Round 9, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
Round 9 takes us to the half-way point in the home and away season. As we’re not yet at half-way, no-one is mathematically in or out of the finals yet; but there are some clubs that are going to be hard to dislodge; while others have an enormous mountain to climb.
In Men’s Premier Division, Manly are undefeated on top. North Shore are second, having dropped one game, while UNSW-ES are a game behind; and the Bombers and Bulldogs play each other this week. Sydney Uni are half a game behind the Bulldogs and ready to pounce if the Bulldogs slip up, while South-West Sydney round out the top five.
Sydney Uni are setting the pace in the Women’s, two games clear on top. North Shore and Manly are separated by percentage, a game ahead of UNSW-ES and East Coast. UTS are out of the five on percentage, but they have the bye this week and will be hoping the teams ahead of them stay within reach.
The weather forecast for the weekend looks OK, and conditions should be good for a big weekend of footy. The winter air is cold, but the football action is warming up.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v UTS Bats
Picken Oval, Saturday 12:00pm
Magpies – 10th. Played 8, Won 0, Lost 8, 48.06%. Streak – L8
Bats – 7th. Played 8, Won 2, Lost 6, 64.78%. Streak – W2
A fortnight ago, this match at Picken Oval was looking set to be a wooden spoon playoff; as at that stage neither team had won a game. But since then the Bats have hit some form and have taken out back to back wins. They’re going for three in a row in this clash; but standing in their way is an Inner West Magpies side that is desperate to break their duck for 2025.
It’s been a tough season for the Magpies, and last week they were sent up to Weldon to take on Manly. There’s not many tougher away trips than that, and the Magpies were never in the contest as they went down by 94 points. Nick McCormack, Jonty Inglis and Jonathan Bowyer tried hard; but it was one of those days where little was going right. This week they’re back at home, and there’s lessons to be learned that can be applied to this match. After being jumped early last week, they’ll need to stay within reach of the Bats this time round.
The Bats, after six losses in a row, have now won their last two. Last Thursday night at Bat & Ball, it was a thriller against St George as the Bats hung on for a four-point win; with Henry Gosse, Lachlan McNamara and Jack Calabro featuring prominently for the Bats. It took some time in coming, but the Bats have built up some momentum and confidence will be flowing going into this clash; the sort of confidence that only winning can deliver,
For the Magpies, these are desperate times. A new determination and a new effort is needed here; all hands on deck to do everything in their power for that breakthrough victory. The Bats had theirs a fortnight ago, and are now going for the three-game winning streak. It’s a long shot, but if the Bats can take the points here, the finals may yet be a chance.
North Shore Bombers v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:10pm
Bombers – 2nd. Played 8, Won 7, Lost 1, 216.35%. Streak – W6
Bulldogs – 3rd. Played 8, Won 6, Lost 2, 186.90%. Streak – L1
A clash between second and third will have major implications for the double-chance in the finals. And when it’s the teams that met in consecutive Grand Finals as recently as 2022 and 2023, this is a clash that neither team should have any trouble getting motivated for. This has the potential to be one of the games of the season.
North Shore dropped their second round match to Manly, but since then have won every week, usually by comfortable margins. Last week at Mike Kenny they had little trouble in seeing off Pennant Hills. The Demons never looked like scoring any more than the one goal they managed in the first quarter; with Matt Buskariol landing four goals while Pierce Roseby, Jake Veale and Felix Rogers were unstoppable around the ground. When they’re in that sort of form the Bombers are hard to stop; and another performance like that will keep the Bulldogs’ defenders and taggers busy.
UNSW-ES go into this game looking to bounce back after a 48-point loss to Sydney Uni at the No 1 Oval last Friday night. In the absence of Hugo Birks, the Bulldogs were unable to find a multiple goal-kicker; and despite the valiant efforts of Tom Baxter, Harry Kyle and Toby Alker, the Bulldogs never looked like getting into the contest. But they’ll be licking their lips for this one, another old rival that they’ve won premierships against not long ago. But Gore Hill is a tough away trip, and the Bulldogs will need to be firing at their best here.
North Shore have been in impressive form in recent weeks, and will be keen to keep their momentum going in this clash. The Bulldogs are looking to fight back after last week’s loss, and a loss here could see them slip out of the top three. With recent history between these clubs, plenty of attacking options and two teams with no shortage of talent who have climbed the premiership mountain before; this game has the ingredients of a classic. You’ll want to get to Gore Hill for this one.
East Coast Eagles v Pennant Hills Demons
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 1:40pm
Eagles – 8th. Played 7, Won 2, Lost 5, 48.81%. Streak – L5
Demons – 6th. Played 8, Won 3, Lost 4, Drawn 1, 79.18%. Streak – L1
The Hills Derby rarely fails to deliver a keenly-fought contest. And both sides have plenty of reason to fire up for this clash. The Eagles have lost their last five and need a circuit-breaker to get their season back on track; while the Demons struggled to find a score last week and have plenty of work in front of them to get back to the final five. It’s a game not to be missed; and thanks to Streamer, wherever in the world you are, you don’t have to. Just get your device onto the live action. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/5183 ]
East Coast’s season took a turn for the worse at Rosedale last week when they were jumped at the start and went down to South-West Sydney by 49 points. Harry Elbourne, Jesse Eldred and Keegan Brady battled hard against the odds; but it was another disappointing afternoon for the Eagles as they never looked like bouncing back from their slow start. Two wins to open the season showed some promise, but the Eagles haven’t been able to back up that effort. But to face their old rival, on their home turf, could be the motivation they need to re-launch the season.
Pennant Hills are looking to hit back after a shocker against North Shore at Mike Kenny last week. The Demons were held scoreless after half time and never looked in the contest, going down by 91 points. Lachlan Willey, Luka Jordan and Michael Carroll tried hard; but the Demons struggled to get their game plan going all day. Now they’re off to Bruce Purser, and need to lift their work-rate and get a lot more of the ball than they were allowed to last week.
It’s desperation stakes time for the Eagles. Two wins was a promising start to the season, but they can’t let this season slip away without a fight. They’ve dropped to eighth on the ladder, and if they are to have any finals hopes at all, now is the time to step up a gear. The Demons also have some work to do to get into finals contention; they’re a game and a half behind South-West Sydney, and although the draw gets kinder from here than what they’ve faced so far, there’s plenty of ground to make up. And the work to recover that ground starts right here.
Sydney University Students v St George Dragons
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 2:40pm
Students – 4th. Played 8, Won 5, Lost 2, Drawn 1, 137.35%. Streak – W1
Dragons – 9th Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, 58.14%. Streak – L6
A late afternoon game at the Campus puts the Students up against St George. The Students are back on the winning list; while the Dragons, winless since the Easter break, go into this game looking for a circuit-breaker to turn their season around. It’s the second meeting between these two clubs in 2025. The Students won Round 3 by 44 points, and the Dragons have plenty of work ahead of them to reverse that result this time.
The Students returned to the winning list in style at Sydney Uni last week with a 48-point win over UNSW-ES. Alex Witherden had little trouble finding the big sticks to finish with four goals; while Marcus Valastro, Jake Bartholomaeus and Lucas Newman were prominent contributors. The Students can re-enter the top three this week if they get the points and UNSW-ES go down at Gore Hill; and despite the hiccup of those back to back losses, the Students are still in a strong position in 2025. But a win here is essential, and they can’t take any result for granted.
Thursday night was a heart-breaker for the Dragons, as they came home hard against UTS at Bat & Ball, only to fall four points short. Jed Robin fought hard on the forward line to finish with five goals; while Dom Michalak and Matt Saunders picked up plenty of possessions around the ground. But in the end, victory would elude them as it has for their last six games on the trot. Sydney Uni No 1 is a tough away trip, but the potential is always there on those small confines to kick a winning score. But it needs forwards to stand up and take those marks, with plenty of delivery from the midfield to create opportunities.
For the Students, a win here could enable them to enter the top three. It would certainly keep them within striking distance. Having re-discovered the winning touch last week, they won’t want to take any risks with their form. But for St George, the season is at risk of falling away if they can’t arrest their losing streak. A big effort is required against the odds, and that big effort starts here.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v South-West Sydney Blues
Weldon Oval, Saturday 3:40pm
Wolves – 1st. Played 7, Won 7, Lost 0, 228.25%. Streak – W7
Blues – 5th. Played 8, Won 5, Lost 3, 91.44%. Streak – W1
This is where it started for South-West Sydney at Premier Division level, as they played their opening game last year against the Wolves at Weldon. On that occasion it was no contest, as the Wolves raced to a 130-point win. The undefeated Wolves will go in as favourites again this time. But the Blues have been able to accumulate the wins and get up if it gets close; and this match will give us an indication as to how they have developed in the last year-and-a-half.
For Manly, that game last year was the start of a run to the Grand Final. This year they’re aiming to go one better and take the premiership; and they haven’t put a foot wrong so far this season. Last week they were 94 points too good for Inner West; with Jesse Wadeisha helping himself to seven goals while Lachlan Behagg, Cooper McClennan and Aidan Adams were in the thick of the action around the ground. Manly just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing; but they know only too well that they can’t afford to put their foot off the gas for a week. Form can be a fickle thing.
The Blues’ second season in the top flight sees them in the top five as we get to the half-way point. Last week at Rosedale they got off to a flyer against East Coast, the six goal opening quarter laying the foundations for a 49-point win. Nick Dunshea spearheaded the charge with a four-goal return; while Callum Burns, Bailey Latanis and Josh Croft picked up plenty of the ball around the ground. All the Blues have to do is keep winning and they’ll get into the finals. But Manly at Weldon is a big ask; and they’ll need to pull out something special to get the points here.
On Manly’s turf, they will fancy their chances of maintaining their unbeaten run. So far 2025 has delivered plenty of big home wins for the Wolves. The Blues will be outsiders, but they’ve shown plenty of fighting spirit against the odds to get themselves into the top five. The Blues won’t be an easy opponent; and if they can pull off the boilover result here, they’ll be hard to run down in the battle for finals places.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
North Shore Bombers v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 11:30am
Bombers – 2nd. Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2, 592.19%. Streak – W1
Bulldogs – 4th. Played 7, Won 4, Lost 3, 213.26%. Streak – L2
This clash on the Gore Hill synthetic has potential implications for the finals double-chance. North Shore, after an enormous win, will go a long way to consolidating their hold on a top-three position if they can get the job done. But standing in their way is a UNSW-ES side that has dropped their last two; and at risk of losing contact with the double-chance teams if the losing streak extends to three.
The Bombers made their way to second on the ladder last Friday with about the most comprehensive possible win, a whopping 177-0 result against Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny to lift their percentage to nearly 600. On a day when no less than 13 Bombers got on the goal-scoring list, Adrienne Keeffe again spearheaded the charge with four goals; while Heidi de Saxe and Lucinda Watson were ball magnets around the ground. The Bombers have worked their way to a prominent ladder position; but will need to keep getting the results to stay there.
UNSW-ES were also in weeknight action last weekend when they had a Thursday night clash against Sydney Uni at the No 1 Oval. But it wasn’t a good night for the Bulldogs, as the Students took the lead early and went on to complete a 32-point win. Best players for the Bulldogs last week were not available at the time of writing; but on form so far this season, the Bulldogs will need the likes of Aimee Whelan, Gabby Eaton and Emily Conlan to step up if they are to challenge the Bombers in this one.
The Bulldogs had a great draw to start the season, easily overpowering all the teams outside the top five; but are yet to beat a team in the top five. To be genuine contenders, the Bulldogs need the scalp of a top team, and this is their opportunity. But it won’t be easy against a North Shore team who are high on confidence and showed against the Demons last week they have the killer instinct to last four quarters without letting up. This is the Bulldogs’ challenge, and if they are true title contenders, they need to rise to the occasion.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v Parramatta Goannas
Weldon Oval, Saturday 11:50am
Wolves – 3rd. Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1, 307.33%. Streak – W5
Goannas – 8th. Played 7, Won 0, Lost 7, 5.59%. Streak – L7
Manly and Parramatta meet at Weldon Oval for a lunchtime battle. The Wolves, coming off last week’s bye, haven’t dropped a game since their opening clash. A winning streak they’ll be looking to continue when they host the winless Goannas.
Manly’s last start was a fortnight ago when they travelled to Bruce Purser for a clash against East Coast, their nemesis from last year’s Grand Final. But it was no contest as the Wolves easily reversed last year’s result; taking the lead early and holding the Eagles to a single goal to complete a 41-point win. Andrea Roditis, Hannah Woolf and Kenya Fahey, as they have so often before, were influential in the contest; and the Goannas will have to keep them quiet if they are to be competitive in this contest.
It hasn’t been an easy season for the Goannas. They did manage an early goal against East Coast at Gipps Road last week, but it would be their only score for the game as they went down by 108 points. Bree Devitt, Skyla Seal and Megan Ashford never gave up; but the Goannas weren’t able to put the Eagles under pressure. And now they have a tough away trip to Weldon, where there’s plenty of hard work to be done. Every week is a new challenge, and this is one of the hardest ones our league has to offer.
Five in a row, the Wolves are on a roll. While the Goannas have struggled, yet to sing the song in 2025. In a difficult season, the Goannas just can’t lie down here. They may not win, but they need to compete. To find a way to challenge the Wolves, scrap and fight in every contest. If they can’t do that, this is going to be a long afternoon for the Goannas and another enormous scoreline. It takes a special effort, finding something within themselves that they haven’t yet unleashed. To not accept as inevitable what the form-line suggests, but to make the Wolves earn the points. Only the Goannas within themselves can find this new gear.
East Coast Eagles v Pennant Hills Demons
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 12:00pm
Eagles – 5th. Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2, 206.00%. Streak – W1
Demons – 9th. Played 7, Won 0, Lost 7, 1.04%. Streak – L7
We’re at Bruce Purser for the Hills Derby, and these teams have shown in the past that they can bring out the best in each other. The Eagles are into the top five with plenty of footy still to play; and will be looking at this game as an opportunity to consolidate their hold on a top five position. While the Demons desperately need to hit back and salvage something from what has been a disastrous season to date.
The stakes are high in the Hills Derby. If the Metro ride to Rouse Hill is beyond you, never fear. Tune your device to Streamer and catch the action as it happens. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/5181 ]
The Eagles returned to the winning list, and the top five, with a 108-point win over the Goannas at Gipps Road last week. Caitlin Davidson was a star up forward to finish with five goals; while Savannah Codd, Taylah Canobie and Grace Tracey were in the thick of the action around the ground. The Eagles have a game in hand compared to their rivals for finals positions, and although they currently sit in fifth place, they still give the impression their best is yet to come. This game gives them the opportunity to turn their best game plan on.
Pennant Hills’ season went from bad to worse last Friday night at Mike Kenny when they went down 177-0 to North Shore. Scarlett Sheridan, Addison Hickey and Sienna Lindsay tried hard, but the Demons didn’t have the firepower to match it with North Shore. Winless and with a percentage of just over one; the Demons need to find something more. To look deep within themselves and find a way to lift.
The defending three-time premiers have title aspirations again this year; and are biding their time, waiting to build up to title-winning form. The form lines suggest that, on paper, this should be a comfortable Eagles win. But football games aren’t won on paper, they’re won with blood and boots on the field. This is where the Demons need to find something, anything. To compete. To scrap and contest every possession. If they can’t, this is going to be another long and frustrating day for them.
Sydney University Students v St George Dragons
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 5:00pm
Students – 1st. Played 7, Won 7, Lost 0, 498.98%. Streak – W7
Dragons – 7th. Played 7, Won 2, Lost 5, 25.84%. Streak – L1
It’s a sundown rundown at the Campus on Saturday night as the Students host the Dragons. For Uni, they’ll be looking to complete another chapter in what has so far been an unbeaten season. While St George, although they have two wins, have copped some horrible losses; and will be desperate to put up a competitive performance this time.
2025 has gone according to plan for Sydney Uni, and they are yet to drop a game. Last Thursday they hosted UNSW-ES at the No 1 Oval, and never looked in danger as they cruised to a 32-point win. The evergreen Amanda Farrugia, along with Frances Walsh and Lucy Smith, were unstoppable as the Students once again did what they had to do to keep their winning streak intact. Back at home against an opponent well outside the five, the Students will fancy their chances here. But still have to turn up and get the job done.
Against the odds, the Dragons have saluted twice this season. But they were unable to add to that tally last Thursday at Olds Park against UTS. In a low-scoring contest, the Dragons were unable to find a goal until the last quarter, going down by 38 points; despite the determined resistance of Caydelan Mitchell Bruce, Montana Dobell and Zoe Maher. Now they’re off to Sydney Uni, another tough match against an undefeated opposition. The Dragons have found a way to win twice this season, but they’ll have to find something more if their third win for the year is going to come here.
It’s the second meeting between these sides in 2025. In Round 3 at Olds Park, the Dragons were unable to score a goal as the Students got it down by 69 points. This time we’re on the tight confines of the No 1 Oval, and it’s going to take something special for the Dragons to reverse the early season result. Something special triggered by a competitive urge and a never-day-die spirit. We’ve seen plenty of one-sided games in Women’s Premier Division this season, and the Dragons should be desperate to compete and put up the fight of their lives.
