AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 12 REVIEW (6 JULY 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Parramatta consolidated third place on the ladder by disposing of St George by eighty-two points in a game transferred to Blacktown International Sportspark 2 (BISP 2). Final scores were Parramatta 12.10.82 to St George 0.0.0.
Brea Trevitt led all goalkickers with three majors, supported by superstar Amanda Farrugia and Lauren Easton, who both chipped in with two goals.
Parramatta was best served by Trevitt, Jenna Whitehand, Stephanie Wilkins & Chloe Davis. Best players for the Dragons were Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Rhiannon Burns, Jordan O’Neill and Rachel Simpson.
UTS rocketed back into the Top Five with a hugely significant 134-point drubbing of Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were UTS 21.9.135 to Pennant Hills 0.1.1. Combined with North Shore’s narrow loss to Manly Warringah, UTS now sit level with the Bombers on 24 points but with a 49 percent lead, which could yet prove pivotal in the run to September.
Key forwards Sophia Gaukrodger and Jessica Quade (five goals each) and Ella Parker (four goals) ran rampant up forward for the Bats.
UTS was best served by Quade, Aoife Berry, Charlotte Owen and Gaukrodger. Pennant Hills’ best players were Sheridan Baker, Emmerson Squires, Natalie Pajor and Elly Rudd.
Manly Warringah maintained their second place on the ladder with atough, gritty five-point win over a gallant North Shore in our broadcast fixture at a muddy, wet Weldon Oval in Curl Curl. Final scores were Manly Warringah 3.4.22 to North Shore 2.5.17.
The Wolves led by thirteen points at the final break, but the young Bombers outfit came home with a wet sail, keeping Manly Warringah to just a solitary behind in the last quarter. Bombers forward Lili Kablau, who had earlier kicked the only goal of the fourth quarter, was awarded a free kick just before the final siren sounded. The healthy crowd at Weldon Oval watched on anxiously as Kablau had a shot from 35m out to tie the scores after the siren. The kicked sailed through for a behind in an insane, exciting end to a riveting Top Five fixture.
Manly Warringah was best served by skipper Ashleigh Carter (again), Kate Salmon, 50-gamer Hannah Woolf and Kenya Fahey. North Shore’s best players were Stephanie Krauel, Elle Carroll, Lucy Yates and the experienced Emilie Krimmer.
Ladder leaders East Coast Eagles defeated UNSW-ES by forty-six points at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were East Coast 10.7.67 to UNSW-ES 3.3.21.
Caitlin Davidson continued her good form with three goals for the Eagles, as East Coast welcomed back Rylee McGartland, who chipped in with two majors.
East Coast was best served by regular contributors Renee Tomkins, Jess Whelan, Michelle Foscarini and Lucinda Watson. UNSW-ES’ best players were Amelia Martin, Ellie Veerhuis, Renee Scheffer and Emily-Summer Hawes.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One action, Manly Warringah accounted for North Shore by seven goals at Mike Pawley Ovaland first-placed Randwick City defeated East Coast Eagles by seventeen points at Kanebridge Oval. The Sydney University vs South West Sydney Blues and Parramatta vs UTS Bats fixtures were cancelled because of Sydney’s continuing wet weather. The match of the season takes place at famous Trumper Park this Saturday, with the two undefeated teams in Womens Division One, near neighbours UTS & Randwick City, locking horns from 10.10am
WOMEN’S UNDER 20’s:
In the only game played in Womens Under 20s on Saturday, North Shore rocketed into standalone second place and did wonders for their percentage with a 147-point thumping of UNSW-ES at Gore Hill Oval.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
In the much-anticipated 1 vs 2 clash at Weldon Oval, North Shore’s outstanding defensive six and talented midfield were too much for Manly Warringah, with the Bombers running out thirty-five points despite a dramatic first fifteen minutes of the final quarter, in which Zac Youlten had one goal reversed after a goal square scuffle and had another free-kick from 15m out reversed after Lloyd Perris was decked in a feisty final stanza. Final scores were North Shore 10.9.69 to Manly Warringah 5.4.34.
Congratulations to Manly Warringah skipper Ryan Wearne, who played his 250th game for his beloved Wolves. A fine man and a great leader, Wearne was carried off the field as both sides waited on field for him to depart the playing arena.
North Shore had four players kick two goals apiece: Sam Barkley, Max Thomas, Wayd Blackburne and Fraser Thurlow. Youlten kicked two goals for the Wolves in a final quarter in which he could have easily kicked five majors, but for one errant shot and goal and the reversals mentioned above.
North Shore was best served by Barkley, Ned Campbell, James Tidemann and Luke Robertson. Manly Warringah’s best players were fullback Lachlan Behagg, Thomas O’Leary, Willem Smit and Sam McMeeken.
A dominant five goal to none third quarter from Sydney University was the catalyst for their convincing thirty-nine-point victory over the South West Sydney Blues at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 13.16.94 to SW Sydney 8.7.55, as the Students basically shut the door on SW Sydney’s aspirations for September Finals action.
Sydney Uni’s forward triumvirate of William Gibbs (four goals) Nik Dale and Rohan Watson (three goals each) were a constant presence up forward for the Students. Bailey Stewart kicked three goals for the Blues, as he continued his consistent form this season.
Sydney University was Gus Lee, Noah Connick, Gibbs and Nicholas Andreacchio. SW Sydney’s best players were Stewart, Khy Gibbs, Coby Hilton and Jayden Flanagan.
Inner West put paid to St George’s faint finals hopes with a solid twenty-five-point win at Picken Oval. Final scores were Inner West 9.14.68 to St George 5.13.43 in a game that featured inaccurate shooting from both teams.
Key forward Ben Zoppo kicked three goals for the Magpies, with Dan Hillam also chipping in with two majors. Bailey Uglow kicked three goals for the Dragons.
Inner West was best served by player-coach and wet-weather specialist Benjamin Klemke, Nicholas McCormack, Jesse Manton and Jye Doyle. St George’s best players were Lachlan Querzoli, Lachlan Cabor, Joshua Nicholls and Bayley Johnson.
East Coast Eagles defeated a desperate UNSW-ES by a mere ten points in front of the faithful at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were East Coast 11.11.77 to UNSW-ES 10.7.67.
East Coast came from twenty-nine points down at half-time to actually lead by four points at the final break, on the back of a withering six-goal surge. The Eagles kicked two goals to one in a thrilling final quarter as the Bulldogs threw everything at them.
Marshall Poynter kicked three crucial goals for East Coast, aided and abetted by Brendan Coxall, Angus Edward and Nick Fischer, who chipped with two goals each. UNSW-ES had Tom Dessent, Sam Thorne and William Foster manage two goals apiece.
East Coast was best served by Harry Elbourne, Poynter, Zachary Johns and Daniel Gauci. The Bulldogs’ best players were Max Rider, Thorne, Toby Alker, Jarrod Wachman.
Pennant Hills produced one of the season’s most surprising results, demolishing UTS by a remarkable 111 points at Mike Kenny Oval. The Demons kicked eighteen goals in the final three quarters to run out winners 21.10.136 to UTS 4.3.27.
The Demons gained a huge percentage boost with their thumping victory as they battle with Inner West and Sydney University for third place and the crucial double chance leading into the Finals.
The Demons had four players kick three goals each: Nick Eynaud, Harrison Pitt, Nick Hey and exciting youngster Riley Hawes. Key forward Hugo Birks kicked two goals on a disappointing day for Kevin Dyson’s men.
The Demons were best served by Brandon Clark, Eynaud, skipper Mitchell Blow and Hey. UTS’ best players were Lewis McCormack, Ryley Walker, Joshua Lee and Oliver Henderson
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, Pennant Hills cruised to a forty-three-point victory over Balmain at Mike Kenny Oval and Camden continued on their merry way with a 117-point demolition of UNSW-ES at Hannaford Oval in Wilton. The St George vs Inner West and Parramatta vs North Shore fixtures were cancelled due to grounds at Penshurst and Greystanes being unplayable.
The match of the season in Men’s Division also takes place this Saturday at Gore Hill Oval, with the 9-1 Camden making the trek to play the 8-1 North Shore in a fixture that may decide the minor premiership. First bounce is at 7.10pm.
