2024 AFL Sydney Finals – Week 1 Review

Written by David Redden

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Manly Warringah produced a magnificent defensive performance in the second half of their Qualifying Final against Parramatta at BISP on Saturday. The Wolves, down by ten points at half-time, kept the Goannas scoreless in the final two quarters as they ran out 5.5.35 to 5.1.31 winners in an absolute thrilling fixture, played in front of a healthy and boisterous crowd.

The Goannas put the foot down from the start leading by eleven points at quarter time then by ten points at half time. Manly Warringah then found some answers to Parramatta’s star midfielders Caitlin Fletcher and Amanda Farrugia in the second half, with Holly Wickham, inspirational skipper Ash Carter, the outstanding Hannah Woolf and midfield gun Zara Hamilton all playing a big part in the Wolves revival.

Isabella Rudolph kicked two goals for Manly Warringah. Speedy full-forward Lauren O’Sullivan kicked three of Parramatta’s five goals.

Manly Warringah was best served by Wickham, Carter, Woolf, Hamilton, Jessica Layton and ruck Jayme Saggers. Best players for Parramatta were Fletcher, Cassie Brown, Zoe Clubb, Farrugia, O’Sullivan and Chelsea Quinn.

Sydney University led at every change in a convincing seventeen-point over North Shore in the Elimination Final on Sunday at BISP. Final scores were Sydney University 6.6.42 to North Shore 3.7.25.

The Students dominated the clearances for much of this fixture, their midfield gaining control early and not letting the Bombers into the game. A pivotal moment in the game occurred halfway through the first quarter when influential Bombers ruck-rover/centre half-back Elle Carroll copped a heavy knock and took no further part in the game.

The Students on-ball pair of Emma Juneja and Kendra Blattman were outstanding all day. Blattman’s move from the backline to first ruck has been hugely successful and a major reason for Uni’s recent excellent form. On a day where the Bombers kept Mostyn Medallist Maryanne Harley relatively quiet, North Shore’s feisty rover Lucy Yates was their only shining light in the centre of the field.

Sydney Uni had six individual goalkickers. Serena Lienert kicked two of the Bombers three majors.

Sydney University was best served by Juneja, Blattman, Ashley Dribbus, Ella Van Den Borne, Daisy George and Kara Durante. North Shore’s best players were Emily Bliss, Yates, Georgina Maher, Lienert, Zoe Hurrell and Claire Wilson.

WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:

In Womens Division One finals action at Rosedale Oval on Saturday, UTS defeated Newtown Breakaways 3.11.29 to 1.3.9, with a superb defensive performance from the Bats catapulting them into the Second Semi Final against minor premiers Randwick City this Saturday, again at Rosedale Oval. In the Elimination Final at Rosedale Oval on Sunday, Parramatta prevailed over Manly Warringah 4.2.26 to 2.4.16, with the Goannas’ accurate kicking proving pivotal in tight, tough finals fixture.

WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:

In Womens Under 20’s finals action at Rosedale Oval, Parramatta steamrolled into the Grand Final with a convincing 12.11.83 to 1.1.7 over Manly Warringah. In a much closer Elimination Final, North Shore ran out 3.8.26 to 2.4.16 winners over a gallant UTS.

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Despite only having thirteen effective shots to twenty, Pennant Hills’ accuracy in front of the big sticks saw them grind out an eight-point victory over Manly Warringah in the Qualifying Final at BISP on Saturday. Final scores were Pennant Hills 8.5.53 to Manly Warringah 5.5.45.

In an absorbing, tough and defensive-minded final played in a moderate breeze, the two sides were separated a by a mere one point at both the main break and at three-quarter-time. The Demons’ Nick Hey kicked the only two goals of the last quarter, whilst the Wolves could only manage three behinds (in fact, Manly will rue kicking 3.13 after quarter-time).

Hey’s three goals were crucial for the Demons. Zac Youlten kicked two goals for the Wolves, who now face up to Sydney University in the First Semi-Final this Sunday.

Pennant Hills’ backline was huge in this match, with five of their best players (Lachlan Willey, Cam Mitchell, 200-gamer and Phelan Medallist Stephen Wray, Nick Eynaud and Cooper Lee) all spending most of the game in defence. Skipper and ruckman Mitchell Blow was also one of the Demons’s best.

Manly Warringah’s best players were Kieran Le Jeune, Ky McGrath, James Lugdsin, Tom Sheldrick, Antony Forato and Youlten. Manly Warringah has some injury concerns to assess this week, particularly the talismanic Youlten and Tom O’Leary.

Sydney University produced one of their best performances of the season in demolishing Inner West Magpies by sixty-one points in the Elimination Final on Sunday at BISP. Final scores were Sydney University 17.8.110 to Inner West Magpies 6.13.49, with Sydney Uni able to rest some of their key players in the last quarter.

After an even first quarter where the kicked three goals against the breeze, Sydney Uni went ballistic in the second quarter, kicking eight goals to one, with full-forward Nik Dale having one of the quarters of his career, kicking six majors in a simply unbelievable twenty-eight minutes of action.

Sydney Uni’s midfield proved too fast for the Magpies in the warm conditions and on a dry, hard track at BISP. Harry Morrison at times toyed with Inner West, his speed and evasiveness a feature of a dominant Uni performance.

Dale, after kicking nine goals in Round 18, kicked a superb eight goals for the Students. Morrison and key small forward William Gibbs chipped in with two majors each for Uni. Ben Zoppo, who battled on despite an obvious leg injury, kicked two goals for the Magpies.

The Students were best served by Dale, Noah Connick, the brilliant Morrison, Spencer Krochmal, Tim Barton and Max Kozlik. The Magpies’ best players Michael Tuttle, Thye Hamilton, Ben Klemke, Nick McCormack, Callum McEvoy-Gray and William Deller.

MEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Men’s Division One finals action at BISP, Sydney University showed they are the real deal, defeating North Shore by ten points, with the final scores Sydney Uni 9.5.59 to North Shore 7.7.49. The Students have now beaten minor premiers Camden and second-placed North Shore in a seven-day span. In the Elimination Final, Pennant Hills produced a superb second-half defensive performance to defeat Parramatta by twenty-eight points. Final scores were Pennant Hills 10.10.70 to Parramatta 6.6.42.