Round Fifteen Men’s and Women’s Premier Division Match Previews

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Written by Michael Shillito

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Just four rounds to go in our home and away season; and the run home to the finals is gathering pace.

In both Premier Division competitions, four teams have now guaranteed themselves a spot in the finals; but the fifth spot is up for grabs and positions within the top five are far from settled.

In our Mens Premier Division comp, North Shore can guarantee themselves the minor premiership this week, but they’ve got a tough game to win if they are to do that. UNSW-ES, Pennant Hills and Sydney Uni are level on games, but one of them will have sudden death in the finals. While St George and Manly are in a tight battle for the last finals spot.

In the Womens, UTS are now in top spot but only have half a game over East Coast; and the battle for the minor premiership is going to be tight between those two teams. Manly have a half game break in third over Macquarie Uni, in what is going to be a closely-fought race for the double-chance. While just percentage separates Pennant Hills and Sydney Uni for fifth spot; and they can’t both make the finals from here, one of them will miss out.

Inner West Magpies in the Mens and Macquarie Uni Goannas have the bye this week. The Magpie men won’t be playing finals this year, but when they return to action next week will be looking to use the last three rounds to set themselves up for a return to the playoffs next year. While the Goannas women will be using the week off to get over any little niggles and prepare themselves for a surge to the playoffs in the hope of getting to the double-chance.

It’s another big weekend with some important games to be played; which could well prove pivotal in the close battles for those key positions in the finals.

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MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

Sydney University v St George Dragons

Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 12:30pm

Sydney Uni (4^th) – Played 12, Won 9, Lost 3, 118.41%

St George (5^th) – Played 12, Won 6, Lost 6, 87.89%

Sydney Uni are in the race for the double-chance. St George are in the race to make the five. One of them will edge a step closer to their goal when the two sides meet at Sydney Uni No 1 on Saturday, while the other will face an uphill battle to achieve their late-season quest. It’s a high-stakes matchup for both sides; and if you can’t get there to see it live, the next best thing is to catch all the action on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.

Sydney Uni are level on games with the Bulldogs and the Demons, but their percentage is holding them back. But they remain in the hunt for the double-chance, and moved a step closer last week at Sydney Uni No 1 Oval when they overcame Manly by 16 points. The Students led all the way, helped along by the efforts of Jack Dimery, Riley Fitzroy and Tim Barton; but were never able to shake off the Wolves and failed to boost their percentage. While the first target will obviously be to win this game, the Students will be looking for a big win to close the percentage gap on their finals rivals. The double-chance could depend on it.

St George also go into this game with winning form on the board, moving into the top five last week when they blew Inner West away by 53 points at Olds Park. An explosive opening put the game out of the Magpies’ reach early, as the Dragons ran in eight unanswered goals in the first half. Ben Jones, Lachlan Cabor and Nelson Carey featured prominently for the Dragons; as they powered ahead to their third win on the trot, drawing to an equal win-loss record for the first time in 2023 and finding their best form at the right time of the season. But this will be a test for them, one they need to pass to stay in the top five.

The Dragons upset the Students in last year’s finals; and when the two sides met at Olds Park in round 6 they piled on ten goals in the second quarter to take the lead before a thunderstorm caused the game to be cut short. If the Students go down to the Dragons again, their hopes of avoiding sudden death in the finals will cop a severe blow. But the Dragons risk missing the finals completely if they can’t replicate those results. There’s plenty to play for, and both sides should be fired up and ready for this contest.

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North Shore Bombers v UNSW-ES Bulldogs

Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:50pm

North Shore (1^st) – Played 12, Won 12, Lost 0, 270.54%

UNSW-ES (2^nd) – Played 12, Won 9, Lost 3, 177.10%

The top two teams, a replay of last year’s Grand Final. Two great clubs with plenty of star power in their lineups. This is a game that will have the purists licking their lips with anticipation for what is sure to be a cracking contest.

North Shore go into this game refreshed and rested after last week’s bye. Their last start was in round 13, and they maintained their unbeaten record with a comprehensive 73-point win over Manly at Weldon. Christian Loone, Tom Meacham and Angus Loebel starred for the Bombers; as they once again asserted their dominance. So strong have the Bombers been in 2023 that they can wrap up the minor premiership, right here right now, with three weeks to spare. But to get that done, they’ll have to get past the Bulldogs; and that’s not an easy task.

The Bulldogs go into this game looking a bit shaky, after a poor result against Pennant Hills at Henson Park last week. The damage was done in the first quarter as the Demons kicked six unanswered goals; and in the end the Bulldogs went down by 45 points. Jordan Foote, Oscar Peter and Cooper Kilpatrick kept working hard, but it wasn’t the Bulldogs’ day. The Bulldogs remain second thanks to their strong percentage; but are level on games with Pennant Hills and Sydney Uni, and if they drop this game they run the risk of being forced into sudden death in the finals. They will be hurting from last week, and will be determined to hit back hard.

In last year’s Grand Final, it was the Bulldogs who emerged with the flag after holding the Bombers goal-less until the last quarter. But in round 3 this year at Henson Park, the Bombers turned the tables and recorded a 38-point win. It’s likely these sides will play off again at some point during the finals, maybe even in the Grand Final again. Any edge that either team can get over their opponent will stand them in good stead when that time comes. This game is not just about four competition points, but making a statement to a probable finals rival. For the Bombers, a chance to finish the regular season on top.

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Manly-Warringah Wolves v UTS Bats

Weldon Oval, Saturday 2:30pm

Manly (6^th) – Played 13, Won 5, Lost 8, 99.54%

UTS (7^th) – Played 12, Won 3, Lost 9, 53.24%

The Wolves are in the race for the finals, but to stay in contention they have to get past UTS in this clash at Weldon Oval. The Bats won’t be playing finals this year, but they can finish 2023 on a positive note; and they have some winning form from last week that they’ll want to build on.

Last week at Sydney Uni No 1 the Wolves fell out of the five when they went down to the Students by 16 points. The Students took the lead early, and although the Wolves hung in there and were only a few goals down for most of the afternoon, they never looked like taking the lead. Ky McGrath, Alex Fraser and Nick Marsh were best for the Wolves, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the top five. A game behind St George, and with one less game still to play, the Wolves have no margin for error; and can’t afford to risk another loss here.

UTS are too far behind to be finals contenders in 2023, but the Bats found some winning form at Waverley last week to get past East Coast by 30 points. Ash Backlund, Liam Gordon and Louis Pribula were in the thick of the action for the Bats as they put on one of their best performances for the year. Too little too late, but the result was one that would have done wonders for the morale in the Bats’ camp; and with four weeks to go, if they can find another couple of wins they’ll have laid a platform they can build on in 2024 and prepare themselves to move up the ladder.

These teams played at Waverley in round 3, and the Bats pulled off a three-point upset win over the Wolves. When the 2023 season is reflected on, that result could cost the Wolves a spot in the finals. A second loss to the Bats would make it even more likely that the Wolves miss out. The Wolves are going to have to pull out all the stops here, leave nothing in the tank and get this done. Their finals hopes are depending on it. But against a UTS side with their tails up, who have done the job before, the Wolves can’t expect to have an easy afternoon and will be made to work hard.

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Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles

Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 2:40pm

Pennant Hills (3^rd) – Played 13, Won 9, Lost 4, 123.44%

East Coast (9^th) – Played 13, Won 1, Lost 12, 39.50%

The North-Western Derby has always been a hard-fought affair, and they meet again at Mike Kenny Oval on Saturday. The Eagles won’t be playing finals this year, but they would love nothing more than to damage the hopes of their traditional rival; while the Demons have got themselves into the top three but will need a win to ensure they stay there.

Pennant Hills greatly enhanced their prospects for the double-chance at Henson Park last week, when they jumped the Bulldogs early with six unanswered goals in the first term; and held the Bulldogs to just three goals for the afternoon to win by 45 points. Tom Edmonds, Stephen Wray and Harry Maguire were magnificent for the Demons in a stirring effort that will boost the hopes of the Demon faithful that they have a side capable of challenging the best teams in the league. But each week is a new challenge, and the Demons can’t afford to take the Eagles lightly.

The Eagles have had a challenging season, and have saluted just once so far. Last week they fell 30 points short against UTS, despite the best efforts of Marshall Poynter, Jacob Jones and Harry Elbourne. Finals are out of reach, but there’s plenty still to play for; and you can expect to see the Eagles giving some of their young talent a run and preparing them for future seasons of success at this level. And although it’s a long shot, the Eagles would love to derail the Demons’ hopes of a favourable finals position.

The Demons will go into this game as favourites, but just getting the four points is only part of the challenge in this game. They only have a small percentage gap over Sydney Uni and still have their second bye to come; so the Demons will need not just a win but a big win to ensure they stay above the Students for the double-chance. When the two sides met in round 4 at Kanebridge, the Demons held the Eagles to just three points and won by 67. The Eagles, playing for pride and hoping to avoid the wooden spoon, will be determined not to endure another performance like that one; and they’ll be wanting to take the fight up to the Demons this time.

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WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

North Shore Bombers v UNSW-ES Bulldogs

Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 10:10am

North Shore (7^th) – Played 13, Won 3, Lost 9, Abandoned 1, 83.23%

UNSW-ES (8^th) – Played 12, Won 1, Lost 11, 37.90%

It’s an early start at Gore Hill for the clash between the Bombers and the Bulldogs. This match won’t have any bearing on the finals, but after both clubs have experienced seasons that haven’t gone to plan, they’ll be wanting to build up to finish 2023 on a positive note and lay the foundations for success in future seasons.

It may be mathematically possible, with an extraordinary permutation of results, for North Shore still to qualify. But realistically their chances ended when they went down to Macquarie Uni by 34 points last week. The Bombers gave themselves a chance with three unanswered goals in the first quarter; but were unable to score another for the day. Abby Latimer, Elle Carroll and Arabella Hendriks worked hard for the Bombers; but it wasn’t enough to get the chocolates. 2023 has been a challenging season for the Bombers; but they’ll be looking to finish the year strongly, and this is a game they’ll consider they can win.

The Bulldogs have also had their challenges in 2023. They won in their first game, but haven’t won since; and now they’re desperate to end their 11-game losing streak. Last week they defended resolutely against Pennant Hills, holding the Demons to four goals; but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 14-point loss., despite the relentless efforts of Hayley Stanford, Chloe Anderson and Emelye Blades. In a season when wins have been hard to get this is far from a dead rubber; it’s an important opportunity to break the losing streak and restore some morale.

It’s been a difficult season for both clubs, and wins have been hard to come by. But here is an opportunity to grab a victory, an oasis in the desert of defeat; to build the confidence and lay the platform for future success to come. It’s an opportunity that only one team can catch; and once someone has the scent of victory in their nostrils, they won’t be letting go.

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Manly-Warringah Wolves v UTS Bats

Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:30pm

Manly (3^rd) – Played 12, Won 9, Lost 3, 167.77%

UTS (1^st) – Played 13, Won 12, Lost 1, 298.85%

A crunch game for the way the finals will line up will be at Weldon Oval as Manly play host to UTS. The Wolves are looking to strengthen their hold on the double-chance, but they face a tough battle against the new ladder ladders. This game has the ingredients to be a cracker.

Manly remain third on the ladder, but they were given a scare at Sydney Uni No 1 last week. The Wolves got away with a two-point win, but had to hang on for dear life through a low-scoring contest where the Students had their opportunities to steal the match. In the end, some heroics by Hannah Woolf, Isobella Tremauville and Jessica Layton enabled the Wolves to hang on. With Macquarie Uni having the bye this week, the Wolves can extend their lead over the Goannas to six premiership points and have a tighter grip on the double-chance. But to do that, they’ll have to knock off the ladder leaders.

We have a new boss in town, as UTS have taken the ladder leadership for the first time in many a long year. The Bats reached the leadership position last weekend when they knocked off East Coast in a close contest at Waverley; getting over the line by nine points. It was a win built around the efforts of Danika Spamer, Ella Parker and Georgina McDonnell; and an important result for the Bats as they claimed a key scalp to move to the top. They’re on a roll, and have shown themselves capable of beating the best; and they’ll be carrying that form and confidence into this clash against another powerhouse team.

When these teams met at Waverley Oval in round 3, the Bats took out a 26-point win. This time we’re on Manly’s turf, and they’ll be keen to make that advantage count. But the Bats have worked hard to get to the top, it’s been a long time coming; and they won’t want to immediately lose the crown they’ve worked so long and hard to achieve. These teams may well meet again in the finals, and there’s an edge to be gained by the team that can get up here. With two highly-rated teams having winning form behind them, fine-tuning their finals preparations; there’s plenty of reason to expect a thrilling and high-quality contest.

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Pennant Hills Demons v East Coast Eagles

Mike Kenny Oval (Lower oval), Saturday 12:40pm

Pennant Hills (5^th) – Played 12, Won 5, Lost 7, 91.43%

East Coast (2^nd) – Played 13, Won 11, Lost 1, Drawn 1, 469.54%

There’s always plenty of feeling and heat in a North-Western Derby. And there’s sure to be plenty in this clash at Mike Kenny Oval. The Demons are back in the five but need a win to stay there, while the Eagles will be looking to bounce back after being de-throned from the competition lead last week.

Pennant Hills are back in the top five after a hard-fought 14-point win over UNSW-ES at Henson Park last week. Two unanswered goals in the first quarter was the difference between the teams, in what was a low-scoring and scrappy clash. The Demons were well served by the efforts of Eliza Harvey, Kaitlin Quinlan and Rebecca Ives. It wasn’t totally convincing, but the Demons found a way to win when they going got tough. With a clearly better percentage than Sydney Uni, the Demons have the fate of the finals in their hands; but have a tough run home in the last four weeks, which starts here.

East Coast were knocked off their perch last week when they went down to UTS by nine points at Waverley. Renee Tomkins, Alicia Anderson and Abbey Martin had solid games for the Eagles; but it was the Bats who stood up when the game was there to be won, and the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season and were deposed from top spot. The quest to regain the ladder leadership starts with this game; and having tasted defeat this season, won’t want to suffer that fate again.

When the two sides met at Kanebridge in round 4, the Eagles completed a comfortable 50-point win. But a closer contest should be expected this time. The Demons are playing for the finals hopes, and with Sydney Uni likely to win their game, the Demons can’t afford a loss. But they won’t find it easy against an Eagles team with a fightback mission in front of them. This game should be a cracker, and neither side will be letting this one go without a fight.

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Sydney University v Southern Power

Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 2:55pm

Sydney Uni (6^th) – Played 12, Won 5, Lost 7, 76.70%

Southern Power (9^th) – Played 12, Won 0, Lost 11, Abandoned 1, 4.08%

Sydney Uni fell out of the top five last week; but the Students will be eyeing off this game as an opportunity to get back on the winning list and build their percentage, as they work to regain their place in this season’s playoffs. While Southern Power won’t want to go through this season empty-handed, and time is running out for them to get something out of a challenging season. This is another game that has implications for the finals; and for those who can’t get to the Campus, you can catch the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.

The Students last week went down to Manly by just two points. In a low-scoring contest, the Students had their chances to steal the game from the Wolves’ grasp, but fell agonisingly short. The loss saw them fall out of the top five; despite the valiant efforts of Lily Race, Georgia Mann and Megan Ashford. In their quest to make the finals, the Students’ archilles heel is their poor percentage; and to give themselves their best chance of catching up to Pennant Hills, in this clash against the bottom side they’ll be looking not just for a win, but a big win. Every point matters.

Southern Power had the bye last week. In their last start, they were unable to score against a rampant East Coast side and went down by 133 points. The efforts of Ivy Halliwell, Amy Kowski and Jessica Cox couldn’t be faulted; but it wasn’t enough to prevent another heavy defeat. Now the Power return to the field and have just four weeks to recover something from a difficult season. As per the immortal coaching speech, don’t hope but do.

The two sides met at Waratah Oval in round 6, and on that occasion the Students got up by 38 points. With a considerable percentage gap to make up, they’ll be looking to win by a lot more this time. For the Power, returning to action after a week off, they’ve got four weeks to salvage something from this season. To pull off an upset win would be a big ask; but even in these trying times in the winter of their discontent, that has to be the aim.

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