Round 3, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview

Written by Michael Shillito

 

And so we move on to round 3. The clocks have gone back an hour, we’ll be finishing games with the shadows lengthening or playing with the yellow ball under lights. But the action is heating up.

Everyone has played at least one game now, some teams have played two. Last week we learned that even the top teams are not invincible, while we had an absolute thriller at Mike Kenny for our first draw of the season.

We have a full round of footy scheduled for Saturday for both the Men’s and Women’s comps. East Coast have the bye in the Women’s, the defending champions putting their feet up for an early Easter break after unfurling their flag in style last Saturday. And this week the ladder begins to take shape, as we work out who are the front-runners and who has work to do to get back into the season.

But after this week we’ll take a breather over Easter before we return for the Anzac round.

 

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

 

East Coast Eagles v Inner West Magpies

Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 12:00pm

A high noon shootout at Bruce Purser sees the Eagles take on the Magpies. The teams had contrasting starts to their season last week; with the Eagles on the way up while the Magpies will be looking to bounce back from a shock defeat. It’s a high stakes encounter not to be missed.

After three wooden spoons in a row, the Eagles have hopes of climbing the ladder in 2025, and got off to a great start with an 18-point win over UTS last week. The second quarter was the turning point, a run of five goals to one setting up a lead that the Eagles were able to maintain for the rest of the game. Angus Edwards, Jacob Jones and Keegan Brady played key roles in getting the Eagles home. There’s still a lot of work to be done, and we recall that last year they won their opening game but only won one more for the year. But the Eagles have reason to be optimistic that won’t be the case this time; and if they can get up at home here, even more so.

Meanwhile the Magpies were on the opposite end of a similar result at Olds Park, getting off to a decent start against St George before being blown away in the second quarter and being unable through the second half to get back into the contest. Will Deller, Elliott Harper and Ben Klemke worked hard all afternoon, but it was a performance that fell short of the Magpies’ high hopes as they went down to the Dragons by 29 points. But it’s early days this season, and there’s plenty of time for the Magpies to fight back; and this is their opportunity to get the season properly under way.

The stakes are high. If the Eagles can take the points here, they’ll have already matched last year’s total; but it will be approaching crisis time for the Magpies, who would then have a lot of work to do to replicate last year’s finals appearance. But if the Magpies can take the points on the road, both teams will find themselves mid-table with a 1-1 record. It’s games like this that can make or break a season.

 

North Shore Bombers v South-West Sydney Blues

Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:40pm

For the first time in well over a year, North Shore are under the pump. Undefeated last year, but their hopes of replicating that performance were dashed at Weldon Oval; and now the test is on to see how they can fight back. Standing their way is a South-West Blues side that is also keen for a fightback after a disappointing showing against the Bulldogs last week.

North Shore’s unbeaten run came to a sudden halt at Weldon Oval when they were never in the contest against Manly and went down by 66 points. Despite solid performances by Ned Campbell, Ethan Grace and Mitch Rogers, at no point in the afternoon did the Bombers ever look like getting into the contest; and it’s been a long time since they were that badly beaten. Their opening round win wasn’t particularly convincing, and they find themselves 1-1 with a poor percentage. The Bombers won’t want to look vulnerable, and need to step up for this clash.

The Blues have had a similar start to the season. After a first-up win, they were well short of full strength last Saturday at Henson Park and were never in the contest against UNSW-ES, going down by 74 points. Luke Parkinson, Nick Dunshea and Matthew Storey battled hard all afternoon, but the Blues didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Bulldogs. And they have another tough test in this match, and will need to be ready to face a Bombers side on the rebound.

It’s a battle between two clubs looking for redemption, both sitting on a 1-1 record. The Bombers, being the defending champions and playing on their home surface, will go in as favourites. But the Blues also have reason to fight and show all the desperation they can muster. And if they can put the Bombers under pressure, then this challenge can be done.

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Pennant Hills Demons

Henson Park, Saturday 1:50pm

Are the Bulldogs back? Two wins to start the season gives plenty of cause for optimism in the UNSW-ES camp that last year was a one-off shocker and they’re on their way back to the top. But this will be a test for them, as they take on Pennant Hills in their third home game of the season.

Last Saturday at Henson Park they dominated from start to finish to record a 74-point win over South-West Sydney. It was a win spearheaded by a nine-goal haul from Hugo Birks, with Sam Thorne and Toby Alker also featuring prominently. We’re only two games in, and so far the Bulldogs haven’t put a foot wrong. But Pennant Hills will test them.

The Demons have had two tight games to start the season, and games don’t get any tighter than the draw they played against Sydney Uni at Mike Kenny last week. It was a game of fluctuating fortunes, with the Students well up at half time before the Demons took the lead in the third; but the teams couldn’t be separated when the final siren sounded. Nick Hey scored six goals in a best-on-ground performance, while Michael Carroll and Nick Eynaud also played key roles. Two close games against top contenders with only two competition points to show for it; and the Demons will be looking to start their run up the ladder this week.

So far it’s been plain sailing for the Bulldogs, as they have easily accounted for St George and South-West Sydney. It’s been a tough draw for the Demons, going down to North Shore and playing a draw against the Students. But now comes a key test for both clubs. If the Bulldogs can claim this scalp, they will show they’re big improvers in 2025, and will also see Pennant Hills in a bit of hot water. But the Demons will have plenty to say about that; and they’re ready to get their season warmed up and ready to go. The stakes are high, the enthusiasm for the contest is certainly there. Let’s get ready to rumble.

 

St George Dragons v Sydney University Students

Olds Park, Saturday 2:10pm

The Dragons are at home to Sydney Uni on Saturday afternoon in a contest that will tell us plenty about both clubs’ prospects for the season ahead of us. The Dragons go into this game with a 1-1 record after a good performance against Inner West last week; while the Students are coming off a thriller against Pennant Hills. If you can’t get down to Olds Park for this, and for the St George and Sydney Uni diaspora around the globe; you can catch all the action as it happens on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4708 ]

After an opening round loss, the Dragons hit back magnificently last week with a performance that put a smile on the faces of their faithful at Olds Park when they knocked off the Magpies by 29 points. There wasn’t much in it at quarter time, but a run of five goals to one in the second term was the decisive break, setting up a buffer that they were able to maintain after half time. Dom Michalak, Cave McKnight and Finn Ritchie were superb for the Dragons. Now they have another challenging fixture, but if they tackle this game with the intensity they showed last week, there’s no reason why they can’t capitalise on the momentum they built.

Sydney Uni have a game in hand, and the only game they’ve played so far this season was a thrilling draw against Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny. Alex Witherden, Sam Barkley and Jay Tang were in the thick of the action as the Students had a handy lead at the long break but were run down in the third term before regrouping to level the scores in the last. They’ll be looking for a solid four quarter effort this week, and if they can pull that off, they’ll be hard to stop.

Both clubs’ seasons are evenly poised in these early days. The Dragons have a 1-1 record, a win can propel them into the top five and set a challenge for the teams below them to knock them off. But a loss sees them drop back to the field with some tough games to come. For the Students, last week’s draw was a thrilling way to start the year; but now is the time to start stringing some wins together. The Students would have to be favourites, but the Dragons have shown some decent form last week, and after a couple of rebuilding years, their plans may be starting to come to fruition.

 

UTS Bats v Manly-Warringah Wolves

Waverley Oval, Saturday 2:30pm

We’re within sight of the iconic Bondi for the Battle of the Beaches as the Bats take on the Wolves. For the Bats, it’s time to fight back after a disappointing performance last week; while the Wolves will have no shortage of confidence after a spectacular result in their last start and will be looking to capitalise on the momentum they have built.

It wasn’t the start of the season the Bats were hoping for last week when they travelled to Bruce Purser to take on the Eagles. They started well enough, but lost their way in the second quarter when the Eagles landed four goals to one; and try as they might, the Bats were unable to close the deficit in the second half and went down by 18 points. Hamish Latchford, Liam Gordon and Blake Tabe tried hard, but it was one of those days for the Bats when little was going right. And now they find themselves against one of the strongest teams in the league. It’s a massive challenge; but this is on the Bats’ turf, and they’ve got to pile on the pressure early and make the Wolves uncomfortable.

Last week was a total triumph for the Wolves, as they reversed the result of last year’s Grand Final; doing it in style with a 66-point win over North Shore. Tom McCaffrey, Travis Schiller and Anthony Forato were the standouts, but there were many Wolves players who rose to the occasion and stood tall when it mattered. The Wolves had every reason to stand up last week, and got it done magnificently. But it counts for little if they can’t follow it up this week.

The Wolves are on a high, having knocked off the defending champions; and their premiership aspirations are even stronger now. But every week is a new challenge, and they can’t afford a let-down after last week’s heroics. If they’re even slightly off their best, the Bats are ready to pounce. The Bats will be desperate after last week’s loss, and they’ve got to put their best foot forward and pile on the pressure. With an all-out effort, playing their best footy and doing everything they can to put the Wolves off their game, the upset result is not impossible.

 

 

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Pennant Hills Demons

Henson Park, Saturday 12:10pm

After a couple of years where UNSW-ES haven’t been anywhere near the finals, the Bulldogs have burst out of the blocks in season 2025. There’s some tougher games to come, but while the sun is shining the Bulldogs are making hay. And this week they’re up against a Pennant Hills side coming off a couple of heavy defeats.

Last week at Henson Park was a triumph for the Bulldogs. The tone was set for the afternoon when they kicked five unanswered goals in the first term, and they would go on to hold the Goannas scoreless to romp to an 81-point win. Emily Conlan helped herself to five goals, and along with Aimee Whelan and Rani Sossai was among the Bulldogs’ best. Two from two with an imposing percentage, they’ve got the season off to a flyer.

It’s been a tough opening to the year for the Demons, and last Saturday at Mike Kenny they weren’t able to keep up with Sydney Uni, held to one behind to go down by 128 points. Sheridan Baker, Caitlin Gurney and Scarlett Sheridan tried hard all day; but the Demons struggled to get going and it was a tough afternoon for them. But after two heavy defeats, they need to find a way to lift their intensity this week.

After Easter it gets tougher for the Bulldogs. The draw has been kind to them early, with three straight home games. There are tougher opponents to come, but so far they have taken care of the opposition put in front of them. But for the Demons, scoring just one behind in the first two weeks of the season, they need to find a spark here. Something that will kick-start their momentum and get them into gear. This needs to ce their turning point; and even if they don’t win, it needs to be a more competitive performance. Every play is critical.

 

UTS Bats v Manly-Warringah Wolves

Waverley Oval, Saturday 12:40pm

UTS and Manly have both appeared in Grand Finals in the last two years. There’s no shortage of talent on both lists. But both clubs tasted defeat last week, and won’t be wanting to go into the Easter break on the back of a two-game losing streak. But that will be the fate of one of these teams at the end of this high-stakes shootout at Waverley.

It wasn’t an easy match for the Bats when they travelled to Bruce Purser and saw the Eagles unfurl their premiership flag. The Eagles slammed through five unanswered goals in the first quarter, establishing a buffer that the Bats were unable to peg back as they went down by 25 points. Brianna-Lee Wade scored all four of the Bats’ goals; while Bridget Corcoran, Charlotte Owen and Beth Martini got plenty of the ball around the ground. But the slow start cost them dearly, and the Bats can’t afford to let the Wolves get on top early this week.

Manly will also be keen to bounce back after a 32-point defeat to North Shore at Weldon Oval last week. It was a similar story for them, on the wrong end of a flying start by the Bombers; and despite the best efforts of Ava Barraclough, Kenya Fahey and Lauren Bull, there was no way back for the Wolves. It wasn’t the opening to the season they were hoping for; but the path to redemption starts with this clash on the road.

The Bats have a 1-1 record, while the Wolves have one loss with a game in hand. Neither want a two-game losing streak so early in the season. In what will be a tight battle for ladder positions, whoever goes down here will have some catching up to do. But the winner will enjoy their Easter break in the top five, and with a win against a potential finals rival under their belt. This is a crunch game, and it’s certainly possible that when positions in the finals are analysed, this is a game that is looked back on as a turning point.

 

North Shore Bombers v Parramatta Goannas

Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 4:00pm

We’re on the Gore Hill synthetic for a big clash between North Shore and Parramatta. The Bombers are flying high, on the back of a big win against an arch-rival. While the Goannas need to urgently find something to kick-start their season after two games where they have been unable to raise a flag from the goal umpires.

North Shore have two strong wins to open their season. Last week at Weldon Oval, the Bombers created history as they finally knocked off Manly for the first time at Premier Division. Adrienne Keeffe spearheaded the charge with four goals; while Lucy Yates, Sophie Kavanagh and Charlotte White were prolific ball-winners for the Bombers. They have high hopes for this season, and so far so good; but there’s still a long way to go, and every game is important.

Last week was a disappointing afternoon for the Goannas, as they travelled to Henson Park to take on UNSW-ES; held scoreless for the second time this season to go down by 81 points. Bree Trevitt, Teigan Saunders and Tayliya Noak kept working hard, but the Goannas weren’t able to find a way to get the ball up forward or put the Bulldogs under any pressure. And it doesn’t get any easier this week against a North Shore side on a roll.

Two big wins for the Bombers, finally getting the Manly monkey off their back. Confidence is high for the black and red side, and they’ll be looking to make a statement on their home turf. But this is crisis time for the Goannas, and after two scoreless games, they just have to lift this week. To find a way forward, lift their intensity and put the Bombers under pressure. If they can’t, this season will get away from them very quickly.

 

St George Dragons v Sydney University Students

Olds Park, Saturday 4:30pm

A televised twilight classic at Olds Park puts the Dragons up against Sydney Uni. The Dragons return to action after last week’s bye, looking for their first win at Premier Division level. And it won’t be easy this week against a Sydney Uni team that put in a dominant effort at Mike Kenny last time round. There’s plenty of interest in this clash, and if you’re not at Olds Park, the next best thing is to catch the live stream [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4707 ]

The Dragons had the bye last week. They managed to get on the field in the opening round, but went down to UNSW-ES by 54 points. Hannah Phillips, Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce and Kaitlin Eisenhuth never stopped putting the effort in; but it wasn’t enough to get the Dragons over the line. Now they’re at home, and this will be a test for them; an indication of how much they have improved this season. They’re refreshed and relaxed after the bye, and have another week off; so there’s no excuse for anything less than a 100% effort here, leaving nothing in the tank and going for broke.

Sydney Uni opened their season last Saturday with a trip to Mike Kenny, and it was one-way traffic as the Students dominated from start to finish. 12 Sydney Uni players got on the goalkickers’ list as the Students recording a convincing 128-point win; with Daisy George, Amanda Farrugia and Niamh McMahon picking up myriad possessions to keep the Students on top. Consistent finals performers, the Students surely must be in the mix when premiership contenders are mentioned this season.

In their second season at Premier Division level, the Dragons are still looking for their first win. And they’ll have to find something remarkable to get it here. The Students burst out of the blocks last week and signalled their intentions for 2025. But the Dragons can’t let this be a blowout. They need to compete, contest and pile on the pressure. A competitive performance will set the scene for future success.