Round 10, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Despite kicking only 2 goals and 10 behinds, Manly Warringah defeated UNSW-ES by 9 points in a low-scoring thriller at Henson Park. Final scores were Manly Warringah 2.1.22 to UNSW-ES 1.7.13.
Combined with UTS’s huge upset over Sydney University, the Wolves now have a clear pathway to the Minor Premiership; they must defeat East Coast, North Shore and Sydney Uni (that epic Wolves-Students fixture is the penultimate round of the Home & Away Season) to secure a priceless week off in the Finals. It’s a tall order (particularly playing North Shore at Gore Hill), but this Manly side, at full strength, is capable of anything.
Lauren Bourgeois and Kristie Leonard kicked the Wolves goals. The Bulldogs goalkicker was not available at the time of writing.
Manly were superbly led by skipper Ash Carter, whose football smarts and intercept marking are virtually unmatched in all of AFL Sydney. Carter was well supported by 2024 Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, speedy wing Andrea Roditis, Kenya Fahey (continuing her meteoric rise in 2025), Chloe Davis and Lauren Bull. The Bulldogs best players were not available at the time of writing.
In one of the upsets at the season of at Waverley Oval, UTS shocked previously undefeated Sydney University by 22 points. Final scores were UTS 7.4.46 to Sydney University 3.6.24 in a massive result for the Bats.
Sydney Uni led by 8 points at half time, but UTS kicked 6 goals to 1 in the second half in a highly impressive display.
Jessica Quade kicked 3 goals for UTS, with full forward Brianna-Lee Wade chipping in with 2 majors. Sydney Uni had 3 individual goal kickers.
UTS’ best players were ruck Emelye Blades, Ella Parker, Aoife Berry, Zoe Bush, Charlotte Owen and Kaitlyn McCaffrey. Sydney Uni was best served by Brianna Davies, Molly Cameron, Arabella Price, Emma Juneja, the evergreen Amanda Farrugia and Daisy George.
North Shore thumped Parramatta by 98 points at Gipps Rd Oval. Final scores were North Shore 14.14.98 to Parramatta 0.0.0.
The Bombers lead by 58 points at half time and kicked another 5 unanswered goals in the second half in a convincing performance.
Skipper Tilly Eder and Charlotte White kicked 2 goals each for the bombers.
North Shore’s best players were the rampant Heidi de Saxe, youngster Amelia Rainbow, Eder, Teigan Collister, Lily Sullivan and Grace Hill. Parramatta’s based players were Marley Rhodes, Ava Saad, Tayliya Noack, Brea Trevitt, Stacey Phillips and Cindy Lam.
East Coast Eagles defeated St. George by 70 points at Olds Park, despite kicking only 9 goals from 25 effective shots at goal. Final scores were East Coast 9.16.70 to St George 0.0.0.
The reigning premiers kicked 6.8 in the first half to lead by 44 points at the main break and then kicked another 3.8 in the second half as they completely shut down the youthful Dragons outfit.
Charlee McPherson kicked 3 goals for the Eagles, whilst classy half-forward Michelle Foscarini chipped in with 2 majors.
East Coast were best served by McPherson, Savannah Codd, Grace Tracey, Bryany Parker, Foscarini and Caitlin Rogers. The Dragons’ best players were the consistent Delaney Gwynn, Annabelle McHale, Maggie Ritchie, Montana Doubell, Paige Bauer and Shona O’Connell-Shea.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Women’s Division One action, Randwick City comfortably accounted for UTS by 31 points at Pioneers Park. North Shore thrashed South West Sydney by 95 points at Rosedale Oval, Sydney University prevailed over a dogged Camden by 2 goals at Fairfax Reserve, and Manly Warringah defeated Newtown by 40 points at Mahoney Park.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20 action, Parramatta and UTS played out a thrilling 3.7.25 to 3.7.25 draw at Gipps Rd Oval. Manly Warringah disposed of UNSW-ES by 6 goals at Henson Park, and North Shore defended Sydney University by 28 points at Gore Hill Oval.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
Pennant Hills rocketed into the into the top 5 with a 52-point victory over Inner West Magpies at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were Pennant Hills 15.8.98 to Inner West 7.4.46.
The Demons absolutely flew out of the blocks, keeping the Magpies scoreless and leading by 27 points at the first change. Inner West did well over the final 3 quarters to hang in with the Demons, but Pennant Hills kicked 10 goals in the second half to produce a crucial victory, made even more important with South West Sydney losing to North Shore. Next week’s Pennant Hills vs South West Sydney clash at Mike Kenny Oval shapes to be season-defining for both clubs, especially with a resurgent UTS nipping at their heels.
Key forward Nick Hey kicked 4 goals for the Demons, whilst ageless veteran Matt Carey chipped in with 3 majors for Pennant Hills. Elliot Harper kicked 2 goals for the Magpies.
Pennant Hills was best served by Charles Allison, Cameron Este, Liam Everett, Luke Skrivanic, Cameron Mitchell and Luka Jordaan. Inner West’s best players were Thye Hamilton, Jordan Ware, Will Deller, Jonathan Bowyer, Jack Lyons and Ki Curry.
In a superb game of football at Henson Park, Manly Warringah came from 15 points down at half time to run out 4 goal victors over a gallant UNSW-ES Bulldogs. Final scores were Manly Warringah 15.8.98 to UNSW-ES 11.8.74.
After an even first quarter, the upset was definitely on at half time, with the Bulldogs kicking 5 goals to 3 in an entertaining second quarter. However, as has been the case so often this season, the Wolves ran over the top of the Bulldogs in the second half, kicking 9 goals to 3 in the second excellent fixture between these two clubs in season 2025.
The return of Trent Dennis-Lane was massive for Manly Warringah. Dennis-Lane kicked 6 goals in a match-winning performance. Zac Youlten chipped in with 3 majors for the Wolves. Billy Longmire kicked 4 goals for the Bulldogs, whilst classy midfielder Jordan Endemann kicked 2 majors for UNSW-ES.
Manly’s best players were Ky McGrath, Barry O’Connor, Mackenzie Allen, Dennis-Lane, Aiden Adams and Willem Smit. The Bulldogs’ best players were the outstanding Endemann, Harry Kyle, Toby Alker, William Foster, Longmire and skipper Will Spencer.
UTS confirmed their reputation as the competition’s “cardiac kids” with a 2-point victory over a fast-finishing Sydney University at Waverley Oval. UTS won their 4th fixture on the trot 12. 9.81 to Sydney University 12.7.79.
The Bata led by 9 points at half time but then piled on 6 goals to 3 in a high-scoring third quarter to set up their victory. Sydney University absolutely came home like a steam train, kicking 4.5 in the final quarter to just 2 behinds, but somehow the Bats held on yet again as they kept pace with both Pennant Hills and South West Sydney.
Thomas Charles kicked 3 goals for the Bats while skipper Henry Gosse chipped in with 2 majors. Hugo Blacker and Tom Ryan kicked 2 goals each for Sydney University, with gun recruit Alex Witherden kept to 2 goals.
The Bats’ best players will Lachlan McNamara, Jack Calabro, Lewis McCormick, Gosse, Hamish Latchford and Louis Pribula. Sydney University was best served by Blacker, Russell Royal, Ryan, Witherden, Nick Andreacchio and Nathan Tang.
In an extraordinary game at Rosedale Oval, North Shore somehow came from 33 points down at half time to defeat South West Sydney by 12 points. Final scores were North Shore 11.17.83 to South West Sydney 10.11.71.
The Sydney football community were watching this game closely via PlayHQ, and no one could quite believe that the Blues led by almost 6 goals at the main break. After scores were tied after the first quarter, the Blues went crazy in the second quarter, kicking 6 goals to the Bombers’ 4 behinds.
No doubt after some stern words at the main break, North Shore came flying back at the Blues, kicking 6 goals to none in the third quarter to actually lead by 1 kick at three-quarter time. North Shore kicked 2 goals to 1 in the final quarter to leave South West Sydney rueing what might have been.
Jackson Nelson kicked 3 goals for the Bombers, with Patrick Bolger and Max Yeoland chipping in with 2 majors for North Shore. Eddie Keogh kicked 3 goals for the Blues, with Matt Storey and Blake Jarvis kicking 2 goals for South West Sydney.
The Bombers’ best players were key recruit Nick Pavlou, Ethan Grace, Nelson, Cooper Donald, Max Toohey and skipper Jake Veale. South West Sydney’s best players were Keogh, Ethan Roberts, Ethan Matthews, Finbar Delbridge, Josh Croft and Angus Langley.
St George produced a come from behind victory against East Coast Eagles in front of the faithful at Olds Park, eventually running out victors by 17 points. Final scores in an exciting fixture were St George 11.5.71 to East Coast’s 7.12.54, with the Eagles left lamenting their poor shooting on goal.
The Dragons trailed the Eagles for 3 quarters and were down by 12 points at the final break. Sir George produced a last quarter for the ages, kicking 5 goals 2 to the Eagles’ 3 behinds in a simply pulsating final stanza.
Key recruit Jed Robin kicked 5 goals for St George in a match-winning display. Scott Brown kicked 2 goals for the Eagles, on a day where they converted only 7 goals from 19 effective scoring shots on goal.
St. George’s best players with Josh Nichols, veteran backman Dominic Michalak, Robin, stalwart Matt Saunders, Cave McKnight and Jack Druery. East Coast Eagles’ best players were Nathan Penna, Brady Kane, Cam Edwards, Brown, Keegan Brady and Baylee Jones.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, there were some huge results. St George defeated Southern Power by 30 points at Olds Park in a match highlighted by poor shooting; the two teams combining for 11 goals 20 behinds. Parramatta produced a huge upset in knocking over the previously undefeated North Shore by 2 goals at Gipps Rd Oval, confirming the Goannas as a force to be reckoned with come September. Pennant Hills thrashed Inner West Magpies by 107 points at Mike Kenny Oval, and in a cracking game of football at Fairfax Reserve, third-placed Camden defeated Sydney University by 12 points, with the Students’ six goals from 17 effective shots at goal costing them dearly in the twilight at Harrington Park.
