AFL SYDNEY WEEK 4 FINALS REVIEW – GRAND FINAL EDITION
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
East Coast Eagles produced a superb four-quarter performance to defeat Manly Warringah by thirty-one points in the Grand Final held at Blacktown International Sportspark (BISP) on Saturday. Final scores were East Coast 9.9.63 to Manly Warringah 5.2 32. East Coast achieved their much coveted “threepeat,” an historic performance in the history of AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division.
A sublime performance from AFL Sydney representative ruck Caitlin Reid was the catalyst for the Eagles’ excellent win. In what surely must be the best performance of her football career, Reid was quite simply everywhere; dominating the ruck, acting as a second ruck-rover around the ground and supplying gold-class ball to her followers.
Reid was assisted off the ground deep in the fourth quarter of the Preliminary Final with a seemingly serious ankle problem, but she showed no side-effects whatsoever in a match-winning display.
After a tight first quarter, the Eagles gradually wore the Wolves down, with Reid being well supported by a terrific performance from gun full-forward Rylee McGartland, who proved unstoppable, kicking 5.4. East Coast kicked four goals to two in an entertaining second quarter and were never seriously threatened thereafter.
Despite terrific performances from skipper Ashleigh Carter, Kate Salmon and 2024 Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, the Wolves could not quite reproduce their Qualifying Final form, with Lauren Bourgeois kept quiet by the combined Eagles half-back line.
Laura Moran proved an ever-present sidekick to McGartland, nabbing two majors from the half-forward line.
Small forward Isabella Rudolph, who has been a revelation this season, kicked two goals for the Wolves.
East Coast Eagles were best served by the magnificent Reid, McGartland, Jess Whelan, Renee Tomkins, Michelle Foscarini and co-skipper Chloe Arndt. Manly Warringah’s best players were Carter, Salmon, Woolf, Ava Barraclough, Kenya Fahey and Elise Wallace.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In the Womens Division One Grand Final Final action at BISP on Sunday, UTS produced an inspiring display in accounting for fierce rivals Randwick City by fifteen points. Final scores were UTS 6.8.44 to Randwick City 4.5.29, with the Bats benefitting from a truly superb performance in the ruck from Best on Ground Medallist Siena Visentini.
The Bats, leading by a mere seven points at the final break, kicked two goals to one in the final term to secure a wonderful victory over the determined Saints.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
After seventeen long years, North Shore finally won the AFL Men’s Sydney Premier Division on Saturday at BISP, defeating a gallant Manly Warringah by thirty-three points. Final scores were North Shore 10.9.69 to Manly Warringah 5.6.36, as the Bombers finished with an historic and rare undefeated season.
After going so close in 2023, the Bombers literally flew out of the blocks, leading 5.0.30 to 0.2.2 at quarter-time, enabling them the luxury of playing a loose man in defence (often representative centre half-back Christian Loone) for the final three quarters.
It is fair to say that the recruitment of forward/ruckman Fraser Thurlow has been pivotal for Noth Shore in breaking their seventeen-year drought. Thurlow kicked three goals and shared ruck duties (with the vastly improved Angus Loebel) before being award the Rod Podbury Medal as the best player on the ground.
To Manly Warringah’s credit, they actually won the second half, as James Lugsdin and Kyle Martin racked up the possessions in trying desperately to bring the Wolves close to the Bombers. The Bombers maintained their comfortable lead throughout the second half, despite the best efforts of a committed Wolves outfit.
Tom O’Leary’s effort in partially quelling dual Phelan Medallist Ned Campbell must be mentioned, with Campbell not being able to completely dominate proceedings as he has for most of the 2024 season.
Matt Buskariol kicked two goals for the Bombers in support of Thurlow. Tom Sheldrick, highly valued by everyone at Weldon Oval, kicked two goals for the Wolves.
North Shore’s best players were Thurlow, James Tidemann, Ethan Grace, Christian Loone, Sam Barkley and Finn Chalmers.
The Wolves were best served by Lugsdin, Martin, Ky McGrath, O’Leary, Sheldrick and Taine Wright.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One Grand Final action on Saturday Night, North Shore kicked the final three goals of the match (all after the 17:45 minute mark of the last quarter) to topple a brave Sydney University by nine points at BISP. Final scores were North Shore 8.8.56 to Sydney University 6.11.47, with the Students’ inaccuracy costly them dearly.
Early goals to Matt Powys and Will Stratford had the Students leading by ten points at the 14:04 minute mark of the fourth quarter, then the Bombers dug very deep, with goals to Lachlan Howarth, James Cubis and finally Ben High securing an inspiring, come-from-behind, Grand Final victory.
