Round 4, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
Most of us have had a week off over Easter. The bunny has come and left his eggs. But now we’re getting back into the footy and chasing the chocolates of victory. Five men’s games and four women’s games await this weekend.
We’ve got an early start, a Friday ANZAC Day blockbuster at Picken Oval. It’s one of the big days on the AFL Sydney calendar, and this Friday will be no exception as we remember those who fought for our country. Lest we forget.
We had one Premier Division game over the Easter break, a Thursday night catch-up game at Picken Oval; where Sydney Uni got the points. Manly and East Coast have a game in hand. There’s some games this week that will go a long way towards shaping the ladder; and a couple of undefeated teams who missed out last year, UNSW-ES and East Coast, that will be tested this week and will have to dig deep to sing the song again this time.
In the women’s, there’s a big gap between the top six and the rest. There’s three teams with a percentage of less than 10, who have copped some heavy defeats so far. One of them, Pennant Hills, has the bye this week; a chance to regroup and work towards some more competitive results when they return. The other two play each other this week. While the other matches will go a long way towards sorting out the contenders from the pretenders.
Plenty of footy to look forward to this week. For some teams who haven’t started as well as they would have liked, here is a chance to kick-start a winning streak. And there’s other teams whose start to the season has gone better than expected, and this week will be a test of where they are really at. And if they can keep the streak going, it will make the footy world sit up and take notice.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v Pennant Hills Demons
Picken Oval, Friday 1:10pm
Magpies – 9th. Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3, 64.00%. Streak – L3
Demons – 8th. Played 3, Won 0, Lost 2, Drawn 1, 68.90%. Streak – L1
ANZAC Day at Picken Oval is one of the big days on the AFL Sydney calendar. If you’re getting to Picken Oval for this, make sure you get there early for what is always a moving memorial ceremony. Inner West Magpies do a great job in making the day happen, ensuring that those who made the supreme sacrifice are remembered and honoured. Lest we forget.
And if you can’t get to Picken Oval for this game, make sure you catch the online feed on Streamer and follow the action as it happens. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4825 ]
But after the ceremony, there’s a game of footy to be played, and it’s a high stakes game for both clubs. Neither has sung the song yet this year, but one of them will break the drought.
In round 3, the Magpies were unable to take the points against East Coast at Bruce Purser. Despite determined efforts from Will Deller, and the Veerhuis brothers, the Magpies fell behind in the second quarter. And although they fought back in the final quarter, the deficit was too big to haul in, going down by 12 points.
Then in the Maundy Thursday catch-up game, there was only a kick in it at half time; but the Magpies fell behind the Students in the second half, going down by 40 points. This time it was Michael Tuttle, Lachie Tiziani and Leroy Veerhuis who put up the strongest resistance. But, winless after three games, the Magpies need to step up a gear. There’s work to be done, and it starts here.
Pennant Hills had given a good account of themselves in the first two rounds; but their season hangs in the balance after a surprisingly flat showing against UNSW-ES at Henson Park before the Easter break. There wasn’t much in it in the first half, but the Demons couldn’t keep up after half time. Nick Hey kicked four of their five goals, while Luka Jordaan and Cam Mitchell also kept putting the effort in; but the Demons were struggling and nothing was working. They can’t let that happen again this time.
You can expect to see plenty of desperation in this contest. The Magpies were feeling confident pre-season, but three losses means they have some catching up to do. While the Demons had put up some good efforts in the first two rounds, but their loss last week sees them at risk of losing touch with the top contenders. Now there’s a job to be done, to not just take the four points but to build up some momentum they can carry into upcoming games. But for the loser, the top five will look a long way away. This is a game that, for both sides, must be won; but only one team can get it done.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Weldon Oval, Saturday 2:00pm
Wolves – 3rd. Played 2, Won 2, Lost 0, 276.92%. Streak – W2
Bulldogs – 1st. Played 3, Won 3, Lost 0, 248.39%. Streak – W3
Two undefeated teams lock horns in this contest at Weldon Oval, one that will tell us plenty about who the real contenders are for 2025. The Wolves, coming off a Grand Final appearance last year and reversing last year’s result against North Shore in the season opener, haven’t put a foot wrong so far. Neither have UNSW-ES, and their explosive start to the season gives the Bulldogs genuine hope of returning to finals action after missing out last year.
For Manly, any fears of a let-down after their opening win against North Shore were blown away when they got off to a flying start against UTS at Waverley, making their way to a 72-point win. James Lugsdin, Ky McGrath and Taine Wright were in the thick of the action for the Wolves as they put on another dominant performance. They still have a game in hand, but so far so good for the Wolves. But as we all know, a footy season is a marathon not a sprint; and to be a top contender, you have to keep turning up week after week. And against another undefeated team, they can’t afford to be short of their best here.
This is the first away trip for the Bulldogs, after starting their season with three games in a row at Henson Park. All three resulted in big wins. The last start, against Pennant Hills, was close for a half; but a run of nine goals to one in the second half saw the Bulldogs race away to a 55-point win. Jack Willis, Harrison Dyson and Oscar Peter were prominent performers for the Bulldogs. Three from three at home is a great start, but on the road against one of the competition high-flyers will be a test of where the Bulldogs really are at.
So far this season Manly have done everything right. The Wolves are looking good, and will be keen to keep their run going in front of their faithful at Weldon. And this match will be a test for the Bulldogs. Three home games is a good start, but this is as tough an away trip as there is. The Bulldogs are looking good so far, but this will be a gauge of where they really are in 2025. They’ve recruited strongly this year, but are they good enough to match it with the competition heavyweights? Here is where we find out.
South-West Sydney Blues v St George Dragons
Rosedale Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Blues – 7th. Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2, 52.30%. Streak – L2
Dragons – 6th. Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2, 71.77%. Streak – L1
The Blues and Dragons face off at Rosedale on Saturday afternoon. Both clubs sit at the crossroads, with one win and two losses. Win here and you’re in the mix for the top five. Drop this one and you’re at risk of falling off the pace. Plenty for both sides to play for here.
For a quarter the Blues had hopes of pulling off the boilover of the season as they led North Shore at Gore Hill. But that was as far as they could go as the Bombers then took control. Matt Storey, Khy Gibbs and Josh Croft kept working hard, but the Blues didn’t have the firepower to match it with one of the competition heavyweights on the road. But now they’re back on their home turf, against an opponent with a similar record. And now it’s time for the Blues to make their move.
The Dragons would live to regret their inaccuracy in their last start, when they took on Sydney Uni at Olds Park. They had 3.11 on the board at half time, leading by a point but should have been further ahead; and if they’d had a bigger lead, it would have been harder for Sydney Uni to run them down. As it was, they were unable to match it with the Students in the second half, going down by 44 points; despite the efforts of Matt Saunders, Dom Michalak and Mac Winchester. This time round, they must make every post a winner. Inaccurate finishing can’t haunt them again this week.
For whoever wins this clash, a 2-2 record will keep them in touch with the top five. The finals dream is well and truly alive. But the loser, finding themselves 1-3, will have work to do to stay in contention. It’s games like this that separate the teams in finals contention from the battlers. These are two clubs that live in hope; and it’s games like this that can make hope become a reality. But it won’t be easy for either team. Both started well against a top team last week but dropped off the pace. It’s important to last the distance this time.
Sydney University Students v UTS Bats
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 3:00pm
Students – 2nd. Played 3, Won 2, Lost 0, Drawn 1, 156.38%, Streak – W2
Bats – 10th. Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3, 49.23%. Streak – L3
Our first match at Sydney Uni No 1 for 2025 sees the Students host the Bats in a university derby. The Students have built some momentum, and as they didn’t have the week off over Easter are still fresh and in form. But for the Bats, currently winless on the bottom of the ladder, the quest to salvage the season starts here; and they urgently need to get some premiership points on the board.
After a first-up draw, Sydney Uni got to sing the song at Olds Park against St George. They may have been lucky to only be a point down at the long break, but they took control in the second half to win by 44 points. Tom Hitchens finished with four goals; while Liam Shallies and Sam Barkley also featured prominently for the Students.
Then in a Thursday night catch-up game at Picken Oval, the Students again stepped up in the second half after a tight first half to run out 40-point winners over the Magpies. This time it was Max Kozlik, Alex Witherden and Lucas Newman who were the standout contributors. The Students’ ability to run games out and step up after the long break has stood them in good stead so far in 2025; but there’s still plenty more work to be done.
Three games so far for the Bats are yet to produce a win. Their last start was against Manly at Waverley; but they fell behind in the opening exchanges of the game and were never able to get back into the contest, going down by 72 points. Tom Charles fought a rearguard action to score four goals from limited opportunities, while Liam Gordon and Henry Gosse also kept working hard all day. But the Bats are going to need more this week if they are going to kick-start their season against Sydney Uni.
Two wins and a draw on the road is a good start for the Students. But now on the confines of the Campus, there’s another job to be done. This time against an opponent who will be desperate and who will scrap for every possession. They have to. This season will get away from the Bats if they don’t start racking up the wins soon. Four points here would be worth their weight in gold. That has to be the aim here for the Bats. But it won’t be easy against an in-form opponent. Sydney Uni have some tough games coming up, but they won’t want to drop this one.
North Shore Bombers v East Coast Eagles
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 3:00pm
Bombers – 4th. Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, 131.84%. Streak – W1
Eagles – 5th. Played 2, Won 2, Lost 0, 128.85%. Streak – W2
We’re on the Gore Hill synthetic for a clash between the Bombers and the Eagles. Last year’s premiers v last year’s wooden spooners. If you’d known that by the Easter break only one of these teams would be undefeated, you’d have got good odds on it being the Eagles. But here we are. And the Eagles aren’t finished yet. If you can’t get to Gore Hill for this one, make sure you get your device onto Streamer and catch all the action as it happens. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4827 ]
North Shore had dropped their round 2 game, but hit back hard against South-West Sydney. They trailed by a point at quarter time but it was one-way traffic after that as they powered to a 115-point win; with Ryan Hebron scoring six goals, while Pat Bolger landed five in a best-on-ground effort and Jake Veale picked up myriad possessions around the ground. It was a big response by the Bombers. But there’s another challenge this time, a team that hasn’t dropped a game this year and is in the most confident place they’ve been in for years.
The Eagles may have only won two games last season, but they’ve already matched that total in 2025. Their last start, at Bruce Purser, saw the Eagles establish a break against the Magpies in the second quarter, building up a big enough buffer to hold the Magpies out in the last quarter for a 12-point win. Nathan Penna, Angus Edwards and Nick Fischer played key roles for the Eagles in their last start. But after two games at home, this is one of the toughest away trips this competition has to offer. If they can stand up here, they’ll make a statement.
It was a big win for the Bombers against the Blues last time, and they’ve only lost once at the Goretress in the last five years. This is a massive challenge for the Eagles. But a challenge they’re ready to embrace. Two home wins against opponents outside the top five is one thing. But if they can knock the Bombers off on the road, they’ll show the footy world that they are strugglers no longer. They’ll surely be licking their lips and relishing this contest. They’ve played some good footy. But this will test them.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Parramatta Goannas v St George Dragons
Gipps Road Oval, Saturday 12:25pm
Goannas – 9th. Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3, 0.00%. Streak – L3
Dragons – 7th. Played 2, Won 0, Lost 2, 9.56%. Streak – L2
When you’re a month into the season, haven’t won a game and have a percentage of less than ten, it’s fair to say that you really need a win. A win would be such a massive boost to the morale of the team. And that’s the situation that both the Goannas and the Dragons find themselves in. They’ve each copped some heavy losses. But here is the chance to turn their fortunes around.
For the Goannas, the first three rounds of the season have been worst case scenario. They’re yet to score a point this year. Their last start was at Gore Hill against North Shore, and saw them crash to a 172-point loss. Tayliya Noak, Marley Rhodes and Cindy Lam tried hard all day, but the Goannas didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Bombers. They need a spark, and against another team that has had similar fortunes to them, this is their opportunity.
St George are also coming into this game on the back of a 69-point loss to Sydney Uni at Olds Park; despite the valiant efforts against the odds of Montana Doubell, Ahona O’Connell-Shea and Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce. The Dragons will remember their Premier Division debut last year when they were well beaten by the Goannas; but they’ve had to learn a lot since then. And now they have high hopes of applying those lessons on their return to Gipps Road, and have to be a big chance to claim their first win at this level.
A competitive game would be a percentage booster for both clubs. But surely they want more than just to be competitive. After the trials and tribulations of the first month of the season, the sniff of victory and to sing the song in the rooms after the game would be sweet indeed. And that’s the prize on offer here. Both clubs will know that it’s now or never, and this is the time to take a stand and get the win on the board. The win that could turn their fortunes around and kick-start something. But for the team that doesn’t take this opportunity, it threatens to be a long and hard season.
Sydney University Students v UTS Bats
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 1:20pm
Students – 3rd. Played 2, Won 2, Lost 0, 6666.67%. Streak – W2
Bats – 5th. Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2, 173.63%. Streak – L2
The first Premier Division match at Sydney Uni No 1 for the year sees the Students take on UTS; university pride on the line in a match between two clubs with aspirations of being there at the business end of the year in 2025.
So far so good for Sydney Uni. After an opening round bye, they’ve raced out of the blocks with two enormous wins, yet to concede a goal this year. Their last start was against St George at Olds Park, resulting in a comfortable 69-point win. Lucy Gilfedder spearheaded the charge with five goals; while regular contributors Saskia Johnson, Maryanne Harley and Daisy George were prolific contributors. Two big wins before Easter, but now they’re up against a tougher opponent and will need to step up another gear.
The Bats started their season with a big win against the Goannas, but back to back losses since then leaves them with some work to do. Their last start was at Waverley Oval against Manly; where despite taking the lead in the third quarter, were unable to find the winning moves in the final term to go down by 14 points. Tilly Edwards-Hill, Gabriella Stanwix and Talluiah Kirk kept fighting until the end, but the Bats were left to reflect on a chance that got away. Now they’re up against another strong contender, and need to make every post a winner this week.
So far everything’s gone right for Sydney Uni, and now they’re at home and looking to extend their winning streak, But standing in their way is a UTS side desperate to hit back after back to back losses. The Bats will scrap and defend resolutely in this one, and the Students know all too well that they’ll have to lift their intensity even further. Big wins against the lower-ranked teams is nice, but it’s games like this one between genuine contenders that will determine the destiny of this season.
North Shore Bombers v East Coast Eagles
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:20pm
Bombers – 2nd. Played 3, Won 3, Lost 0, 945.00%. Streak – W3
Eagles – 4th. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 189.29%. Streak – W1
We’re on the Gore Hill synthetic for a clash of heavyweights in this division. The Bombers are on a roll after three big wins. But this is the big test for them, against the three-time defending premiers. Plenty of star power on display here in a game that has the ingredients to be one of the best matches of the season. If you’re not at Gore Hill, make sure you get your device onto the net for the Streamer feed [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/4826 ]
So far so good for North Shore in 2025. The Bombers have had three big wins to start the season, holding their opponents scoreless twice. Their last start before the Easter break resulted in a comprehensive 172-point result against the Goannas at Gore Hill. Adrienne Keeffe continued her purple patch in front of goals to land seven majors, while Marlee Barnet-Hepples added four, and Sophie Kavanagh and Heidi de Saxe were unstoppable around the ground. It was a demolition job against the Goannas. But the Bombers are all too aware that the Eagles will be tougher opponents and they need to display even more this time.
Strangely enough, thanks to a washout and an early bye, defending premiers East Coast have only played one game so far this year. That came in round 2 at Bruce Purser, and saw the Eagles unfurl their premiership flag in style with a 25-point win over UTS. The Eagles got the early jump before taking their foot off the gas; with Taylah Canobie, Aysha Sanches and Jess Whelan being in the thick of the action. There’s a lot of footy ahead for the Eagles, the season in some ways only getting started now. But the vision of the four-peat burns strong; and it’s by performing in games like this that enables the dream to become a reality.
A clash between two undefeated teams always has plenty of potential, this one especially so. The Eagles are still warming up, it’s only their second game; but they want to send a reminder to all the competition that they are still the benchmark. But at North Shore’s ground, the Bombers are ready to make a statement that they are genuine contenders. They beat the Eagles here last year, but this time round the stakes are higher. Both clubs have genuine premiership aspirations in 2025, and this is not just four points but a key psychological edge against an opponent they could meet again at the business end of the season.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Weldon Oval, Saturday 4:30pm
Wolves – 6th. Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, 83.93%. Streak – W1
Bulldogs – 1st. Played 3, Won 3, Lost 0, 1416.67%. Streak – W3
Manly kick-started their 2025 campaign at their last start, but now they’ve got to back up in front of their faithful at Weldon Oval. They’re taking on a UNSW-ES side that’s had three big wins but are yet to be tested against one of the top contenders; and this match will be a gauge of where the Bulldogs are really at in 2025.
The Wolves hit back from their opening game defeat when they travelled to Waverley for a date with UTS. The game was in the balance for three quarters, but in the pivotal moments when the game was there to be won, the Wolves stood up and made it happen. Hannah Woolf, Kenya Fahey and Ash Carter played key roles in getting the Wolves over the line. It was tight, but when games are tight, the true contenders will find a way to get the job done.
The Bulldogs are only one win shy of last year’s season total. They’ve hit the ground running in 2025 with three enormous wins. The third came at Henson Park just before the Easter break, when they dominated from start to finish to record a 102-point win over Pennant Hills. Emily Conlan was the focal point up forward to finish with six goals; while the ever-reliable Sera Kaukiono, along with Emma Haley and Eva Willey, were ball magnets all day. Three wins and a percentage over 1000 is a flying start to the season; but there are tougher game to come. Starting with this one.
Where are the Bulldogs really at in 2025? So far they’ve had three big wins, but all of them are against clubs in the bottom. They’ve got it done every time, but this will be a much tougher test. Away trips don’t come much harder than a visit to Weldon. The strength of the Wolves is well known, and they’re ready for action. If the Bulldogs can get this done, they make a statement that they are the big improvers of 2025. But the Wolves stand ready to defend their home turf; and they’re planning a build-up to something special.
