Round 4, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
St George Dragons dug deep in defeating Parramatta by 7 points in an absolute trailer at Gipps Road. Final scores were St George 6.4.40 to Parramatta 5.3.33.
After a tight first half where the Dragons led by a mere 4 points at the main break, St George pulled away to lead by three goals at three-quarter. Parramatta came home like a steam train but couldn’t quite get over the top of a desperate St George outfit.
Jasmine Baily and Emerald Ritchie kicked two goals each for the victorious Dragons, whilst Lilly Dummett managed 2 majors for the goannas.
Best players for the Dragons were Bianca Rudzis, the consistent Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce, Baily, Maggie Richie, Paige Bauer, and Zoe Maher. Parramatta were best served by Ava Saad, Marley Rhodes, Haley Zauch, Katherine Spender, and Amber Reveley.
In the University Derby at Uni #1 Oval, Sydney University led by 40 points at half time and coasted in the second half, eventually running out victors by 35 points over UTS Bats. Final scores were Sydney Uni 9.6.60 to UTS 4.1.25.
University was clinical in the first half, kicking 7 goals to 1 as they set about a possible final three finish. Key forward Lucy Gilfedder kicked 3 goals for the Students, whilst Jasmine Smith and Emma Walsh chimed in with two majors each. UTS had four players kick one goal each.
Sydney Uni’s best players with Claudia Gray, Mostyn Medallist Maryanne Harley, Saskia Johnson, Arabella Hendrix, Ashley Dribbus and Gilfedder. UTS were best served by Elly Rudd, Serena Baukes, Charlotte Owen, Emelye Blades, Hannah Cerezo and Georgia Arcus.
In the eagerly awaited clash between East Coast eagles and North Shore at Gore Hill, an excellent second half from the three-time reigning premiers saw East Coast defeat North Shore 8.5.53 to 5.6.36 in an excellent game of football.
The Eagles lead by one point at half time but then put the foot down, kicking five goals to two in a clinical and professional second half, with North Shore, missing dynamic rover Lucy Yates, not quite capable of keeping up with the high-flying Eagles.
Representative forward Michelle Foscarini kicked 3 crucial goals for the Eagles, with Caitlin Davidson and Molly Kozak chipped in with two majors each in the absence of key forward Rylee McGartland. Skipper Tilly Eder kicked two goals for the Bombers, with that Adrienne Keeffe kept goalless in a superb display from Eagles fullback Bailee Hourigan.
East Coast Eagles were best served by Summer Hall, Erin Naden, Foscarini, veteran Renee Tomkins, Davidson, and Emily Goodsir. Zoe Hurrell was superb for North Shore across half back, with other Bombers players to shine being Sophie Kavanagh, Ella Daniel, Shannon Smit, Ariel Belger and Liv O’Donnell.
Manly Warringah had to dig very deep at home to UNSW-ES, eventually prevailing by two kicks at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 5.5.35 to UNSW-ES 2.11.23, with the Bulldogs inaccurate kicking proving crucial in an excellent game of football.
The Wolves led by one point at the final break but kicked 2 important goals in the last quarter to squeak home in an important victory, as they keep up with East Coast and North Shore.
Small forward Isabella Rudolph was a match winner for the Wolves, kicking 4 goals. Emily Conlan and Haley Stanford kicked one goal each for the inaccurate Bulldogs.
Manly was best served by Andrea Roditis, Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, Kenya Fahey, Montana Bray, Rudolph, and Olivia Cameron. Early Mostyn Medal favourite Aimee Whelan again shone for the Bulldogs, and she was ably supported by Renes Scheffer, Stanford, Gabby Eaton, Francesca Ryan, and Abbie Cunningham.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In the Women’s Division One action, Sydney University belted Camden by 85 points at Uni #1 Oval, Manly Warringah disposed of Newtown by 65 points at Weldon Oval in Curl Curl, North Shore overwhelmed South West Sydney by 131 points at Gore Hill, and Randwick City disposed of UTS by 32 points at historic Trumper Oval.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20s action, high flying North Shore defeated Parramatta by 69 points at Gibbs Rd, UTS prevailed in a thriller defeating Sydney University by 7 points at Trumper Oval and in the final game, Manly Warringah defeated UNSW-ES by 22 points at Weldon Oval
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In the traditional Anzac Day fixture at Picken Oval, a suffocating defensive performance from the Pennant Hills Demons led to their comfortable 27-point victory over hosts Inner West. Final scores were Pennant Hills 8.12.60 to Inner West 4.9.33.
Inner West led by 15 points at quarter time, but then Pennant Hills threw a blanket over the Magpies, keeping them to 1 goal 9 in the final three quarters. A three-way tagging job on influential Magpies midfielder Ben Klemke was important for the Demons, with Patty Witt, Maine Vidler and 200 gamer Thomas Edmonds doing a wonderful job to contain the talented veteran Magpies coach.
Veteran Matt (The King) Carey had a day out for Pennant Hills, kicking three goals, with Nick Hey and Aidan Russell chiming in with two majors apiece. Key forward Ben Zoppo kicked two goals in a superb individual display where he spent most of the second half on the ball, trying to give the Magpies more drive out of the centre.
Pennant Hills was best served by Lachlan Willey, Luke Skrivanic, Ollie Williams, representative fullback Michael Carroll, Mitchell Trenaman and Edmonds. Inner West’s best players were Patrick Wilmot, Lachlan Tiziani, Jonty Inglis, Klemke, Jye Doyle and Jonathan Bowyer.
High flying Manly Warringah met fierce resistance from UNSW-ES in a cracking fixture at Weldon Oval. A dominant first half from the Wolves set up their 25-point victory, with final scores being Manly Warringah 13.13.91 to UNSW-ES 10.6.66.
The Wolves absolutely flew out of the blocks, leading by 29 points at quarter time then by 31 points at the main break. UNSW-ES kicked 7 goals to 6 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to stop the undefeated Wolves,
Key forwards Trent Dennis-Lane (four goals) and Zach Youlten (three goals) were very influential for Manly Warringah. League leading goal kicker Hugo Birks kicked 6 majors for the Bulldogs, and if he keeps this form up, Birks is an outside chance of kicking the magic magical three figures in season 2025.
The Wolves were best served by Travis Schiller, Alex Jacobs, Tom McCaffrey, Mac Allen, Barry O’Connor, and Nick Marsh. Best player for the Bulldogs were Jack Willis, Thomas Unger, Cooper Kilpatrick, Sam Thorne, Owen Turner, and Harrison Dyson.
South West Sydney and St George produced an old fashion nail biter at Rosedale Oval. The Blues came from one point down at three quarter time to squeak home by 5 points, winning 7.8.50 to 6.9.45.
Both teams gave everything in a low scoring thriller, but it was Nick Dunshea’s 5 goals that saw the Blues squeeze home. Lachlan Cabor kicked 2 goals for the Dragons.
Dunshea was adjudged best on ground, and he was well supported by Blues teammates Omar Matar, Lachlan Konza, Jack Baker, representative ruckman Finbar Delbridge and McCarthy Dooley. The Dragon’s best players were Nelson Carey, Callum Nash, Eddie Marning, Patrick Tegg, Lachlan Querzoli and Thomas Ingram.
Sydney University ran riot in the first half against UTS at Uni #1 Oval, leading by 43 points at the main break. UTS produced a stirring comeback in the third quarter, but the Students held on to win by 28 points in their first game of the season at home. Final scores were Sydney Uni 16. 11.107 to UTS 11.9.75.
Thomas Hitchens continued his good form for Uni, kicking four goals, and he was aided and abetted by Max Negri and William Gibbs, who nabbed 3 majors each. Josh Ralph kicked three goals for UTS, with George Boyd and Henry Gosse chiming in with 2 goals each for the Bats.
Sydney Uni’s best players what Felix Rugge-Price, Izaac Hughes, Max Kozlik, Nathan Tang, Luke Haddad, and Lucas Newman. UTS were best served by Jack Calabro, Gosse, Ralph, the consistent Louis McCormack, Matson Waring, and Tom Larby.
In the AFL Sydney broadcast game at Gore Hill Oval, East Coast Eagles stuck with North Shore for the first half, but the reigning premiers put the foot down in the second half, kicking 11 goals to 1 as they ran away with a 90-point victory in front of the faithful. Final scores for North Shore 18.19.127 to East Coast’s 5.7.37.
Forward Matt Buskariol kicked 5 goals in an eye-catching display for the Bombers, with forward-ruckman Thomas Drum also proving very handy up forward kicking 4 majors. Dual Phelan Medallist Ned Campbell chimed in with 3 majors of his own. Jacob Jones kicked 2 goals for the youthful Eagles.
Best place for the Bombers were Angus Loebel, Max Toohey, Buskariol, Campbell, Drum, and ex-Victorian debutant Nick Pavlou. East Coast were best served by Jones, Cameron Edwards (who did his representative chances no harm across half back), Corey Dowle, Harry Elbourne, Nick Jones, and Scott Brown.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, North Shore annihilated Southern Power by 188 points at Gore Hill, in a possible finals rehearsal, Sydney Uni ground out a 13-point win over a game Camden at Uni #1 Oval, Pennant Hills disposed of Inner West by 43 points of Picken Oval, and Parramatta thrashed St. George by 67 points at Gipps Rd.
