Round 6 Men’s and Women’s Premier Division Match Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
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This weekend sees us hit one-third of the way through the home and away season. The ladders for our competitions are starting to take shape; but there’s still plenty of time for those teams outside the finals positions to work their way into playoff calculations. But in both competitions, we’re seeing some front-runners emerge.
This week marks Community Umpiring Round. In every match, there’s a third team; and we wouldn’t have a game without them. It can be a thankless job at times, but we all owe the men and women in the green shirts plenty of gratitude for the role they play in making our games happen.
This week our defending champions take a break, as UNSW-ES in the Men’s and East Coast in the Womens have the bye. Both are looking strong in their quest to retain their titles, with the Bulldog men having only dropped one game while the Eagles remain undefeated with an imposing percentage. Both go into the break leaving a clear message for their rivals – “Catch us if you can”.
As the winter draws closer, the temperatures are dropping. But the grounds are still in good shape, and there’s no excuses for not getting out and playing your best footy this weekend. In a round with plenty to play for; one that promises some interesting contests.
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MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v East Coast Eagles
Picken Oval, Saturday 12:00pm
It will be desperation stakes at Picken Oval, with a lunch-time start for the Battle of the Birds as the Magpies play host to the Eagles. With neither team having yet recorded a win in 2023, one of them will finally break their duck and get to sing the song; while the other is looking down the barrel of a long and hard season.
The Magpies are winless after four starts in 2023, a tricky opening for the season in their campaign to replicate last year’s finals appearance. Last Saturday at home they were no match for a red-hot North Shore lineup, going down by 82 points. Nathan Ryan managed four goals; while Kel Evans, Patrick Wilmot and Ben Klemke picked up plenty of the ball. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Magpies in the contest. While the effort can never be disputed, it’s been a hard start to the season. They need a circuit-breaker, something that will deliver confidence to the team. And against a fellow winless team, this is their opportunity.
The Eagles are in an even tougher situation, having had five starts without a win and with an inferior percentage. There’s no time to lose. Last week at Olds Park they were jumped at the start and were never able to catch up, going down to St George by 34 points. Daniel Saywell, Harry Sutherland and Luke Parkinson played solid games for the Eagles; but it was the same familiar story as they were unable to put in a four-quarter performance to take out the match. This time, against another team without a win, they’ll be sensing the opportunity; but will need to put in the effort on the day to get that all-important first up win.
These are two teams that are desperate for a win. They’ll have to fight and scrap, earn every possession and make something of their opportunities. One of these teams will get the breakthrough win, see confidence return, and have a platform to launch a winning streak and get their season back on track. The other will find themselves at the bottom of the ladder and with a lot of work ahead to salvage the season. This will be a desperate contest.
UTS Bats v Pennant Hills Demons
Trumper Park, Saturday 2:15pm
Premier Division footy comes to Trumper Park for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon, with this week’s broadcast match as the Bats play host to Pennant Hills. You can catch all the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page, a must-see for the UTS and Demons diaspora around the globe.
UTS have won just once so far in 2023, but gave a good account of themselves last week at Sydney Uni No 1. After giving the Students a head start, the Bats came racing back into the contest to take the lead late in the third term; before the Students again took control of the game to record a 37-point win. Nicklaus Stanlan-Velt announced his presence with a six-goal haul to be best-on-ground in a losing side, while Jarrod Vos and Louis Pribula were also in the thick of the action for the Bats. It was a brave fighting effort by the Bats, but not enough to take the points. They’re not far from being competitive against one of the competition heavyweights, but will need to lift another gear to get some premiership points this time round and move up the ladder.
Pennant Hills go into this game refreshed after last week’s bye. The Demons’ last start was one of total triumph at Kanebridge, as they held the Eagles to just three behinds to take out a comfortable 67-point win. It was a win based around the efforts of Jason Blakemore, Tom Angel and Nick Richards; who the Demons will again be looking to for another big effort in this challenge. The Demons have won three of their first four, a solid start to the year; but there’s plenty of work to be done to maintain the positive momentum they’ve built up.
We’re at a critical stage of the season. If the Demons get up in this one, they’ll establish themselves in the top five and leave the Bats with some chasing to do if they are to get into finals contention. But a UTS win will throw the battle for the top five open. On their day, the Bats are capable of pulling off the upset result, and they’ll need to make this their day. This is the sort of game that determines who are the genuine finals contenders and who are the pretenders.
St George Dragons v Sydney University
Olds Park, Saturday 2:20pm
After finally breaking through for that all-important first win of the year, the Dragons will want to capitalise on their lift in form and get a run going. But it won’t be easy as they take on a Sydney Uni side that hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in 2023.
Last week at Olds Park, they went into the game desperate for the breakthrough result. In the end it came fairly easily, as they powered away from East Coast in the first term and made their way to a 34-point win. Finally they have premiership points on the board, and players who had little impact in the early rounds of the season have recorded an uptick in form. Ethan Maher, Tim Coenen and Ben Jones featured prominently last week, and the Dragons will again be looking to them to make big contributions against a tough opponent.
Meanwhile at Sydney Uni No 1, the Students were made to earn the points by a spirited UTS side that hit the front in the third quarter. But when the challenge was set, the Students responded, with an eight-goal haul in the last quarter enough to complete a 37-point win. Harry Morrison spearheaded the charge with a seven-goal return, while Angus McNamara and Jack Dimery also made substantial contributions to the Students’ success. They remain undefeated, and have shown that when challenged they can step up a gear and get the job done; and they should expect to be challenged again this time round.
Sydney Uni will go into this one as favourites. They’re undefeated and looking in good form, and there’s plenty of firepower in the Students line up that suggests they’ll go a long way this season. But the Dragons can’t be taken lightly here. Finally after last week’s game the monkey is off their back, and they’ll be looking to consolidate on that result; and a win will get them within striking distance of the top five. On their home track, they’ll be prepared and primed for an upset.
North Shore Bombers v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 3:40pm
There’s never a shortage of passion and feeling when these two Northern teams face off in the Battle of the Spit Bridge; and you can expect another willing contest at Gore Hill as the Bombers and Wolves face off with the yellow ball on the synthetic.
North Shore sit undefeated at the top of the ladder, and last week at Picken Oval showed exactly why they are in such a lofty position as they made short work of the Magpies. Extending their lead in every quarter, the Bombers powered their way to an 82-point win. Ethan Grace was unstoppable as he landed six goals, while Jordan Law also featured with four goals; while Ned Campbell and Nick Brewer were picking up myriad possessions around the ground. The Bombers are in impressive form, and they’ll be keen to continue that momentum at home and retain top spot.
It was a tough day at the office for Manly last week, when they travelled to Henson Park and were turned upside-down by 69 points be a rampant UNSW-ES outfit. The Wolves were unable to score a goal in the first half, and were always going to be in trouble from there. Lachlan Cameron, Zac Youlten and Tom Sheldrick kept working hard, but it wasn’t Manly’s day. After winning their first two games, the Wolves have not dropped three in a row. They’d love nothing more than to knock off their local rival to get back on the winning list; but there’s some hard work to be done to make that happen.
There’s been plenty of bruising encounters between the Bombers and the Wolves; and this has the potential to be another one. The Bombers are flying high, while the Wolves will be looking for a win to maintain their position in the top five. With the passion and frenzy of a local derby, the Bombers can’t expect an easy afternoon here; and you can be sure the Wolves will make them earn the points this time round.
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WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
North Shore Bombers v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 10:10am
It’s an early start at Gore Hill for this keenly-awaited local derby, with the Bombers taking on Manly in an important match-up for both clubs.
For North Shore, it’s their first game in a fortnight after last week’s bye. The Bombers’ last start was against Southern Power, finishing in a comprehensive 161-point win. The Bombers had winners all round the ground, with Olivia Edwards chipping in with six goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Lucy Krimmer scored five and Lucy Yates was a ball magnet all afternoon. That was a demolition, but this time they’re up against a tougher opponent and will need to rise for the occasion.
The Wolves have also built their way up to some form after a shaky start to the season; and last Saturday won their second game on the trot with a comfortable 53-point result against UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Lauren Bourgeois, Madi Hyde and Jacqui Green featured prominently for the Wolves; powering the team away as they took complete control in the final term to race to a big win. But this time they’ll be challenged, and they’ll be looking to step up another gear and further build up to their best form.
Both teams go into this match with a 2-2 record, both just inside the top five; but only one team will stay there. Despite a couple of close calls, North Shore have never beaten Manly in Premier Division; this time they’re ready for the challenge. But Manly are hitting their straps after a slow start to the season, and both sides have some good momentum behind them. Expect a willing contest between two teams with not a lot separating them, and it wouldn’t be surprising if this one was a thriller.
UTS Bats v Pennant Hills Demons
Trumper Park, Saturday 12:35pm
A lunchtime classic is in store at Trumper Park as the Bats play host to the Demons. This match is the broadcast game for this round; so wherever in the world you are, you can catch the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
UTS have been the big improver this season, and have taken themselves to new heights so far in 2023. Five games, five wins; and only separated from top spot by percentage. Last week they maintained their unbeaten run in style, with a convincing 64-point away win at Sydney Uni. It was a win built around a four-goal haul from Hannah Cezero and plenty of possession around the ground by Melissa Lindsay, Georgina McDonnell and Tanya Kennedy. With such a promising start to the season, the Bats have built some impressive momentum. Now on their home turf at Trumper Park, they’ll be keen to maintain what they’ve already built this season.
The Demons go into this game with a 2-2 record, looking to bounce back after a disappointing result against Macquarie Uni last week. They were unable to score a goal, going down by 65 points and never really able to get into the contest. Amie Maguire, Kaitlin Quinlan and Ellie Cooper tried hard, but it was one of those days for the Demons when nothing was going to plan. Against one of the competition’s top teams, they’ll be all too aware that they need to lift this week.
The Bats are looking strong, while the Demons are working away in the mid-table region. This is a game that has plenty of potential to give a guide as to both teams’ prospects. The Bats have worked hard to get to a share of the ladder leadership, but this is a danger game for them. The Demons will come ready for action, and will be keen to land a big scalp to boost their credentials for the season. The Bats will be made to earn their possessions in this one, and will have to fight to continue their unbeaten run.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Macquarie Uni Goannas
Henson Park, Saturday 1:10pm
This battle at Henson Park puts the Bulldogs, desperate for a win, against a Macquarie Goannas side that has found some promising form. It’s a do-or-die encounter that will tell us plenty about where both teams are at.
The Bulldogs weren’t able to match it with Manly last week, and despite leading at quarter time they would go down by 53 points. The result leaves the Bulldogs with three straight losses and just one win from their first four games; and they’ve got some work to do to get their season back on track. Emily Conlan was their only goal-scorer last week, and they’ll need to find more scoring options in their quest to build up a score that will be competitive against one of the league’s big improvers.
Macquarie Goannas are a team on the way up. After winning just two games last season, the joint venture this season has already netted three wins in 2023, moving into third place. Last week they played their best game of the season to date, holding Pennant Hills goal-less to record a comfortable 65-point win. Lauren Easton led the charge with four goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Megan Mifsud and Laura Coleman also featured prominently for the Goannas. It’s been a promising start to the year, but the job’s not done yet; and there’s plenty more good footy that they will need to play.
The Goannas are sitting in third place, but with a pack of teams chasing them, will need to record a win here to maintain their break inside the top five. But the Bulldogs will need to put them under plenty of pressure in this clash. The Bulldogs are in seventh place, only one win outside the top five; but if they are to drop this one, they risk seeing that break expand further. But if the Bulldogs can pull off this result, and they have the home ground advantage, it will throw the race for the top five open and also be the signal the Bulldogs will need to send to the rest of the league that they are genuine contenders.
Southern Power v Sydney University
Waratah Oval, Saturday 2:50pm
Two teams without a win will face off at Waratah Oval on Saturday afternoon. One of them will break their duck, and achieve that boost to the morale that only a win can offer. While for the other, that bleak feeling of loss after loss will continue and it will already look like a long and difficult season.
It’s been a shocker of a season for Southern Power, and last week was a difficult evening as they went down 225-0 to East Coast. Indianna Hughes, Sarah Heslop and Bronte Mannering never gave up; but the Power didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Eagles on the night. Five games for five heavy losses. They’re on the ropes. But with a new game comes a new opportunity; time to come out swinging, throw caution to the wind and put up a fight. Last week’s score was the low point, and it shouldn’t be anything like that in this game. They must compete for every possession.
Sydney Uni also remain winless in 2023, a fall from grace from their stellar season last year. Last week at Sydney Uni No 1, they were no match for UTS and went down by 64 points. Maryanne Harley, Molly Cameron and Sofia Hurley never gave up; but it was another tough afternoon at the office for the Students. But they’ll have pencilled in this game as one that is winnable, and they’ll be looking to this game not just for four points, but as a team-lifter to get some players who have struggled this season back to their best. The Students need to use this game as a platform not just for one win, but to launch a winning streak and get back to their best.
After some heavy losses in recent weeks, this is the time to stand and deliver. This is the opportunity to achieve that much-needed circuit breaker. To return to form, get the confidence back, and prepare to lift themselves up the ladder. It’s the moment they’ve been waiting for, the chance to build their momentum and return to the successful days of previous seasons. But it’s an opportunity that only one of these clubs can take.
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