Round 17 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
The penultimate round of the regular season. Just two weeks to go till we say goodbye to the non-finals teams and make our way to the playoffs. But there’s some important games to be played before then, particularly for the Women.
In Men’s Premier Division, North Shore will finish top and have the first week of the finals off. That’s locked in. Manly will play Pennant Hills in the Qualifying Final. That’s also locked in. The Wolves and the Demons meet this weekend in a dress rehearsal for that first final; a big opportunity to lay a blow on the opposition in the build-up to the business end of the season.
Sydney Uni will play the sudden death Elimination Final. Inner West will likely be the last finals team; and it so happens that the Students and the Magpies face off this week. It’s mathematically possible for South-West Sydney to displace the Magpies in the finals; but the Magpies would need to lose both their remaining games and the Blues would need to win both of theirs. Those results could happen this week, but it’s a long shot for both results needed to happen in the last round.
The bottom four teams can’t make the finals, but will be hoping the last fortnight of their season will finish on a positive note and lay the foundations for better results in 2025 and beyond.
In Women’s Premier Division, it’s less clear cut. East Coast have the minor premiership wrapped up, but only one game separates second from sixth. The double-chance is up for grabs, so are the last two finals positions. And someone is going to be desperately unlucky to miss out. There’s some critically important games between teams in the top six in the last two rounds that will determine how the finals shape up.
UNSW-ES have the bye this week. They’re not in finals contention. But in their absence, the top six will be fighting it out for finals spots. And for North Shore, who have the bye in the last round, this week is the last chance for them to strengthen their position before what’s sure to be a nervous wait for them.
MENS PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v Sydney University Students
Picken Oval, Saturday 12:00pm
Magpies – 5th. Played 16, Won 8, Lost 8, 103.81%. Streak – L4
Students – 4th. Played 16, Won 10, Lost 6, 125.63%. Streak – L2
There’s always plenty of feeling when an Inner West derby is played. And especially so this time, with this game being a likely preview of the sudden death Elimination Final in a few weeks time; so there’s a big psychological edge up for grabs. Especially for the home side, who after four losses on the trot, need the win here to ensure they’ll be in the finals.
It’s been a season of momentum shifts for the Magpies, who after a five-game winning streak mid-season have lost their last four. Last Saturday at Weldon Oval they never looked like getting on top of Manly and went down by 34 points. Will Deller, Kyle Veerhuis and Callum McEvoy-Gray battled tirelessly against the odds, but the Magpies weren’t ever able to string enough goals together to threaten the Wolves. The Magpies haven’t beaten a team in the top five this season, which they will need to do if they are to do more than just make up the numbers in the finals; and this is their opportunity.
Sydney Uni have already booked their place in the Elimination Final. Their hopes of getting to the double-chance were ended at Mike Kenny last Saturday when the Students got out to an early lead and were still within a kick at three quarter time but were unable to go on with the job in the last quarter and went down by 17 points. Tim Barton, Nik Dale and Lucas Newman played strong games for the Students; but in the end they fell short. Back to back losses when the finals are just around the corner isn’t ideal; but the Students have this week and next week to get that winning feeling back and get themselves on track for the playoff action to come.
This is the second meeting between these teams at Picken Oval this season. The previous clash was on a wet Friday night back in round 5, when the Students managed to eke out a 20-point win in difficult conditions. After a wet week, this will again be a slog on a heavy track; and it will be a tough Sunday for whoever has the job of washing the jumpers. But whoever gets up here will go into the Elimination Final knowing they have the edge over their opponent. The Magpies can ensure their finals place right here, right now; and have some form behind them going into the finals. Otherwise it’ll be a nervous wait for the final round; and even though the Magpies should still go through to the playoffs, they won’t be going into the finals with convincing form on the board.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v South-West Sydney Blues
Henson Park, Saturday 1:10pm
Bulldogs – 9th. Played 16, Won 3, Lost 13, 66.72%. Streak – L1
Blues – 6th. Played 16, Won 7, Lost 9, 86.62%. Streak – W3
The reigning premier hosts the competition’s newest franchise at Henson Park. And while the Bulldogs will not be part of this year’s finals, the Blues can mathematically still make it. If the Magpies lose their match, a win here for the Blues will draw them level on games and give them a sniff of the finals action. But it all counts for nothing if the Blues don’t pick up the points here.
The Bulldogs have only saluted three times this season; and last week against North Shore it was clear early on that their fourth win wasn’t going to come from that game. The Bombers were ten goals clear at half time and ended up winning by 65 points. Ned Hawkins, Tom Longmire and Toby Alker never gave up, but the Bulldogs never looked like matching it with a strong North Shore team. Just two weeks remain of their season, and although 2024 has produced its share of disappointments, the Bulldogs will be looking to finish the year on a high.
South-West Sydney have found some form in recent weeks, three wins on the trot keeping their mathematical finals hopes alive. Last week at Monarch they gradually pulled away from East Coast to record a 21-point win; spearheaded by five goals to Finbar Delbridge, who along with James Kennedy and Bailey Stewart was among the Blues’ best. It’s been a good run by the Blues; but they need to keep it going this week. They’ve worked too hard to throw it away now.
It’s a long shot for the Blues to make the finals. Even if they get up here and the other results go their way, there’s an extremely tough final round to come. But while it’s still mathematically possible, they have to go for it. Three wins in a row has given them the momentum and confidence to have a red hot go. This is no dead rubber. But the Bulldogs will make them fight for it. They won’t be playing finals, but they’d love to turn back the clock to recent years and lay the foundations for a return to the playoff action next year. A win here would show them that is possible.
East Coast Eagles v St George Dragons
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 2:20pm
Eagles – 10th. Played 16, Won 2, Lost 14, 50.45%. Streak – L4
Dragons – 7th. Played 16, Won 4, Lost 12, 69.37%. Streak – L3
The match between the Eagles and the Dragons at Kanebridge won’t have any influence of the finals. 2024 hasn’t been kind to either team and the struggle for both teams has been real. But here is a chance to finish well, to sing the song again and give some hope that things will get better in 2025. It will be desperation stakes. But if the Metro ride to Rouse Hill isn’t to your liking, you can also catch the game from wherever you are on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4000 ]
East Coast will need to win both their last two games to avoid their third straight wooden spoon. Last week they were unable to keep up with South-West Sydney at Monarch and went down by 21 points, despite some valiant resistance from Angus Edwards, Nathan Fox and Corey Dowle. It was an all too familiar tale for the Eagles, who have struggled to maintain four quarters against quality opposition this season. They have beaten the reigning premiers twice, but haven’t yet beaten an opponent that isn’t UNSW-ES. Here is their opportunity.
Standing in their way is St George. The Dragons went down to UTS in a high-scoring shootout at Trumper Park last week, blown away in the first quarter but finding the goals later in the game to salvage something from the afternoon. Lachlan Cabor, Thomas Ingram and Finn Ritchie never stopped putting the effort in; but the Dragons were never in a position to pose a threat to the Bats. But a new week is a new challenge, and this is one the Dragons will willingly get stuck into.
2024 is about to draw to a close for both these teams, with one game to go after this one. Both clubs have matches against finals teams in the last round; so in all probability this is the last chance. A chance to sing the song one more time, to have that winning feeling, and laying a platform to build a better 2025 on. But it’s an opportunity that’s only available to one club. For the other, it’s another week of disappointment in what’s been a difficult season.
UTS Bats v North Shore Bombers
St Lukes Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Bats – 8th. Played 16, Won 4, Lost 12, 69.06%. Streak – W1
Bombers – 1st. Played 16, Won 16, Lost 0, 222.87%. Streak – W16
For UTS, the toughest challenge in Sydney footy awaits as they prepare to face the undefeated North Shore at Waverley Oval. The Bats won’t be playing finals this year, but while their season is winding down, North Shore’s is building up.
The Bats haven’t had many highlights this season, but last week was a positive for them as they got off to a flyer with nine goals in the first quarter and went on to record a 41-point win over St George. Hugo Birks was unstoppable up forward to finish with seven goals and Josh Ralph landed four; while Lewis McCormack, Hamish Latchford and Nathan Spry were prolific ball-winners around the ground. In what was probably their best game so far this season, the Bats showed the form that they’ll be keen to carry into 2025. But this will be a tough test for them against the undefeated North Shore.
Meanwhile, North Shore are showing no sign of letting go of the form that has taken them through 16 games unbeaten this season. Last week against their recent-season nemesis UNSW-ES, the Bombers got the early jump and powered away for a comfortable 65-point win. Ned Campbell, Jake Veale and Nick Brewer were unstoppable for the Bombers as they powered through the first half to set up an unassailable half time lead. Too many times in recent seasons the Bombers have flown through the early part of the season before limping into the finals and going out quickly. This time they know all too well that they can’t afford to slow their momentum, and although top spot is already wrapped up, the Bombers can’t afford to relax or take any chances with their form.
These teams met at Gore Hill in round 5, and on that occasion the Bombers won ugly, kicking 13.23 to win by 48 points. With positions in the finals team up for grabs, the North Shore players will be keen to impress, to make sure they will be part of the finals action. The Bombers will come into this clash as the hottest of favourites. But the Bats know how to scrap and fight and make life hard for the top sides. And if they can hold the Bombers back, stop them marking and pile on the pressure, they give themselves their best shot at pulling off the unlikely result. If they can’t, it will be a long, hard afternoon for the Bats.
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 2:50pm
Demons – 3rd. Played 16, Won 12, Lost 4, 165.15%. Streak – W5
Wolves – 2nd. Played 16, Won 14, Lost 2, 193.25%. Streak – W4
The Demons and the Wolves meet at Mike Kenny on Saturday afternoon, and this should be a cracker. Already we know that these teams will play the first game of the finals, the double-chance Qualifying Final. Whoever gets up in this game will have an edge when that final comes around; so there’s plenty to play for. Plus both teams are in solid form and won’t want to risk their momentum with the finals so close.
Pennant Hills keep rolling along, and last week at Mike Kenny they came from 20 points down at half time to run down Sydney Uni and lock in the top-three finish and book their place in the Qualifying Final. When the game was there to be won, Harrison Pitt stood up with four goals; and along with Brandon Clark and Mitch Blow was among the Demons’ best. The Demons are usually thereabouts at the business end of the season, and with five wins on the trot and some good momentum behind them, they’ll be feeling ready to take on the best sides the competition has to offer.
Manly have won their last four, to maintain their solid grip on second spot. Last Saturday at Weldon, they had the answers to every challenge the Magpies would throw their way to take out a comfortable 34-point win. Byron Laws, Louis Clifton and Taine Wright were the standouts; Laws and Clifton being two of the first-year players who have propelled the Wolves forward this year and made the genuine contenders. Four in a row, playing some good footy; there’s a positive vibe at Manly, and they’ll be keen to continue the momentum they’ve built up.
When these teams met at Weldon Oval in round 9, the Wolves were 25 points too good. This time the Demons have the home advantage, and the conditions at Mike Kenny will suit them. Both these teams have worked their way into a position of strength and keep getting the wins on the board. But one of them will have their momentum halted, with the winner finding a vulnerability in their opponent. With the finals so close, neither team will want that.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Parramatta Goannas v Sydney University Students
Gipps Road Oval, Saturday 12:30pm
Goannas – 2nd, Played 14, Won 10, Lost 4, 229.34%. Streak – W2
Students – 6th. Played 14, Won 9, Lost 5, 138.46%. Streak – W1
Parramatta are on a roll at the moment, and have made their way up to second. But so tight is the race for finals spots that they are only one game ahead of sixth-placed Sydney Uni, their opponents in this clash at Gipps Road. The Goannas’ spot in the final five, let alone the top three, isn’t mathematically guaranteed yet. And Sydney Uni can still work their way up into a strong finals position if they win their last two. This game will be pivotal.
The Goannas worked their way into this strong position when they made the long drive north-east to Weldon Oval and returned home with the points after a 14-point win over Manly. The Goannas were behind at three quarter time, but four unanswered goals in the last quarter got them over the line; with Caitlin Fletcher, Amanda Farrugia and Zoe Clubb once again featuring prominently for the Goannas. The Goannas are in form, and in a tight race for positions within the finals, they can guarantee their participation at the business end of the season with a win here.
Sydney Uni got themselves back onto the winning list last week when they took control from the start against Pennant Hills and went on to complete a 53-point win. Kendra Blattman, Daisy George and Jasmine Smith were in the thick of the action for the Students as they put on a polished display and got the job done. But despite that result, the Students didn’t re-enter the top five; and with the lowest percentage of the teams still in finals contention, wins this week and next week are essential.
With ten wins and a strong percentage, the Goannas are well placed, and if they can get up in this clash, they’ll guarantee themselves a finals spot and likely to get the double-chance. But Sydney Uni will be a tough opponent, and they’ll be desperate. If the Students fall over here, they’ll be depending on other results to stay in finals contention. Either way, it’s going to come down to the final week.
UTS Bats v North Shore Bombers
St Lukes Oval, Saturday 12:40pm
Bats – 4th. Played 14, Won 9, Lost 5, 196.30%. Streak – W4
Bombers – 3rd. Played 10, Won 10, Lost 5, 148.11%. Streak – W4
In the race for the double-chance, and even to make the finals, the game between the Bats and the Bombers at Waverley Oval will be critical. Both teams had dropped out of the five at various stages during the season but have won their last four. The Bombers have ten wins, the Bats are a game behind but with a game in hand and a better percentage. It’s going to be tight.
Four wins in a row for the Bats, the most recent being at Trumper Park last week when they dominated St George from start to finish to win by 94 points. Hannah Cerezo, Charlotte Owen and Sophie Gaukrodger were pivotal to the Bats’ success, picking up myriad possessions around the ground. If the Bats can get it done here, they move ahead of North Shore and their finals spot is guaranteed; and they remain in the hunt for the double-chance. But a loss here and playing finals not in sudden-death would be out of reach.
North Shore also come into this game on the back of a four game winning streak, including the scalps of East Coast, Parramatta and Sydney Uni. Their win against UNSW-ES at Henson last week wasn’t totally convincing, but they were able to get the goals at the critical moments to get the win on the board; helped along by some good football from Elle Carroll, Claire Wilson and Zoe Milligan. A win here will guarantee their place in the finals and give them a shot at the double-chance; while a loss will leave them with a nervous wait through the last round. The Bombers have the bye next week, so any work to qualify for finals positions has to be done here.
When these teams met at Gore Hill in round 5, the Bombers got up in a low-scoring affair by eight points. With so much at stake and so little separating these teams, you can expect another tightly-contested game this time round. This is North Shore’s last chance to impress before they have the bye in the final round; but with the home ground advantage, the Bats will hit hard. This one will probably go down to the wire.
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 1:10pm
Demons – 8th. Played 14, Won 2, Lost 12, 28.25%. Streak – L2
Wolves – 5th. Played 14, Won 9, Lost 5, 177.66%. Streak – L3
The Demons and the Wolves face off at Mike Kenny on Saturday afternoon. The Demons can’t make the finals, but they can make life difficult for a Manly team that has gone off the boil in the last few weeks and is fighting for their survival in the top five.
Pennant Hills have won just twice this season, their two games against St George. Last week against Sydney Uni they never looked a chance to get back into the game and went down by 53 points. Addison Hickey, Caitlin Noble and Kaitlin Quinlan worked hard all afternoon, but the Demons weren’t able to be competitive against the Students. Just two rounds remain this year, two more chances to impress. And with nothing to lose, the Demons can go all-out on the attack here and attempt to give the Wolves some nervous moments.
Manly have hit a road-block in the last few weeks, with three losses in a row knocking them down from second to fifth. Last week at Weldon they led the Goannas by seven points at three quarter time, but couldn’t hold them out in the last quarter and went down by 14 points. Hannah Woolf, Zara Hamilton and Ava Barraclough battled gamely, but it was an opportunity missed for the Wolves. Three losses on the trot, and their percentage has fallen behind UTS; and the Wolves will need to return to the winning list and be depending on other results to return to the double-chance positions.
When these teams met at Weldon Oval in round 9, the Wolves enjoyed a comfortable 38-point win. They were flying high at that stage of the season. But now the pressure is on. Pennant Hills have nothing to lose, they can just let it rip and whatever will be will be. But the Wolves have to rise to the occasion. They’ll need a win here to stay in with a chance of avoiding sudden death in the finals. And if disaster strikes and they drop this game, they risk falling out of the finals completely. The bottom line is that the Wolves must lift for this clash.
East Coast Eagles v St George Dragons
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 4:40pm
Eagles – 1st. Played 14, Won 12, Lost 2, 291.39%. Streak – W2
Dragons – 9th. Played 14, Won 0, Lost 14, 5.48%. Streak – L14
The clash between the top ranked East Coast and bottom side St George has the potential to be a one-sided mismatch. For the Dragons, only they can keep themselves in the contest and need to scrap and fight like never before. Otherwise this will be a one-sided clash and a chance for the premiership favourites to show exactly why they are top. The best place to catch the action is at Kanebridge; the next best thing is to see it live as it unfolds on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4001 ]
East Coast come into this game refreshed after last week’s bye. Their last start was a 97-0 demolition of Pennant Hills, in which Emily Hurley helped herself to seven goals while Caitlin Reid and Amelie Prosser-Shaw picked up numerous possessions around the ground. With other results going their way over the bye weekend, the Eagles had top spot wrapped up without having to fire a shot. But they’re not done yet. The finals are just around the corner, and the Eagles will be keen to ensure their winning form and momentum stay with them.
It’s been a tough debut season for St George at this level. No wins, a percentage of less than 5.5, getting well beaten every week. Last week they went down to UTS by 94 points, despite the desperate defending efforts of Rihannon Burns, Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce and Kaitlin Eisenhuth. And now they hit the road for a date with the top team. Every week is a new challenge, and the Dragons have had plenty to overcome this season.
On paper, it’s hard to see St George getting on top of East Coast. But football games aren’t played on paper. The Dragons need to hope they’ve caught them on a bad day, and then contest every possession and put the Eagles under relentless pressure. And hope they crack. If they don’t, this game could be a one-sided blowout. The Eagles have already wrapped up the minor premiership, but they won’t want to do anything to jeopardise their form ahead of the finals.
