AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 3 REVIEW (20 APRIL 2024)
Written By David Redden
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday saw a series of remarkably close games, all played in inclement weather and with a blustery Westerly breeze affecting all fixtures.
At Waverley Oval, UTS Bats prevailed over a gallant UNSW-ES Bulldogs outfit, with the Bats eventually securing a vital four points with a 4.5.29 – 3.4.22 victory. Key to the Bats victory was their defence, which kept the scoreless in the first and fourth quarters.
In a low-scoring games, Chaye Hartwell (UTS) and Emily Conlan (UNSW-ES) were the only multiple goalkickers in the game, with both players managing two goals apiece.
Charlotte Owen, Emelye Blades, Serina Baukes and Tahlia Fraser shone for the victorious Bats outfit, whilst Chloe Anderson, Georgia Voura, key forward Conlan and Hayley Stanford were amongst the Bulldogs best players.
At Olds Park in Penshurst, North Shore continued their excellent start to the season by securing an 8.5.53 – 1.1.7 victory over hosts and Premier Division newcomers St George.
The Bombers came out flying in the first quarter, kicking four goals to one and were never seriously threatened after that. The Bombers hierarchy will be happy in keeping the determined Dragons outfit goalless in the final three quarters, and in fact, the disciplined North Shore defensive group has allowed just three goals across their first eight quarters of the season.
Emily Cleghorn, Laura Watkins, Emilie Krimmer and Lili Kablau all excelled in the difficult conditions for the Bombers, whilst Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce (who kicked the Dragons’ first ever goal in Premier Division), Paige Bauer, Caitlin Edmonds and Hannah Kaine were St George’s best contributors.
In tough conditions at a wet and windswept University No.1 Oval, Sydney Uni produced a dogged display in defeating Manly Warringah by a mere three points, with final scores being Sydney Uni 1.6.12 to Manly Warringah’s 1.3.9.
After a goalless first half in front a good crowd at No.1, the Students and Wolves both managed 1.3.9 in the second half, with the Students securing a massive four points in the absence of Phelan Medallist Maryanne Harley.
Mikaela Mahony, Emma Walsh, the reliable Saskia Johnson and Natalia Waterson were the Students’s best players, whilst Ash Carter, Hannah Woolf, Olivia Cameron and Zali Currie were the Wolves’ best in a tough loss for Manly Warringah.
In a possible finals preview, Parramatta and East Coast Eagles exchanged goals in the last two minutes of an absolute thriller, with the Eagles securing a five-point win at the death to secure four points over a desperate Goannas outfit 4.2.26 – 3.3.21 at Gipps Road in Greystanes.
Parramatta led 2.1.13 to 0.0.0 at quarter-time and would have been confident over knocking over the reigning premiers. However, the Eagles outstanding defence, led by the evergreen Renee Tomkins, restricted the Goannas to one goal over the final three quarters to eventually overcome the finals-bound Parramatta in a simply outstanding game of football.
Tomkins, as always, was superb for East Coast, ably supported by Tamaryn McGregor, Caitlin Rogers and skipper Chloe Arndt. Parramatta’s best players were Stacey Phillips, Emma Richards and Phelan Medallists Amanda Farrugia and Sera Kaukiono.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One, UTS defeated North Shore by seven points, Parramatta showed their depth with a 92-point thumping of East Coast, Newtown were very impressive in defeating South West Sydney by twenty-six points, and Sydney Uni defeated Manly Warringah by ten points in the twilight fixture at University No.1 Oval.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
In Premier Division Round 3 action at Mike Kenny Oval in Cherrybrook, Pennant Hills secured their first win of the season with a comfortable eight-six-point victory over newcomers South West Sydney, with final scores being 15.10.100 – 2.2.14.
The Demons came out firing in the first quarter (after a disappointing Round 2 loss to a rampant North Shore), kicking 6.5.41 whilst keeping the Blues scoreless. After that, the Blues defence showed some application in keeping Pennant Hills to nine goals in the final three quarters, but Pennant Hills gained back some particularly important early-season percentage in a comprehensive performance in front of the Mike Kenny Oval faithful.
Mitchell Blow (four goals), Phelan Medallist Stephen Wray (three goals), rugged utility Joah Boag and Jonathan Moran were the Demons’ best, whilst Kerwin Stuart, Josh Duncan, Baily McParland and Caleb May were the Blues better players on a tough day.
North Shore continued on their merry way with an eighty-point demolition of a game but outgunned St George at Olds Park in Penshurst, with the Bombers winning 18.8.116 – 5.2.32.
The game was effectively over at half time, with North Shore leading by forty-four points. The Dragons won the third quarter by five points, but the Bombers kicked seven goals to none in a ruthless last quarter. Matt Buskariol (four goals), Christian Loone, Sam Barkley and Ethan Grace were North Shore’s best players, whilst Callum Nash, Josh Nicholls, Finn Ritchie and club stalwart Matt Saunders best served the Dragons.
In the AFL Sydney Broadcast Game of the Week at Sydney University No.1 Oval, an impressive Manly Warringah defeated Sydney Uni for the first time in eight long years. Final scores were Manly Warringah 10.14.74 to Sydney Uni 6.8.44 in wet and blustery conditions on Campus.
The Wolves set up this important win with a dominant first half. Manly led by thirty points at half-time and maintained that margin as the final siren sounded, with Sydney Uni, smashed in the clearances in the first half, managed to get a decent share of the ball in the second half, feeding off a dominant performance from VFL-listed ruck Montague Velthuis.
Willem Smit and Kieran Le Jeune were superb across half-back for the Wolves, whilst Tim McCaffery was particularly important on the wing. Kyle Martin picked up plenty of possessions on the ball, whilst Alex Jacobs was excellent in defence in a clinical Manly performance. Nick Lees, stalwart Tim Bartin, Michael Thomas and Monty Krochmal were all solid performers for the Students.
Inner West made it two from two in an impressive start to season 2024 with a solid thirty-five-point win over an inaccurate East Coast Eagles at Picken Oval in Croydon Park. Inner West won 11.5.71 to East Coast’s 4.12.36.
Jesse Manton continued his fine start to the season for Inner West, the former Wagga Tiger being adjudged best on ground. Manton was well supported by Jon Bowyer, in-from ruck Luke Jamieson and Jack Rule. Nick Johns, Baylee Jones, Harry Elbourne and the experienced Zach Johns were the Eagles best players.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs opened their account for season 2024 with a tough twenty-two-point victory in the University Derby over hosts UTS at Waverley Oval. The Bulldogs eventually ran out winners 7012.54 to 4.8.32 on a wet and wild afternoon in the Eastern Suburbs.
The Bulldogs were down by three points at half-time, but produced a match-winning third quarter, kicking 4.4 to 0.1.1 to set up their victory. Both sides kicked one goal in a rugged last quarter. The Bulldogs were best served by Liam Ross, Luke Parmenter, Sam Gaden and 2023 Podbury Medallist Sam Thorne. Kevin Dyson’s Bats had solid performers in Ryley Walker, George Boyd, Josh Lee and Ash Backlund.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Division One, North Shore thumped St George by ninety-four points, Camden were superb in beating Inner West by seventy-two points at Picken Oval, UNSW-ES produced a solid four-goal victory away to Balmain and Sydney University were very solid in a twenty-five-point victory over Parramatta at Gipps Rd.
Bring on Round 4!
