AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 6 REVIEW (11 MAY 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION:
The UTS Bats returned to form with a solid thirty-one-point win over Pennant Hills in a game transferred to Mike Kenny Oval in Cherrybrook. The Bats led all the way to win 6.5.41 to 1.4.10, and they are one of four teams on twelve points in a crowded Top 6.
UTS raced out to a seventeen-point lead at the first break, and despite a much better defensive performance from Pennant Hills after quarter-time, the Bats were never seriously threatened in an impressive performance in the rain and gloom at Cherrybrook.
Sophia Gaukrodger and small forward Tilley Edwards-Hill both managed two goals each for UTS. Ruby Reid, skipper Kaitlin McCaffery, Gaukrodger and Madeleine Quinn were best for the Bats, whilst Pennant Hills were best served Kaitlin Quinlan, Natalie Pajor, Kaitlin Noble and Amelia Bennett.
In a game transferred to Weldon Oval in Curl Curl, Manly Warringah defeated the St George by sixty points in the traditional Sir Doug Nicholls Round fixture between these two longtime rivals. Final scores were Manly Warringah 8.13.61 to St George 0.1.1.
The Wolves dominated from the get-go, keeping the Bulldogs goalless whilst kicking 3.3 in the first term. Manly produced a full four-quarter performance and the Wolves brains trust will be pleased in keeping the Dragons goalless.
Holly Wickham’s three goals for Manly Warringah were a shining light on a very wet day o on the Northern Beaches. Ruby Michniewicz, Montana Bray, Zali Currie and the consistent Zara Hamilton were amongst the best players for the Wolves, whilst the Dragons were best served by Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Bianca Clayton, Grace Parsons and Isabella Katzakis.
East Coast Eagles produced an astonishing victory over the previously undefeated North Shore, belting the Bombers by fifty-seven points at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were East Coast 9.6.60 to North Shore’s 0.3.3, a result that sees the Eagles replace the Bombers at the top of the Premier Division ladder.
The Eagles showed that they were back to their absolute best in a clinical and ruthless display despite the unavailability of veteran back Renee Tomkins. This victory will send a warning to all clubs in the Premier Division that the Eagles are back to their best in search of an historic “three-peat” of premierships.
Caitlin Davidson was the only multiple goalkicker in the match, bagging three goals on a day where North Shore kept key forward Rylee McGartland quiet.
The Eagles were best served by Teagan Germech, Amelie Prosser-Shaw, Summer Hall and Abbey Martin, whilst the Bombers’ best players were Pippy Clegg, Emily Bliss, Georgina Maher, Emily Cleghorn.
Parramatta were made to work hard by UNSW-ES before a dominant second half saw the Goannas run out nineteen-point winners. Final scores were Parramatta 5.5.35 to UNSW-ES 2.4.16.
The Bulldogs led by seven points at the first break, but Parramatta kept UNSW-ES to just one goal in the final three quarters whilst kicking five majors in the same period.
Sophie Kavanagh was the only multiple goalkicker the match, bagging two crucial majors for the Goannas.
Parramatta’s best players were Brianna-Lee Wade, Megan Mifsud, Lauren Osullivan, Shannon Brown. UNSW-ES were best served by Senna Gulden, Chloe Anderson, Ellie Veerhuis and Lauren Whiting.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Women’ Division One results, Randwick City accounted for Parramatta by thirty-three points, East Coast defeated North Shore by thirty-two points, UTS defeated Manly Warringah by fifteen points at Mike Pawley Oval and Sydney University defeated SW Sydney Blues by forty-one points at Gipps Road.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
Inner West Magpies returned to the winners’ circle with a solid thirty-point win over UNSW-ES at Henson Park. The Magpies eventually won 8.7.55 to 3.7.25.
Coach Ben Klemke and his brains trust will be pleased with an outstanding defensive performance in inclement weather at Marrickville. After a tough loss in Friday Night Football last week, the Magpies re-grouped and are now firmly entrenched in the Top Five, eight points ahead of the Bulldogs.
Ben Zoppo, Jack Rule and Dan Hillam all managed two goals each for Inner West.
Inner West’s best players were Zoppo, Jesse Manton, Jon Bowyer and Rule. UNSW-ES’s best players were not available at the time of writing.
Pennant Hills defeated UTS by thirty-nine points in an excellent fixture at Mike Kenny Oval, in a fixture transferred from a waterlogged Trumper Park. Final Scores were Pennant Hills 14.10.94 to the Bats’ 8.7.55 on a particularly good surface at Mike Kenny Oval, the excellent drainage at Cherrybrook proving important in a high-standard game of footy.
Scores were 6.4.40 apiece at the main break, then Pennant Hills putting the foot down in an impressive second half, kicking eight goals to two to run away with a solid victory.
Key forward Harrison Pitt had a day out for the Demons, kicking five goals in an excellent display. He was aided and abetted by The Prince Theo Moraitis, Josh Boag and rover Thomas Edmonds, all of whom bagged two majors. Full-forward Hugo Birks was superb for the Bats up front, mirroring Pitt’s five goals.
The Demons’ best players were Edmonds, Jonathan Moran, Nicholas Hey and Phelan Medallist Stephen Wray. UTS were best served by Koby Grass, Birks, Ash Backlund and Ryley Walker.
The return of 2023 Phelan Medallist Ned Campbell was a highlight for North Shore in their convincing victory over East Coast Eagles at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were North Shore 16.20.116 to East Coast 5.3.33.
Cam Taylor and half-forward Matt Buskariol managed three goals each for the Bombers, in a game where North Shore had multiple goalkickers in an even display. Ben Currie again kicked two goals for East Coast.
North Shores’ best players were Campbell, Jake Veale, Simon Homsany, James Tidemann. East Coast were best served Alexander Foxall, Jacob Jones, Currie and the ever-consistent Baylee Jones.
Manly Warringah and St George met for their traditional Sir Doug Nicholls Round in a game transferred from a soaked Olds Park to Weldon Oval in Curl Curl. Manly set up their victory with a solid first half in which they restricted the Dragons to just one goal. Final scores were Manly Warringah 9.15.69 to St George 6.9.45, with Manly maintaining their undefeated start to the season.
Zac Youlten, in superb form as a key forward, kicked five goals for the Wolves in an outstanding individual performance.
The Wolves were best served by Youlten, Sam McMeeken, the evergreen Kieran Le Jeune and Irishman Barry O’Connor. The Dragons best players were Nathaniel McKenzie-Hicks, Callum Nash, Chris Powell and Lachlan Leitch.
Sydney University and the rapidly improving SW Sydney Blues produced a wonderful game of footy at Blacktown International Sportspark 1. The two teams were deadlocked at 7.5.47 at three-quarter time, after a four goal to none third period from the Blues. The Students steadied in the final stanza, keeping SW Sydney scoreless in running out victors 9.9.63 to 7.5.47.
Williams Gibbs (three) and Jack Hiscox & Nik Dale (two each) were Sydney Uni’s main contributors in front of goal, whilst Matt Storey (three) and Aaron Savage (two) were key for the Blues up front.
Montgomery Krochmal, Noah Connick, Max Kozlik and Dale were amongst Sydney Uni’s best players, whilst the Blues had solid contributions from Bailey Stewart, Kain Flynn-Duncombe, Storey and veteran Kerwin Stuart.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One results, North Shore defeated the previously-undefeated Camden by eleven points in an absolute thriller at Blacktown, Pennant accounted for Balmain by eighty-six points at Mahoney Park, Parramatta defeated St George by six goals at Gipps Road and UNSW-ES accounted for Inner West Magpies by fifteen points in the second Division One game played at Mahoney Park.
