Round 8, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
UTS defeated Parramatta by 89 points at Waverley Oval, with the final scores being UTS 14.7.91 to Parramatta 0.2.2.
The Bats led Parramatta by 53 points at half time, and despite a better defensive effort by Parramatta in the second half, UTS gained crucial percentage, as the final five could well go down to the calculators at the end of the Home & Away season.
Key forward Brianna-Lee Wade had a great battle with Parramatta custodian Ashley Gray, with Wade coming out on top after kicking 6 goals. Sophia Gaukrodger and Tilley Edwards-Hill both chipped in with 2 majors.
Once again, speedy midfielder Aoife Berry was fantastic for UTS. Berry’s athleticism and excellent delivery were a nightmare for the Goannas, with Berry consolidating her place as one of the competition’s best rovers, alongside Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf and Lucy Yates. Other UTS players to shine were Laura Donohue, Emelye Blades, Beth Martini, Wade and backline general Hannah Cerezo.
Parramatta were best served by Gray, Imogen Gow, Brea Trevitt, Ava Saad, Tayliyah Noack and Skyla Seal.
A rapidly developing St George Dragons comfortably accounted for Pennant Hills by 10 goals at Olds Park. Final scores were St George 9.7.61 to Pennant Hills 0.1.1.
After a quiet first quarter, St George put the foot down in the second quarter to lead by 34 points at the main break. They went on with the job in the second half, where their defensive efforts to keep Pennant Hills to just one behind will have been very pleasing for the Dragons coaching team.
Jasmine Baily led all goal kickers with 4 majors, with Emerald Ritchie and Annabelle McHale both chipping in with 2 goals.
Best players for St George will Montana Doubell, McHale, Baily, Hannah Phillips, Ritchie and Shona O’Connell- Shea. Pennant Hills were best served by Sally Faehrmann, Addison Hickey, Caitlin Gurney, Ashley Grubba, Josephine Smith and Bela Nash.
In a result that will make the rest of the competition take notice, Manly Warringah defeated East Coast Eagles by 41 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. The Wolves ran out victors 7.7.49 to 1.2.8, a superb defensive performance from the Wolves in a pivotal game for both clubs’ seasons.
The Wolves were so good in defence that East Coast only scored in the second quarter. To keep the reigning premier scoreless for three quarters is indicative of a superb shut down performance by the Wolves back 6, led by skipper Ash Carter.
Kate Salmon and small forward Isabella Rudolph kicked 2 majors each for Manly Warringah. Former Manly midfielder Emily Goodsir kicked East Coast’s only goal.
Manly were best served by in form wing Andrea Roditis, Hannah Woolf, Kenya Faye, Chloe Davis, Jessica Manning and Salmon. East Coast best players were Goodsir, Jess Whelan, Michelle Foscarini, Taylah Canobie, Nellie McMillan and veteran Renee Tomkins.
in the game of the round at Uni #1 Oval, competition leaders Sydney University hung on to defeat a fast-finishing North Shore by 6 points. Final scores in an outstanding game with Sydney University 5.4.34 to North Shore 4.4.28.
The Bombers flew out of the blocks kicking 3 goals to 1 in the first quarter, but a superb defensive effort from Sydney University kept the Bombers to 1 goal only in the final three quarters. The Students led by 2 goals at the final change and despite North Shore winning the last quarter, they could not quite get over the line against a confident and resolute Uni outfit.
Arabella Price kicked 2 goals for Uni, what key forward Adrienne Keeffe kicked 2 goals for the Bombers.
Sydney Uni’ best players were the evergreen Amanda Farrugia, Price, Rose Stuart, Molly Cameron, Claudia Gray and Arabella Hendriks. North Shore were best served by skipper Tilly Eder, talented youngster Amelia Rainbow, Ella Daniel, Emily Bliss, Pippy Clegg and Teigan Collister.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Women’s Division One action, UTS accounted for Newtown by 39 points at Mahoney Park, Randwick City thrashed South West Sydney by 101 points at Rosedale Oval, Sydney University prevailed by 17 points over North Shore at Uni #1 Oval, and Camden defeated Manly by 22 points at Fairfax Reserve.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20 action, Friday Night Football saw UTS grind out a 17-point win over Sydney University at Uni #1 Oval, UNSW-ES comfortably accounted for Parramatta by 52 points at Gipps Rd, and in an absolute thriller at Gore Hill Oval, North Shore defeated Manly Warringah by one point.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In Friday Night Football at a damp Picken Oval, UNSW-ES ground out a 43-point victory over Inner West Magpies. Final scores in an attritional game were UNSW-ES 8.16.64 to Inner West 2.9.21.
Dew on the surface of Picken Oval made the ball difficult to manage throughout the four quarters. Goalkicking proved difficult with the two sides combining for 10 goals out of 35 effective shots on goal.
Inner West were right in the game at three quarter time only trailing by 11 points, in a game where they kept league where they kept League leading goalkicker Hugo Birks goalless in an extraordinary display by the Magpies back 6. However, the Bulldogs put the foot down in the final quarter, with veteran Kieran Emery kicking 3 of the 6 goals that the Dogs kicked to run away with an important victory.
Emery led all goal kickers with 4 majors despite a superb effort from Keegan Litchfield, who had the challenging task of marking Emery all night. Ryder Eberhard and Kevin Clark kicked the Magpies only goals.
The Bulldogs best players were representative midfielder Sam Thorne, Emory, skipper Will Spencer, Toby Alker, Thomas Baxter ad Samuel Gaden. Inner West were best served by Jonathan Bowyer, Litchfield, Jye Doyle, ruck Uchena Egbu, Jack Rule and coach Ben Klemke.
UTS produced a big upset at home at Waverley Oval, defeating an inaccurate and undisciplined South West Sydney Blues by two goals in front of a healthy crowd at Bondi Junction. Final scores were UTS 11.6.72 South West Sydney 7.18.60.
The Blues will rue wasting a magnificent performance from league representative ruckman Finbar Delbridge, who quite simply produced one of the best games of his career.
South West Sydney led by 35 points 5 minutes into the second quarter, but then a series of 50 metre penalties late of directly led to 4 UTS goals which got them right back in the game at halftime. A superb third quarter by the Bats in which they kicked five goals to none saw them lead by 14 points at the last break and they held on for their first victory of the season, helped significantly by the by the Blues kicking 7 goals from 25 effective scoring shots.
Josh Lee and Antony Eussen kicked 3 goals each for the Bats, with all of you with all Eussen’s goals coming from directly from 50 metre penalties. Bailey Stewart kicked 3 goals for the Blues.
UTS half forward Blake Tabe put his hand up to representative selectors with a superb performance, including a candidate for mark of the year. Experienced midfielder Hamish Latchford was pivotal in UTS comeback, alongside Henry Gosse, experienced half back Louis Pribula, custodian Jack Calabro and Eussen. The Blues will be served by the outstanding Delbridge, halfback Khy Gibbs, Ryan Shipard, back pocket Kane Flynn-Duncombe, Stewart and Luke Parkinson.
South West Sydney’s loss opened the door for the Pennant Hills Demons. The demons produced an excellent second half against St George eventually running out victors at olds park 14.5.89 to 5.5.35.
After close first half, the Demons led by 10 points of the main break. The Demons then ran away in the second half kicking 10 goals to 3 in a crucial win that gained 4 points and percentage on South West Sydney.
Key forward Nick Hey kicked 5 goals for Pennant Hills in an excellent display. Lachlan Willey and rugged utility Patrick Witt chipped in with 2 goals apiece. Mac Winchester kicked 2 majors for the Dragons.
Pennant Hills’ best players were Nick Eynaud, Willey, Zach Elliott, Maine Vidler, Luke Skrivanic and Josh Everett. St George were best served by the consistent Lachlan Querzoli, Cave McKnight, Thomas Ingram, Callum Nash, key back Eddie Marning and Dominic Maunder.
High flying Manly Warringah defeated East Coast Eagles by 59 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were Manly Warringah 16.15.111 to East Coast Eagles 7.10.52.
The Wolves led at every change and kicked 5 goals to 1 in the last quarter, not the first time this season they have run away with victory in the final stanza.
Byron Laws kicked five goals for the wolves in an eye-catching display. Irishman Barry O’Connor also kicked three goals from midfield. Brody Kane kicked two goals for the Eagles.
Manly’ best players were O’Connor, Travis Schiller, Laws, Tom McCaffrey, Ky McGrath and Aiden Adams. East Coast Eagles were best served by Kane, the consistent Jacob Jones, Mitchell Bradley, Corey Dowle, Bailee Jones and Harry Elbourne.
In a top five clash at Uni #1 Oval, North Shore defeated Sydney University by 25 points. Final scores were North Shore 15.12.102 to Sydney University 12.5.77.
North Shore shared their goals around with half forward Matt Buskariol kicking 4 majors, whilst Nick Pavlou and Max Yeoland both chipping in with 3 majors. Pavlou is an important recruit for North Shore, with talisman Fraser Thurlow playing his football in suburban Melbourne.
Pavlou gets better each week and will be particularly important for North Shore, who are surely bound for the final three in September. Former Brisbane Lion and West Coast Eagle Alex Witherden, returning from injury, kicked 6 goals for Uni, Patrick Braithwaite and key forward Nik Dale chipped in with 2 majors apiece.
Best players for North Shore were Cooper Donald, Pavlou, dual Phelan Medallist Ned Campbell, Yeoland, Ethan Grace and Finn Chalmers. Uni were best served by Oscar Bosnjakovic, Leo Hawkins, Witherden, Jack Bartholomaeus, Lucas Newman and Sam Barkley.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, in the battle of the undefeated leaders, North Shore defeated Sydney University by 21 points at Uni #1 Oval, UNSW-ES thrashed Inner West by 95 points at Picken Oval, St George were too strong for Pennant Hills, eventually running out winners by 53 points at Olds Park, and Parramatta defeated Camden by 37 points at Fairfax Reserve, which is a huge result for the Goannas.
