters this time.
Grand Finallists last year, the Wolves have had a slow start to their 2023 campaign and were defeated in their first two games. Last Saturday at Weldon they had to hold on against an early onslaught from Sydney Uni; but then began to find their groove and worked their way to a hard-earned 37-point win. It was a result achieved on the back of four goals from Jayda Kennedy and solid efforts around the ground from Andrea Roditis, London Ashcroft and Emily Goodsir; and the Wolves would be pleased to see plenty of contributors who had struggled in their first two games make a return to form.
Both teams are sitting at one win from three starts, below where they would want to be. The winner here will go to an even 2-2 record and be within striking distance of the top five; with a boost in form and confidence and ready to make a run. But for the loser, there’s some hard work ahead to get back into contention. There’s plenty at stake in this encounter, and you can expect to see plenty of grit and determination from two teams with so much to play for.
Southern Power v East Coast Eagles
Waratah Oval, Saturday 5:00pm
It’s a showdown in the Shire, and as the sun sets and the wind picks up, the action at Waratah will be heating up. The home side are on the ropes and need to come out fighting, but opponents don’t come any tougher than this week’s visitors.
The Power go into this game winless with a percentage of less than 5. Last week at Gore Hill was one they’d rather forget, as they were held to just one point and went down by 161 points to a rampaging North Shore side. Ivy Halliwell, Grace Crittenden and Laura Kent were their best, but there were few that had any meaningful impact on the contest. It’s been a tough opening month to the season for the Power; and now is the time they need to lift and find a circuit-breaker to turn themselves around. It will be a long, hard season for them if they can’t.
Meanwhile the Eagles keep on their winning ways. The defending champions last week had little difficulty in getting past Pennant Hills by 50 points at Kanebridge. Annaleise Barton, Chloe Arndt and Caitlin Reid were the standouts, while Savannah Codd earned herself a Rising Star nomination; but as we’ve seen so often before, the Eagles were able to find winners all over the ground. Once again it was a demonstration of a well-drilled team going through their paces and making light work of the challenge in front of them.
It’s last v first, and few teams would ever have gone into a Premier Division match as short-priced favourites as what the Eagles will be in this clash. But the Power have to make a stand and show something this week. To cop another heavy loss and not put all their effort in would not be acceptable. It’s time to stand up, fly the flag and put up a fight. Otherwise it’s hard to see this being anything other than a night of Eagle dominance.
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