AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 8 REVIEW (1 JUNE 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION:
In a Top 5 clash at Gore Hill Oval, Parramatta’s defensive structures once again shone through as the Goannas defeated hosts North Shore by sixteen points. Final scores were Parramatta 4.8.32 to North Shore 2.4.16.
The Bombers led by a point at half-time, but the Goannas kicked three goals to none in the second half to consolidate their position in the top three, aiming for a crucial double chance in August & September.
2022 Mostyn Medallist Sera Kaukiono turned back the clock with a Best on Ground performance for the Goannas. Kaukiono was well supported by Jenna Whitehand, Abbie Lewis and reliable ruck Paige Pirotta. The Bombers were best served by Emily Bliss, Stephanie Krauel, Zoe Hurrell and Shannon Smit .
The Manly Warringah Wolves returned to form with a dogged ten-point win over hosts and 2023 Grand Finallists UTS at Waverley Oval. Both sides battled heavy rain throughout the fixture, with the Wolves running out victors 3.4.22 to the Bats’ 2.0.12.
Hannah Woolf and Zara Hamilton have been extremely consistent for Manly season and were once again amongst the Wolves’ best players on Saturday. Kenya Fahey and backline general Ash Carter also shone for Manly in the exceedingly difficult conditions in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
UTS were best served by the reliable Gabriella Stanwix, Madeleine Quinn, Aiofe Berry and Kaitlin McCaffery.
Sydney University also returned to their best form with a twenty-nine-point win over UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Final scores in a match played in at-times torrential rain were Sydney Uni 4.7.31 to UNSW-ES 0.2.2.
Sydney Uni led at every change, and despite being kept scoreless in the final quarter, their resolute and experienced defensive unit ensure they were never seriously threatened by a gallant Bulldogs outfit.
Ruck/forward Ella Van Den Borne, Saskia Johnson, Kendra Blattman and Asha Goddard were amongst Sydney Uni’s best players. UNSW-ES were best served by Gabby Eaton, Anna Pellen, Ella McCarthy-Grigg and Rani Sossai.
Pennant Hills registered their first victory of the season with a twenty-seven-point victory over guests St George at a rain-drenched Mike Kenny Oval in Cherrybrook. Final scores were Pennant Hills 4.4.28 to St George 0.1.1.
Pennant Hills did all their damage in the first half, leading 4.3.27 to 0.0.0 at the main break. Both sides found scoring almost impossible in the second half as the persistent rain took its toll on the Mike Kenny Oval surface.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Elly Rudd (who is surely leading the Demons B & F at this time), Amelia Bennett, Alexandra Williams and Tara Coopman. St George were best served by Hannah Kaine, key back Sienna Smith, Caitlin Edmonds and midfielder Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Women’ Division One results, ladder leaders Randwick City produced a solid display in defeating Sydney University by four goals, Parramatta defeated North Shore by a mere eight points, East Coast Eagles accounted for SW Sydney by a comfortable thirty-three points at Kanebridge Oval and in an entertaining fixture played on Sunday on a remarkably dry Henson Park as part of Newtown’s Pride Round celebrations, fleet-footed forwards Ella Kinslor and Alyssa Wedd combined for seven of UTS’s nine goals as they defeated Newtown by thirty-three points.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
The Mens Premier Division has a new challenger for the Top Five; SW Sydney Blues. The Blues emerged from the 1-6 pack with a solid win over East Coast Eagles on Saturday, and now have a blockbuster, eight-point fixture against intense rivals Inner West Magpies at Monarch Ovak in Macquarie Fields on Friday Night
Manly and North Shore are still both undefeated heading into their huge 1 vs 2 clash at North Shore this Saturday at Gore Hill, and Pennant Hills (third) match up against Sydney University (fourth) in a massive weekend of AFL Premier Division Mens Football. The Manly vs North Shore, Pennant Hills vs Sydney Uni AND East Coast vs UTS fixtures will all be broadcast via Streamer on the AFL Sydney Facebook Page on Friday Night and then on Saturday afternoon.
All matches this weekend part of the completely rescheduled Round 1 fixtures after a rare complete washout in Round 1 in early April.
North Shore continued their impressive start to season 2024 by accounting for Inner West Magpies by forty-four points at Gore Hill Oval. The Bombers ran out victors 8.12.60 to 2.4.16 on a day where the FlexiTurf surface at Gore Hill was put to the test on a day where Sydney copped over 100mm of rain.
Ethan Grace has been superb for North Shore this season and he managed three goals for the Bombers on a day where scoring was difficult across the League. Wayd Blackburne also chipped in with two majors for North Shore.
North Shore’s best players were Grace, James Tidemann, Patrick Bolger and Declan Fitzgerald. Inner West, missing Ben Zoppo and player-coach Ben Klemke were best served by Thye Hamilton, Michael Lemme, William Deller and ruckman Leroy Veerhuis.
Manly Warringah defeated UTS by forty-eight points in monsoonal conditions at Waverley Oval. Final Scores were Manly Warringah 9.16.70 to the Bats’ 3.4.22, with Manly’s stingy defence again performing superbly.
Zac Youlten, who has been a revelation for the Wolves across half-forward after spending a huge amount of time as a key figure across half-back for much of this decade. Youlten managed another three goals for the Wolves, and he was well-supported by Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila, Tom O’Leary and Byron Laws, all of whom chipped win with two majors. Josh Ralph kicked all of UTS’s three goals on an otherwise tough day for the Bats’ forward line.
Manly’s best players were Kyle Martin, Willem Smit, Cooper McClennan and Youlten. UTS were best served by Ralph, Taine Moraschi, Josh Lee and Damian Ryan.
SW Sydney Blues and East Coast Eagles met at Kanebridge Oval. After a close first half, the Blues kicked five goals to none in the last quarter to run out victors 10.10.70 to 3.10.28.
Jordan Pidgeon kicked three goals in this crucial victory for SW Sydney. He was aided and abetted by veteran Kyle Devlin and Kohan Prenter, who both chipped in with two majors apiece.
Cameron Edwards managed two goals for the Eagles.
The Blues were best served by Baily McParland, Bailey Stewart, Pidgeon and Coby Hilton. The Eagles’ best players were Daniel Gauci, Nick Johns, veteran ruckman Andrew Browning and Jacob Jones.
Sydney University hung on for a tough seven-point victory over a dogged and persistent UNSW-ES at Henson Park. The Students ran out victors 5.10.40 to 4.9.33, kicking the only goal of the final quarter at a soaked Henson Park.
Sydney Uni small forward William Gibbs was the only multiple goal kicker in the match, kicking two goals on a tough day for forwards. Gibbs’ defensive pressure inside the Sydney Uni forward line was also a feature.
In conditions not suited to ruckmen, giant Sydney Uni follower Monty Velthuis was simply outstanding for Sydney Uni. He was well supported by half-back Oscar Bosnjakovic, Tim Barton and Nick Lees, who kicked the clincher in the last quarter. The Bulldogs had solid contributions from Fred Tricks, Hamish Morrison, Max Geddes, Gus Burgess-Hoar.
Pennant Hills produced another solid defensive performance in their twenty-eight-point victory over St George at a drenched Mike Kenny Oval. Pennant Hills ran out victors 5.12.48 to St George 3.2.20, ahead of their monster clash with Sydney University at home this Friday Night.
In the absence of key forward Harrison Pitt, Riley Hawes kicked two goals for the Demons. Co-skipper Patrick Tegg managed two majors for the Dragons.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Wilson Mudge, Nick Hey, Mitchell Blow and Cooper Lee. St George were best served by Tegg, Finn Ritchie, Jeremy Woods and club stalwart Matt Saunders.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One results, Sydney Uni comfortably accounted for UNSW-ES by eight goals, Pennant Hills defeated St George by forty-six points at Mike Kenny Oval, Parramatta squeezed home by five points over Balmain at Mahoney Park, and North Shore thumped Inner West by over one hundred points despite kicking 14.30.114 at Gore Hill Oval.
