AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 9 REVIEW (15 JUNE 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Parramatta and UTS produced a low-scoring thriller on Saturday at Gipps Rd Oval. Parramatta kicked the only goal of the final quarter to eke out a 4.3.27 to 3.3.21 victory and created a crucial eight-point buffer between the Goannas and Bats at the half-way mark of the season.
The Goannas and Bats were neck and neck all day, with the margins at the breaks six, two and one point respectively in a cracking Top Five Fixture played on a heavy ground after yet more heavy rain in Sydney.
Jess Quade was the only multiple goalkicker in the match, with the Bats sharpshooter managing two majors.
Phelan Medallists Amanda Farrugia and Sera Kaukiono were amongst the Goannas best players, along with Mega Mifsud and Ella Daniel. UTS’ best players were Aoife Berry, Madeleine Quinn, Tallulah Kirk and Beth Martini.
Manly Warringah kept guests Pennant Hills to just one goal in yet another superb defensive performance from the second-placed Wolves at a soaked Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 6.9.45 to Pennant Hills 1.1.7 as the Wolves again showed that their defensive structures are currently the most frugal in the tightly contested Womens Premier Division, having given up 134 points over the first nine rounds.
Manly stars Zara Hamilton and Hannah Woolf kicked two goals each for the Wolves as they increased their lead at every change up against the young and developing Demons outfit.
Manly’s best players were skipper Ashleigh Carter, Olivia Cameron, Kate Salmon and Kenya Fahey. Pennant Hills were best served by Kaitlin Noble, Hayley Lowe, Elly Rudd and Charlotte Curran
East Coast Eagles had huge percentage gain as they pummelled hosts St George by 109 points at Olds Park. Final scores were East Coast 17.14.116 to St George 1.1.7 as the Eagles look ahead to a monster clash with third-placed Parramatta this Saturday at Kanebridge Oval.
Three Eagles players contributed sixteen of East Coast’s seventeen goals. Key forward Caitlin Davidson kicked goals and Davidson was well supported by Brooke Bailey and Amelie Prosser-Shaw, who both kicked five goals in impressive displays up front.
East Coast was best served by the Prosser-Shaw, Summer Hall, Matilda Elbourne and Davidson. Best players for the Dragons were Grace Parsons, the consistent Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce, Caitlin Edmonds and Paige Bauer.
In the late game that was moved to Gore Hill Oval after torrential rain caused the cancellation of all footy at The University of Sydney, Sydney University produced a massive four goal to one goal final quarter to defeat North Shore by ten points. Final scores were Sydney University 5.6.36 to North Shore 3.8.26.
North Shore kept the Students to one goal over the first three quarters as their defensive unit shut down Sydney Uni’s forwards completely. The Students produced a devastating finish to come from eleven points down the final break, consolidating their safe position inside the Top Five.
Emma Walsh kicked two goals for Sydney Uni, whilst key forward Adrienne Keeffe also managed two majors for the Bombers.
The Students’ best players were Kendra Blattman, Saskia Johnson, Frances Walsh and “The Energiser Bunny” Emma Gelsomino. North Shore were best served by Emily Cleghorn, Serena Lienert, Teigan Collister and Pippy Clegg.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One action, UTS defeated East Coast Eagles by twenty-six points at Mahoney Park, Newtown just edged Manly Warringah by five points at Mike Pawley Oval and Randwick City thumped SW Sydney Blues by seventy-one points at Greenway Park. The Sydney University-North Shore fixture was cancelled due to wet weather making Sydney University No.1 Oval unplayable.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20’s:
In Women’s Under 20’s action, ladder leaders North Shore comfortably defeated UTS by thirty-eight points at Mahoney Park and Parramatta had a big day out at Gipps Rd Oval, thrashing UNSW-ES by seventy-two points. The Sydney University-Manly Warringah fixture was cancelled due to wet weather making Sydney University No.1 Oval unplayable.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
SW Sydney Blues produced an excellent display in thumping a depleted UNSW-ES by seventy-four points at Rosedale Oval. Final scores were SW Sydney 17.12.114 to UNSW-ES 6.4.40.
Matthew Storey and Aaron Savage both kicked four goals for the Blues, who improved to 3-6 this season. Caleb May also chipped in with three majors for SW Sydney. The Blues have been performing well over the past month, after a slow start to the season, and will be aiming to put pressure on Inner West Magpies for fifth position on the ladder.
SW Sydney’s best players were Michael Collins, regular contributors Bailey Stewart and Baily McParland, and May. UNSW-ES was best served by Gus Burgess-Hoar Patrick Horan, William Foster and Jasper Hardy.
In the Saturday broadcast fixture at a wet Picken Oval, a consistent four-quarter performance from the Inner West Magpies saw them defeat guests UTS by nineteen points. Final scores were Inner West 7.4.46 to UTS 4.3.27.
After a dour first half in which only three goals were kicked, the game opened up in the third quarter, with UTS levelling the scores in time on through wonderful snaps from first Josh Lee then Koby Grass. A late goal from burly full-forward Bill Jones saw Inner West lead by six points at the final break. The Magpies finished the game off with three goals to one in a convincing final quarter in front of the faithful at Picken Oval.
Inner West’s best players were Ruck/forward Leroy Veerhuis (whose marking of a very heavy ball was outstanding all day), Nick McCormack, skipper Callum McEvoy-Gray and Will Deller. UTS was best served Lewis McCormack, Harrison Dyson, Lee & Grass.
St George continued their recent resurgence with a solid thirty-five point over East Coast Eagles at Olds Park. Final scores were St George 16.10.106 to East Coast 11.5.71.
The Eagles led by nine points at the main break and then three points at the final break, but the Dragons produced a withering seven-goal to one final stanza to run out winners in front of their adoring home fans.
Tye Gander (five goals) and skipper Patrick Tegg (four goals) led the way for the Dragons up forward, whilst Jacob Jones kicked three goals for the Eagles in yet another excellent display.
St George were best served by Tegg, Nelson Carey, Dominic Maunder and Sam Barry. East Coast were best served by the consistent Jones, Dan Gauci, Baylee Jones and Scott Brown.
A five-star performance from Irishman Barry O’Connor led Manly Warringah to an important victory over finals-bound Pennant Hills at a sodden Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 8.9.57 to Pennant Hills 4.8.32.
The Wolves produced a four-goal to three-point third quarter after the Demons led by four points after a low-scoring first half. Manly managed two more goals in the final stanza to run out twenty-five-point victors over the Demons.
O’Connor kicked three goals for Manly Warringah as part of his Best on Ground display, whilst “The Prince” Theo Moraitis’ welcome return from a hamstring injury for the Demons led to two majors for their talismanic forward.
Manly’s best players were O’Connor, Aiden Adams, Ryan Wearne and Kieran Le Jeune, who also returned to action after hamstring issues. The Demons had solid contributions from Thomas Edmonds, Nick Eynaud, Lachlan Willey and Wilson Mudge.
In the twilight fixture at Gore Hill Oval, undefeated North Shore continued on their merry way with an excellent fifty-seven-point victory over fourth-placed Sydney University. Final scores were North Shore 14.13.97 to Sydney University 5.10.40.
North Shore absolutely flew out of the blocks, leading by thirty-four points after the first quarter. The Bombers increased their lead at every break in a convincing display in a game transferred from the unplayable Sydney University No.1 Oval.
Wayd Blackburne managed four goals for the Bombers, with small forward Max Thomas again showing his importance to the Bombers forward structure, nabbing three majors in support of Blackburne. Thomas Hitchens kicked two goals for the Students
North Shore’s best players were Phelan Medallist Ned Campbell, Blackburne, Patrick Bolger and Mitchell Rogers. Sydney University were best served by Harry Morri.
son, Spencer Krochmal, Declan Fitzpatrick and Oscar Bosnjakovic
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, Balmain defeated Inner West by a mere eight points at Picken Oval, Camden continued on their merry way in thrashing St George by ninety-five points at Olds Park, Pennant Hills produced a solid twenty-six-point victory over Parramatta at Gipps Road and ladder leaders North Shore belted Sydney Uni by ninety points at Gore Hill Oval.
