2024 AFL Sydney Finals – Week 2 Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Two completely remarkable semi-finals at Blacktown International SportsPark saw two upsets in an amazing weekend of football.
On Saturday, Manly Warringah and East Coast Eagles produced an extraordinary qualifying final. The Wolves hung on to defeat the Eagles by two points, with final scores being Manly Warringah 8.2.50 to East Coast Eagles 7.6.48.
The Wolves knew they had to kick a decent score to beat the talented Eagles outfit. They kicked 8.2 to East Coast 7.6, with Manly’s accuracy proving absolutely critical.
Mainly led by thirteen points at three-quarter time and withstood a furious finish from East Coast Eagles, in which the Eagles kicked three of the last four goals in of the game. Veteran Eagle Renee Tomkins, thrust onto the ball in the last quarter, kicked the final goal of the game at the 18 1/2-minute mark. Mainly then dug very deep and defended desperately in the last five minutes to upset the minor premiers book and a grand final berth.
Manly are a vastly different side since the return of Lauren Bourgeois from an ACL injury. Bourgeois kicked three goals at centre half-forward, with small forward Isabella Rudolph kicking four goals for the Wolves in a superb display. Michelle Foscarini produced one of the goals of the decade in a two-goal performance, with Ryley McGartland as well chipping in with two majors.
This was quite simply one of the best finals games played in years and years in the AFL Sydney Womens Premier Division. End to end, thrilling, desperate, skilful; overall this was a wonderful exhibition of how the game should be played.
Manly’s best players were Montana Bray, Hannah Woolf, Zara Hamilton, Bourgeois, Ava Barraclough and Jayme Saggers. East Coast Eagles were best served by Foscarini, Brooke Bailey, Shiarna Tarasenko, Caitlin Reid, McGartland and Abbey Martin.
Saturday’s breathtaking drama left us wondering what the Elimination Final would offer.In many ways, Sunday was even more remarkable than Saturday.
Sydney University, after going through an emotional rollercoaster with one of their teammates severely concussed, dug very deep, kicking the last seven points of the match in the final two minutes, after a ninety-minute medical break, to defeat Parramatta by a solitary point. Final scores in the Elimination Final were Sydney University 3.6.24 to Parramatta 3.5.23.
The Students had run-with players on Goannas guns Caitlin Fletcher and Amanda Farrugia most of the day, with Parramatta returning serve by having Zoe Clubb effectively tag 2023 Mostyn Medallist Maryanne Harley. These tactics were effective, with Fletcher managing her tag the best of the three gun midfielders.
Defence ruled supreme most of the game. Sydney Uni kicked two goals in the first quarter and kicked their only other, match-winning goal, with fifteen seconds remaining. Parramatta were kept goal-less in the first and last quarters, Sydney Uni’s defence holding firm in what ended up being a two-hour final quarter.
This game came down to the last thirty seconds. Parramatta was penalised for Insufficient Intent right next to Sydney Uni’s left goalpost. Jasmine Smith, from fifteen metres out, opened up her angle and kicked the match-winner, with no-one having any idea how long was left under such extraordinary circumstances. Just after the next centre ball-up, the siren rang for what is clearly one of Sydney Uni’s best-ever wins in Womens Premier Division.
Smith was the only multiple goalkicker in the match, kicking two goals.
Sydney University was best served by Deanna Darwall, Kendra Blattman, Saskia Johnson, Ashley Dribbus, Amelia Causley-Todd and Daisy George. Parramatta’s best players were Clubb, Fletcher, Farrugia, Cassie Brown, Abbie Lewis and Chloe Davis.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Womens Division One semi-final action at Rosedale Oval on Saturday and Sunday, Randwick City and UTS, clearly the best two teams in the competition in the Home & Away season, produced a typical close encounter, with the Saints prevailing 2.8.20 to 2.2.14 over the Bats, in doing so gaining a Grand Final berth. Parramatta upset Newtown Breakaways by fifteen points in the Elimination Final, producing a compelling performance in running out victors 5.9.39 to 3.6.24.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In the Womens Under 20’s Preliminary Final at Rosedale Oval, North Shore produced a dominant four-quarter performance in comprehensively defeating Manly Warringah by forty-nine points. The Bombers won every quarter in running out 10.9.69 to 3.2.20 victors, and now face the might of Minor Premiers Parramatta in the Grand Final this Saturday morning at Blacktown International Sportspark.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
North Shore produced a magnificent defensive performance against Pennant Hills in the Men’s Premier Division Qualifying Final at BISP. After leading by twenty-nine points at the first break, the Bombers consolidated over the final three quarters with players behind the ball, eventually running out victors 8.13.61 to 3.8.26.
In a game played in particularly good conditions on a fast, dry track, the Bombers were catapulted into another Grand Final by a complete team performance and four goals from key forward Fraser Thurlow. The Demons, to their credit, stuck with the Bombers after quarter-time and have plenty to work with ahead of their Kanebridge Oval Preliminary Final appointment with the Wolves this Saturday.
Christian Loone’s complete dominance of the half-back line was a feature in this game. Loone ran free, taking intercept marks at will, and he is sure to included in the opposition’s game plan for the 21st of September Grand Final.
Apart from a magnificent performance from Loone, North Shore’s other best players were Thurlow, James Tidemann, Patrick Bolger, Harry Walker and Sean Netting. Pennant Hills’ best players were Lachlan Willey, midfielder Thomas Edmonds, Jye Boby, Michael Carroll, Nick Eynaud and Cam Mitchell. The fact that the Demons had five of their best players playing in the back six says a lot, and Ben Roberts’ men will need to kick a good score this Saturday if they want another crack at the 19-0 North Shore.
Manly Warringah, who had several injuries and players in doubt,produced a comprehensive, backs to the wall display to comfortably account for Sydney University by thirty-four points in the Elimination Final at BISP on Sunday. Final scores were Manly Warringah 11.12.78 to Sydney University 6.8.44.
The Wolves won this game in the first half, leading a sluggish Uni by thirty-one points at half-time, restricting the Students to 1.5.11 in the first two quarters. Manly were noticeably up and about early, with their running and creativity too much for the Students as they kicked away to a match-winning lead at the main break.
Cameron Manuel kicked four goals for the Wolves, with Tom McCaffery also very handy in producing three particularly important goals from a forward pocket. Dom Goddard kicked two goals for the Students.
The Wolves mobile, running players did the damage all day. Manly’s best players were Aiden Adams, Ethan Williams, Manuel, Cooper McLennan, Willem Smit and skipper Ryan Wearne,
The Students were best served by Goddard, Tom Hitchens, Declan Fitzpatrick, Max Kozlik, Tim Barton and Noah Connick.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One finals action at BISP, Sydney University showed that they are in great form at exactly the right time of the season, upsetting Minor Premiers Camden by twenty-eight points. Final scores were Sydney University 7.10.52 to Camden 2.12.24, with the Cats inaccuracy in front of goal sure to be worked on this week at Fairfax Reserve. Uni has now defeated Camden, then North Shore, then Camden again over their past three Saturdays, giving them a saloon passage into the Grand Final.
North Shore produced a wonderful display of football in demolishing Pennant Hills by ten goals in the Elimination Final. Final scores were North Shore 14.13.97 to Pennant Hills. North Shore’s tall forward line was too much for the Demons, and Camden will have their work cut out to stop the Bombers in this weekend’s night-time Preliminary Final at Kanebridge Oval.
