AFL SYDNEY – ROUND 14 REVIEW (27 JULY 2024)
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In one of the games of the 2024 season, East Coast established an eight-point buffer between themselves and Manly Warringah after defeating the Wolves by nineteen points in a low-scoring battle of attrition at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were East Coast 3.10.28 to Manly Warringah 1.3.9.
East Coast led by sixteen points at the main break and the two teams only managed one goal apiece in the second half.
East Coast was best served by representative stars Bryany Parker, Caitlin Reid and Jess Whelan, with backline general Renee Tomkins also starring for the ladder leaders. Best players for the Wolves were skipper Ashleigh Carter, Holly Wickham, Jessica Layton and Zali Currie.
A superb defensive performance from North Shore, during which they kept Parramatta scoreless for the first three quarters, led to a crucial sixteen-point win for the very much in-form Bombers, who rocketed into fifth place in a congested Top Five. Final scores at Gipps Road were North Shore 3.5.23 to Parramatta 1.1.7.
North Shore set up their victory in the third quarter, leading by sixteen points at the final break. Despite Parramatta kicking the only goal of the last quarter, North Shore’s defensive prowess saw them win another game against a top three opponent.
Skipper Matilda Eder kicked all of North Shore’s three goals, which, in context, was truly a match-defining performance.
North Shore have a huge game at home this Saturday against Sydney University, with North Shore needing to continue their winning run, given they have the Bye in the final round of the Home & Away season.
North Shore was best served by Nadja Squires, Stephanie Krauel, Ariel Belger and Zoe Milligan. Parramatta’s best players were Stephanie Wilkins, triple Mostyn Medallist Amanda Farrugia, representative star Caitlin Fletcher and ruck Paige Pirotta.
Five-star performances from midfielder Emma Juneja and skipper Jasmine Smith secured Sydney University a percentage-gaining forty-five-point win over UNSW-ES at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 8.5.53 to UNSW-ES 1.2.8.
After a tough first half in which Sydney Uni led by only eleven points at the main break, the Students put the foot down in the second half, kicking five goals whilst keeping the Bulldogs scoreless.
Smith’s five goals proved crucial in an important win for Sydney Uni, with their position in the Top Five under serious threat from North Shore.
Sydney Uni was best served by Juneja, Smith, Saskia Johnson and Frances Walsh. UNSW-ES’s best players were Hayley Stanford, Emily-Summer Hawes, Renee Scheffer and Ahlani Eddy.
Pennant Hills defeated St George by thirty-four points in a fixture moved to Mike Kenny Oval after Olds Park was ruled unplayable. Final scores were Pennant Hills 6.5.41 to St George 1.1.7.
In a fixture between two youthful and developing squads, Pennant Hills led by fourteen points at the main break then kept the Dragons to one behind in the second half.
Pennant Hills was best served by Sheridan Baker, Kaitlin Quinlan, Eliza Harvey and Tara Coopman. St George’s best players were not listed at the time of writing.
WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Womens Division One action, Manly Warringah kept East Coast Eagles to 1.1.7 in winning by nineteen points at Kanebridge Oval. The top three clash between UTS and the Newtown Breakaways at Waverley Oval resulted in a thrilling six-point win for UTS. Randwick City ground out a low-scoring, eight-point win over Sydney University in the twilight game at Sydney University No.1 Oval.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20’s:
In Womens Under 20’s action, UNSW-ES produce a superb performance in upsetting second-placed Manly Warringah by eleven points at David Phillips Oval. Parramatta defeated Sydney University by ten points at St Pauls Oval, and UTS trounced North Shore by sixty-four points at Bat & Ball Oval.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION:
Sydney University accounted for UNSW-ES by thirty-five points at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 15.9.99 to UNSW-ES 9.10.64.
Sydney University set up their win with a dominant first half, leading by forty-six points at the main break. The Bulldogs, led by Jasper Hardy and Ned Hawkins, stemmed the flow somewhat in the second half, kicking four goals to three across the third and fourth quarters. The Bulldogs played the vast majority of the game with twenty-one men after gun midfielder Sam Thorne appeared to injure his left hip in the first quarter.
Sydney Uni had solid contributions up forward from Jack Field and Nik Dale, both of whom kicked three goals. Burly full-forward Ned Clear managed three majors for the Bats.
Sydney University was best served by Nathan Tang, Max Kozlik, Spencer Krochmal and Field. The Bulldogs’ best players were Max Rider, Jack Hill, Hawkins and Hardy.
North Shore weathered a second quarter fightback from Inner West Magpies to account for the Magpies by twenty-nine points at Picken Oval. Final scores were North Shore 12.3.75 to Inner West 7.4.46.
The Magpies, restricted to two behinds in the first quarter, kicked five goals to three in an entertaining second quarter to lead by one point at the main break. From then on, the Bombers shut the Magpies down, kicking seven goals to two in a convincing second half display.
Half-forward Matt Buskariol starred for the Bombers with five goals. Key forward Ben Zoppo kicked four goals for the Magpies.
North Shore was best served was Buskariol, James Tidemann, Nicholas Brewer, Sam Barkley. Inner West’s best players were player-coach Ben Klemke, Jesse Manton, Michael Tuttle & Nick McCormack.
South West Sydney Blues defeated UTS by fifty-six points at Waverley Oval. The Blues ran out convincing victors 15.11.101 to UTS’ 6.9.45.
The Blues set up their victory with a dominant second quarter, kicking six goals to one to lead by forty points at the main break.
SW Sydney’s goal kickers included Caleb May putting 6 on the board, Hupfield with 3, Flanagan and Jarvis 2 each and Delbridge and Devlin with a single. SW Sydney’s Best players included May after an impressive goal kicking performance, supported by Bailey Stewart, Delbridge, Jarvis, Gibbs and Edwards.
Sorely missing representative forward Hugo “The Bus” Birks, Ash Backlund and Damian Ryan kicked two goals each for the Bats. UTS’ best players were Damian Ryan, Lewis McCormack, Joe Hamilton and Oliver Henderson.
Pennant Hills defeated St George by sixty-three points in front of the faithful at Mike Kenny Oval, after this game was moved to Cherrybrook after Olds Park was ruled unplay. Final scores were Pennant Hills 18.10.118 to St George 8.7.55.
Key forwards Harrison Pitt and Nick Hey had a day out for the Demons, kicking five and three goals, respectively. Dominic Maunder kicked two goals for the Dragons, on a day where Pennant Hills kept gun forward Tye “The Milkman” Gander goalless.
Pennant Hills was best served by Tom Larby, Michael Carroll, Thomas Edmonds and the returning Ben Matthews. The Dragons’ best players were Lachlan Cabor, Kirian Ayres, Joshua Nicholls and Thomas Ingram.
In the twilight game at Kanebridge Oval, Manly Warringah dominated East Coast Eagles to run out sixty-three-point victors. The Wolves ran out winners 14.18.102 to East Coast 6.3.39.
Manly Warringah had three players kick three goals apiece: Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila, Cameron Manuel and Tom McCaffrey. Consistent forward Marshall Poynter managed three majors for the Eagles.
The Wolves were best served by Tom Sheldrick, Sam McMeeken and brothers Nicholas & Jonathan Marsh. East Coast’s best players were Nick Johns, Harry Elbourne, Poynter and Jacob Jones.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, the top three sides all won handsomely, and created some separation from Pennant Hills,whose fixture against St George was cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Olds Park.
Sydney University comfortably defeated UNSW-ES by eighty-seven points at Sydney University No.1 Oval, North Shore thrashed Inner West by eighty-one points at Picken Oval, and Camden belted Parramatta by seventy-six points in front of the faithful at Fairfax Reserve.
