Round 9, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
North Shore continued their charge towards the top three with a convincing 54-point victory over UNSW-ES at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 10.5.65 to UNSW-ES 1.5.11.
North Shore proved they were serious early on, kicking 6 goals to 0 in the first quarter. They extended this lead to 50 points at half time. The Bulldogs produced a much better defensive display in the second half, as North Shore only kicked 2 goals after half time.
Full forward Adrienne Keefe and in-form rover Heidi de Saxe kicked two goals each for the Bombers. Zali Deep kicked the Bulldogs only goal.
The Bombers best players were Ella Daniel, Kiera Yerbury, gun rover Lucy Yates, Charlotte Tidemann, de Saxe and Keeffe. The Bulldogs were best served by Rani Sossai, Aimee Whelan, Amaia Wain, Emma Haley, Deep and Emily Conlan.
Manly Warringah thrashed Parramatta by 123 points at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 17.21.123 to Parramatta 0.0.0.
Manly led by 69 points at half time, and only inaccurate goal kicking the second half kept their final margin to just over 20 goals. Manly kicked 7.12 in the second half.
Small forward Isabella Rudolph had yet another day out, kicking 7 goals for the Wolves in an outstanding performance. Rudolph was well supported by Lauren Bourgeois, Kate Salmon, Lauren Bull and Jayda Kennedy, all of whom chipped in with 2 goals.
The Wolves best players were Zara Hamilton, Rudolph, Kennedy, Jayme Saggers, Holly Wickham and skipper Ash Carter. The Goannas best players were Skyla Seal, Marley Rhodes, Ava Saad, Caitlin Connaughton, the consistent Brea Trevitt and Katherine Spender.
On Back to Baulko Day at Bruce Purser Reserve, East Coast Eagles produced another convincing display, defeating Pennant Hills by 116 points. Final scores were East Coast 16.20.116 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.
The Eagles coaching team will be pleased with their consistent performance over four quarters, with East Coast kicking 3 then 4 then 3 then 4 goals as they gained crucial percentage in the race toward September.
Aysha Sanchez kicked three goals for East Coast, with Grace Tracey and Marley Kozak chipping in with two majors each.
East Coast best players were Sanchez, Bryany Parker, Tracey, Taylah Canobie, Emily Goodsir and Annaleise Barton. Pennant Hills were best served by Sheridan Baker, Caitlin Gurney, Ash Grubba, Stephanie Este, Louise Fisher and Hayley Marriott.
In the night fixture at Uni #1 Oval, competition leaders Sydney University comfortably accounted for St George by 67 points. Final scores were Sydney University 10.15.75 to St George 1.2.8.
Uni piled on the pressure in the first half, kicking 7 goals to 1 in a dominant display. The Dragons regrouped in the second half, keeping Uni to 3.6 after half time. Uni will be happy with their defensive performance, keeping the Dragons to a solitary major over four quarters.
Elizabeth Kennedy and Emma Walsh kicked 3 goals apiece for Sydney Uni, with star midfielder Emma Juneja chipping in with 2 majors.
Sydney Uni’s best players were Juneja, Georgina Gough, Amanda Farrugia, Ashley Dribbus, Arabella Hendricks and Francis Walsh. St George’s best players were not available at the time of writing.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Women’s Division One action, there were two significant upset results; North Shore crept to within 4 points of the Top 4 with an excellent 26-point .win over Randwick City at Gore Hill, and UTS produced an outstanding performance in accounting for previously undefeated Sydney University by 16 points at Trumper Oval. In other results, Manly Warringah thrashed South West Sydney by 20 goals at Weldon Oval, and in a low-scoring thriller, Newtown defeated Camden by 8 points in Pride Round at Henson Park.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20 action, UTS defeated North Shore by 39 points at Trumper Oval, despite kicking only 5.15.45. Competition leaders Manly Warringah showed their class in demolishing sixth-placed Parramatta by 101 points at Weldon Oval, and Sydney University defeated UNSW-ES by 44 points at Mahoney Park.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In an absolutely thrilling game at Picken Oval, UTS came from 17 points down at three-quarter time to defeat Inner West Magpies by 6 points, the third victory in a row for the Bats. Final scores were UTS 11.15.81 to Inner West 10.15.75.
In a cracking fixture that ebbed and flowed, UTS led by 20 points at half time. Inner West produced a champagne third quarter, kicking 6.3 to 2 behinds to lead the Bats by 17 points with 25 minutes remaining. The Bats kicked 4 goals to 5 behinds in the last quarter to record an important victory as they kept their faint hopes of finals action very much alive.
Antony Eussen kicked 3 goals for the Bats, with Thomas Charles and lively half forward Blake Tabe chipping in with 2 goals apiece. Ryder Eberhard and unlikely forward Will Deller kicked 2 goals each for the desperate Magpies.
UTS’ best players were Lewis McCormack, Lachlan McNamara, Damian Ryan, Henry Gosse, Hamish Latchford and Charles. Inner West’s best players with the consistent Deller, Jack Rule, Jye Doyle, Elliott Harper, Jaden Gilheany and Jonty Inglis.
Reigning premiers North Shore produced a professional display in defeating UNSW-ES by 47 points at Gore Hill. Final scores were North Shore 15.17.107 to UNSW-ES 9.6.60.
The return of Fraser Thurlow to Bomberland cannot be understated. The powerful and skilful Thurlow makes an enormous difference for North Shore, as was evidenced in the 2024 Grand Final. Furlow is one of the only players in all of Sydney football who can match veteran Manly ruckman Antony Forato and Blues big man Finbar Delbridge for strength and nous in the ruck. Thurlow was once again at his best for North Shore as they ran out 8-goal victors over the talented Bulldogs outfit.
Small forward Max Yeoland kicked 4 goals for North Shore, with Thurlow, Cooper Donald and Matt Buskariol chipping in with 2 majors each. Veteran full forward Kieran Emery kicked 2 majors for the Bulldogs.
Apart from the outstanding Thurlow, North Shore’s best players were Mitchell Rogers, Yeoland, Felix Rogers, Lachlan Carmichael and Pearce Roseby. The Bulldogs were best served by Thomas Baxter, Owen Turner, Jasper Hardy, Samuel Gaden, skipper Will Spencer and Sam Thorne.
A ruthless and clinical first quarter from Pennant Hills, in a game they absolutely had to win to stay in touch with fifth-placed South West Sydney, set up a comfortable 55-point victory over the East Coast Eagles at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores of Pennant Hills 15.10.100 to East Coast Eagles 6.9.45.
The Demons were on fire early on, leading by 44 points at quarter time. Whilst East Coast chipped away for the rest of the game, Pennant Hills kicked 5 goals to 2 in the last quarter to run away with the victory and pick up crucial percentage.
The return of key Nick Hey was pivotal for Pennant Hills. Hey kicked 5 goals in an excellent display. He was aided and abetted by Darcy Carnahan, who kicked 3 goals and Maine Vidler and Liam Everett, both of whom chipped in with 2 majors. Jesse Eldred and Brendan Coxall both kicked 2 goals for the Eagles.
Pennant Hills’ best players were skipper Mitchell Blow, Lachlan Willey, Nick Eynaud, Oliver Williams, Hey and Cameron Este. Once again, Jacob Jones was once again one of East Coast’s best players, and he was well supported by Reeve Simmons, Baylee Jones, Nathan Penny, Will Mitchell and Nick Johns.
Undefeated competition leaders Manly Warringah defeated 5th-placed South West Sydney Blues by 11 goals at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 15.14.104 to South West Sydney 5.8.38.
Like North Shore and Pennant Hills, Manly flew out of the blocks in the first quarter, keeping South West Sydney scoreless while they racked up 4.5. Manly coaches will be pleased as they produced three very consistent quarters, with South West Sydney temporarily stemming the flow in the third quarter only. As was the case on several occasions earlier this season, Manly ran away with the game again in the final quarter.
2023 Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila kicked 3 majors for the Wolves, as did full forward Jesse Wadeisha. Travis Schiller and Zach Youlten chipped in with 2 majors each for the Wolves. Key forward Nick Dunshea kicked 3 goals for the Blues.
Best players for the Wolves with Jonathan Marsh, Schiller (again), Mac Allen, Kyle Martin, William Smit and Taine Wright. Best players for the Blues were Liam Burns, Josh Croft, Dunshea, Bailey Stewart, James Kennedy and Callum Burns.
Sydney University leapfrogged arch rivals UNSW-ES into third place on the ladder after their 105-point demolition of St George at Uni #1 Oval. Final scores in a high-scoring game were Uni
26.14.170 to St George 10.5.65.
On a day where big first quarters were very much the norm, the Students kicked 9 goals to 2 in a thrilling 11-goal first quarter. Uni won every quarter as they put themselves in a position to secure the crucial double chance come September.
Gun recruit Alex Witherden reached the promised land, kicking 10 goals for Sydney University, with Tom Ryan also outstanding in kicking 7 for the Students. Important recruit Jed Robin kicked 3 goals for the Dragons, whilst club stalwart Matt Saunders chipped in with 2 majors.
Witherden and Ryan were amongst Uni’s best players, with other Students to shine being Jake Bartholomaeus, Vincent O’Brien, Oscar Bosnjakovic and Harrison Podmore-Taylor. The Dragons best players were a replica of previous games this season. Dominic Maunder, Lachlan Querzoli, Saunders, Dominic Michalak, Cave McKnight and Robin were listed amongst the Dragons best.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, Sydney University defeated St George by 63 points at Uni #1 Oval, Southern Power trounced Pennant Hills by 58 points at Waratah Oval, Camden ran amok in thrashing Inner West Magpies by 146 points at Picken Oval, and undefeated competition leaders North Shore prevailed by 29 points over a committed UNSW-ES at Gore Hill.
