AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 4 REVIEW (25 & 27 APRIL 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION:
The Parramatta Goannas and the Pennant Hills Demons turned on an absolute thriller in the early game at Gipps Rd Oval on Saturday. The Goannas hung on to win 5.2.32 – 4.1.25, an especially important win given a huge upset result across town at Weldon Oval in Curl Curl.
Parramatta were down by seven points at half-time but produced a third-quarter surge in kicking three goals and keeping the Demons scoreless. Pennant Hills managed a solitary goal in the final quarter, but the Goannas defence was resolute and ground out a well-earned four points.
Paige Pirotta (the only multiple goal kicker in the game with two majors) Lauren O’Sullivan, the evergreen Amanda Farrugia and Lauren Easton were best for the Goannas, whilst the in-form Elly Rudd, Kaitlin Noble, Amy Court and Tara Coopman gave the Demons great service in a good performance against the finals-bound Parramatta outfit.
In an extraordinary performance at Weldon Oval, Manly Warringah, coming off a tough loss against the Students in abysmal conditions a week ago, belted the reigning premiers East Coast Eagles by thirty-seven points in clearly the biggest upset of the current season. Final scores were Manly Warringah 9.3.57 to East Coast 2.8.20.
The Wolves set up a superb victory in the first half, keeping the Eagles goalless in leading by twenty-nine points at the main break. The Eagles were better in the second half; however, the Wolves kept the foot down in producing an upset that is extremely significant for all the top five aspirants in season 2024.
Peggy Stanbury (three) and Jayda Kennedy and the fiery Kaitlyn Manning (two each) were the major goal kickers for Manly Warringah. Jayme Saggers, Zara Hamilton, Elise Wallace and Kate Salmon were amongst the best players for the Wolves, whilst the Eagles were best served by Michell Foscarini, Chloe Arndt, Renee Tomkins and Bailee Hourigan.
North Shore won their third game in a row to start the season in grinding out a tough nine-point win over a gallant UNSW-ES Bulldogs at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 4.8.32 to UNSW-ES 3.5.23.
The Bulldogs were terrific in the first half, leading by two points at the main break. North Shore came out in the second half a different side, keeping the Bulldogs goalless in the second half in winning an entertaining in front of a healthy crowd at Gore Hill.
Matilda Eder became the first North Shore female footballer to play one hundred games, a great effort from a tremendous club stalwart. Eder and the Bulldogs key forward Emily Conlan were the only multiple goalkickers in the match, both managing two goals in a low-scoring fixture.
The Bombers were best served by Emily Cleghorn, Sophie de Montelmas, Nadja Squires and Emily Bills, whilst the Bulldogs best players were Maddy Kohlrusch, ruck Chloe Anderson, Rani Sossai and skipper Shelby Koh.
Sydney University produced a clinical eighty-four-point victory over St George at University No.1 Oval, with final scores being Sydney University 13.13.91 to St George 1.1.7.
Forward/Ruck Jasmine Smith had a day out, bagging four goals in a dominant display. Smith was well-supported by Mikaela Mahony and Natalie Murray, who both kicked three majors.
The Students best players were Emma Walsh, Saskia Johnson, Smith and Mahony. The Dragons were best served by Tahlia Robertson, Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Caitlin Edmonds and Maggie Ritchie.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Women’ Division One results, Manly Warringah belted East Coast by 102 points, Newtown defeated Parramatta by twenty-eight points, UTS won the University derby over Sydney University by thirty-one points and Randwick City squeaked home by a mere two points over North Shore in an absolute thriller at Gore Hill Oval.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
In front of a great crowd at Picken Oval for the traditional Anzac Day fixture between hosts Inner West Magpies and Pennant Hills, Pennant Hills showed they are right back on track with a professional forty-nine-point victory over a Magpies outfit missing ruck Luke Jamieson. The Demons produced a superb first half, keeping the Magpies goalless before running out winners 13.7.85 to 5.6.36.
Harrison Pitt was the main goalkicker in the match, managing three goals for the Demons. Late replacement Josh Zoppo managed two majors for the Magpies, one of which will surely feature on Phelan Mostyn Medal Night, an amazing snap from the scoreboard pocket that set the healthy crowd alight.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Wilson Mudge, Josh Boag (whose first half was magnificent), Cooper Lee and Pitt. Inner West were best served by Ben Zoppo (who played on the ball for significant periods), Dan Hillam, Coach Ben Klemke and Josh Guinan.
Sydney University defeated St George by forty points at University No.1 Oval, with final scores being the Students 15.11.101 to the Dragons 9.7.61.
Nik Dale had a huge day for the Students, kicking five goals, with clever small forward Harry Morrison chipping in with three majors. Sam Barry and Tye Gander managed two goals apiece for the Dragons. Noah Mitchell, Monty Krochmal, Dale and Oscar Bosnjakovic were best for Sydney Uni, whilst St George’s best were Jon Pearson, Lachlan Querzoli, Josh Nicholls and veteran Matt Saunders.
In a great game of footy at Rosedale Oval, UTS hung on to defeat SW Sydney Blues by eleven points, despite a six-goal surge from the Blues in the final quarter. In a game featuring accurate kicking, final scores were UTS 16.4.100 to SW Sydney 14.5.89.
Hugo Birks (six) and Ollie Rinder (five) combined for eleven of the Bats sixteen goals. Kyle Devlin and Aaron Savage (four goals each) were terrific up forward for the Blues.
Koby Grass, Harrison Dyson, Birks and Ed Palmer were best for the victorious Bats, whilst SW Sydney were best served by Khy Gibbs, Finbar Delbridge, Josh Duncan and Angus Langley.
Manly Warringah continued their wonderful start to the season with a ninety-five-point demolition of East Coast Eagles at a sun-drenched Weldon Oval in Curl Curl. Final scores were Manly Warringah 18.12.120 to East Coast 3.7.25.
Zac Youlten, revelling in his role as a key forward, kicked five goals for the Wolves in an excellent display in front of the home faithful at Weldon. Youlten was well-supported by Byron Laws (three majors) and Ryan Stubbs and Hayden Washington (two goals each).
The Wolves were best served by Lachlan Cameron, Jon Marsh, Youlten and Aiden Adams. East Coast’s best players on a tough day were Jacob Jones, Adrian Chapman, Baylee Jones and Bathan Coxall.
In the AFL Sydney Match of the Round broadcast via the AFL Sydney Facebook page with broadcast partner Streamer, the 2023 Grand Final Reply between North Shore and UNSW-ES produced a fascinating game that ebbed and flowed in front of a good crowd at Gore Hill Oval. Scored were deadlocked midway through the final quarter, but then the Bombers came home with the proverbial wet sail to kick the final five goals of the match. Final scores were North Shore 10.12.72 to UNSW-ES 6.5.41.
The Bulldogs completely shut down North Shore in the first half, leading 3.4.22 to 1.5.11 at the main break due to a superb defensive effort against a North Shore side that was missing Ned Campbell (hamstring) and had influential ruckman Mitchell Crisafulli (lower leg) leave the playing arena in the second quarter for the remainder of the game. North Shore broke the shackles with a nine goal to three second half, their half-back line featuring, with both Christian Loone and Harry Walker outstanding.
Ethan Grace continued his excellent form for the Bombers with three goals. Tom Meacham chipped in with two goals in another reminder of why he is so well-regarded by the Gore Hill faithful. Jed Robin, with limited opportunities, managed three majors as he continues to make progress in the huge footsteps of generational full-forward Kieran Emery.
Loone, Meacham, Walker and James Tidemann were amongst North Shore’s best players, whilst the Bulldogs had great contributions from Tom Longmire, William Foster, Hamish Morrison and mobile ruckman Sam Gaden.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One results, Pennant Hills thumped Inner West by 101 points, Sydney University accounted for St George by thirty-seven points, Camden verified their top three credentials with a sixty-eight-point victory over Parramatta and North Shore comfortably accounted for UNSW-ES by 122 points.
Onwards to Round 5!
