Round 2, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
UNSW-ES Bulldogs produce a dominant four-quarter display to defeat Parramatta by 81 points at Henson Park. Final scores were UNSW-ES 11.15.81 to Parramatta 0.0.0. The Bulldogs jumped out of the blocks and led by 34 points at quarter-time and went on with the job in a very consistent performance. This was their second such performance in six days.
Key forward and skipper Emily Conlan continues to have a wonderful start to the season with five goals for the Bulldogs. She was well supported by Francesca Ryan and Anna Pellen, who both managed two majors each.
Best players for the Bulldogs were Aimee Whelan, Rani Sossai, Conlan, Gabby Eaton, Pellen and Shelby Koh. Parramatta were best served by Brea Trevitt, Teigan Saunders, Tayliya Noack, Georgia Keen, Michala Ford and Ava Saad.
East Coast Eagles commenced their campaign for a four-peat with a clinical 25-point victory over UTS at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were East Coast 8.5.53 to UTS 4.4.28.
East Coast flew out of the blocks leading by 30 points at quarter time, showing that they mean serious business in season 2025. UTS actually won the last three quarters by five points, but the damage had been done early on.
Aysha Sanchez kicked three goals for the Eagles, with key forwards Riley McGartland and Caitlin Davidson managed managing 2 majors each. Briana-Lee Wade managed 3 majors for UTS.
Best players for East Coast were Taylah Canobie, Sanchez, Jess Whelan, Summer Hall, veteran Renee Tomkins and Annaleise Barton. Best players for UTS with Bridget Corcoran, Charlotte Owen, Beth Martini, the Wade sisters Alexandra and Brianna-Lee and Alyssa Wedd.
North Shore produced an historic performance against Manly Warringah, beating them for the first time ever at Weldon Oval by a convincing 32 points. Final scores were North Shore 11.6.72 to Manly Warringah 6.4.40.
North Shore kept Manly scoreless in the first quarter and led at the first break by 19 points. They went on with the job in the second quarter and were leading by 6 straight goals at half time. Manly were much better in the second half but North Shore went on to produce a magnificent victory in front of a healthy crowd at Curl Curl.
Key forward Adrienne Keeffe, receiving outstanding service from her midfielders, kicked four goals at full forward for North Shore. Skipper Tilly Eder managed two goals for the Bombers as well. For Manly, forwards Peggy Stanbury and Isabella Rudolph kicked two goals each.
North Shore’s best players were dynamic rover Lucy Yates, Sophie Kavanagh, ruck Charlotte White, Grace Hill, 15-year-old Amelia Rainbow (who ran with star Manly follower Zara Hamilton all day) and Keeffe. Best players for Manly were Ava Barraclough, Kenya Fahey, Lauren Bull, Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, Holly Wickham and ruck Lauren Bourgeois.
Sydney University had an emphatic win over a young Pennant Hills Demons side with the fulltime score – 0.1.1 to 18.21.129. The Students were best served by Daisy George, Mostyn Medallist – Amanda Farugia and Niamh McMahon. While the Demon’s best were Sheridan Baker, Caitlin Gurney and Scarlett Sheridan.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Women’s Division One action, UTS defeated Camden by a solitary point in an absolute thriller at Catherine Park. Sydney University produced an outstanding display to defeat high flying Randwick City by 6 points at Pioneers Park. Newtown received a forfeit from South West Sydney Blues and Manly Warringah lost to a strong North Shore outfit, 1.2.8 to 3.6.24.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20’s action, Sydney University defeated Manly Warringah by five points in a low scoring thriller at Mike Pawley Oval, Parramatta produced an excellent performance in defeating UNSW-ES by 28 points, and North Shore defeated UTS by 20 points at Gore Hill Oval
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In the match of the round at Weldon Oval, Manly Warringah produced a magnificent performance over North Shore, handing North Shore their first loss in 18 months. Final scores were Manly Warringah 16.6.102 to North Shore 5.6.36.
After a quiet first quarter, Manly kicked three goals to two in the second quarter to lead by 16 points at half-time. The third quarter was pivotal, Manly keeping North Shore scoreless while piling on six goals. They went on with the job in the last quarter, kicking five goals to three in an absolutely superb display of running football on a glorious day at Curl Curl.
Key forwards Zach Youlten and Trent Dennis-Lane kicked three goals each for the Wolves. Lachlan Behagg and Kyle Martin also chipped in with two majors each. Ruck Angus Loebel and half forward Matt Buskariol kicked two goals each for the well-beaten North Shore.
Best players for Manly were Tom McCaffrey, Travis Schiller, ruck Antony Forato, Martin, Ky McGrath and Sam McMeeken. Best players for North Shore where Ned Campbell, Ethan Grace, Mitchell Rogers, Sean Netting, Patrick Bolger and Lachlan Howarth.
At Henson Park, Hugo Birks showed why he is such a pivotal recruit for the UNSW-ES Bulldogs, kicking nine goals for the Bulldogs in their 74-point demolition of South West Sydney Blues. Final scores were UNSW-ES 18.11.119 to SW Sydney Blues 6.9.45.
The Bulldogs produced a champagne first quarter, piling on 10 goals as part of an extraordinary 13 goal first quarter. From there, the Bulldogs continued to pile on the misery to South West Sydney in their second excellent display in six days.
Apart from Birks’ wonderful performance, veteran forward Kieran Emery kicked three goals for the Bulldogs. Nick Dunshea was the only multiple goal kicker it for the Blues, managing 2 majors.
Best Players for the Bulldogs were the outstanding Birks, key midfielder Sam Thorne, Toby Alker, Jack Willis, Will Shaw and Sam Gaden. Southwest Sydney was best served by Luke Parkinson, Dunshea, Matt Storey, representative ruckman Finbar Delbridge, Ethan Roberts and Eddie Keogh.
In a terrific performance in front of their home faithful at Olds Park, St George produced an excellent 29-point victory over the Inner West Magpies. Final scores were St George 12.11.83 to Inner West 7.12.54, with Inner West made to pay for inaccurate goalkicking.
Inner West actually led by three points at the first break but then St George rattled on five goals to one in the second quarter. Inner West scrambled to only 14 points behind at the last change which set up an excellent last quarter. The Dragons kicked four goals to two to finish off an outstanding performance.
Mobile forward Finn Ritchie had a day out for the Dragons, kicking five goals. Veteran Matt Saunders chipped in with two majors for the Dragons. New recruit Jayden Gilheany kicked two goals for the Magpies.
Best players for St George were Dominic Michalak, Cave McKnight, Richie, Saunders, Mac Winchester and Liam Taylor. Best place for Inner West Magpies were the consistent Will Deller, Elliot Harper, Ben Klemke, Nick McCormack, Willam Sabolch and Jackson Mitchell-Lane.
Pennant Hills and Sydney University produced a thrilling draw at Mike Kenny Oval. Sydney Uni came from 14 points down at three quarter time, with final scores being 9.7.61 apiece.
This game ebbed and flowed dramatically. The Students were actually three goals up at half-time, then the Demons came out in the third quarter with a withering burst, kicking five goals to 0. The Students regrouped in the final stanza and managed to share the four points with the Demons in an absolutely thrilling fixture.
Key forward Nick Hey kicked six goals for Pennant Hills, with Maine Vidler (picking up where he left off in the 2024 finals series) chipping in with two majors. Newcomer Alex Witherden and Nik Dale kicked three goals each for the Students.
Best players for the Demons were Hey, representative fullback Mikey Carroll, Nick Eynaud, Lachlan Willey, Aidan Russell and impressive youngster Luka Jordaan. Best players for Sydney University were Witherden, off-season recruit Sam Barclay, Jay Tang, Vincent O’Brien, Luke Haddad and Michael Nettheim.
East Coast Eagles defeated UTS Bats by 18 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were East Coast 10.5.65 to UTS, almost unbelievably, 5.17.47. Dean Cleary’s men will rue kicking five goals from 22 effective scoring shots at goal.
After the Bats led by 10 points at quarter-time, East Coast piled on five goals to one in the second quarter to take a 15-point lead to the main break. The Eagles led by 11 points at three quarter time setting up a big last quarter. The Eagles kicked two goals from their only two effective shots at goal in the final stanza, whilst the Bats managed just 5 behinds.
Ben Rogers and Brendan Coxall kicked two goals each for the Eagles, whilst Thomas Charles and Blake Tabe kicked two goals each for the Bats.
Best players for the victorious Eagles were Angus Edwards (following on from his continuing his excellent preseason form), Jacob Jones, Keegan Brady, Rogers, Alexander Foxall and Harry Elbourne. Best players for the Bats where Hamish Latchford (again), Liam Gordon, Tabe, Jack Calabro, George Boyd and Louis McCormack.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, Camden continued their ideal start to the season with a 52-point demolition of Southern Power at Waratah Oval. St George produced a professional display in disposing of Inner West Magpies by 27 points at Olds Park, Sydney University trounced Pennant Hills by 67 points and Parramatta defeated UNSW-ES 6.8.44 to 10.11.71
