Round 15, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview
Written by Michael Shilllito
Four rounds to go, and we have new ladder leaders. Last week’s matches at Gore Hill saw North Shore displace Manly on top of the ladder in both competitions. But it’s very tight. The battle for the minor premiership is not over yet in either competition.
In the Mens, only percentage separates the two teams. Percentage of less than three goals over the space of a season. Even if both teams win all their remaining game, the Wolves could still leap-frog the Bombers. Meanwhile UNSW-ES extended their lead in the battle for the double-chance after Sydney Uni’s shock loss last week. A result that sees Pennant Hills back in the race for the top five. This week North Shore hosts Sydney Uni; while the other teams in the top six play bottom-four teams.
The Womens will be decided on match ratio. North Shore are top, but have played one more game than the chasing Manly and Sydney Uni; and the Bombers play the Students this week. UNSW-ES have the bye this week; giving UTS the opportunity to challenge for a spot in the five when they take on the winless Pennant Hills.
The battle for finals positions is going to be very close. Not just the winners, but the margins, will be critical.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
UTS Bats v Pennant Hills Demons
Blacktown International Sportspark, Oval 2, Saturday 12:50pm
Bats – 7th. Played 14, Won 5, Lost 9, 74.10%. Streak – W1
Demons – 6th. Played 14, Won 6, Lost 7, Drawn 1, 73.46%. Streak – W1
Two teams back on the winning list face off at BISP, Oval 2 when the Bats host the Demons; looking to go two in a row. For the Bats, it’s part of a campaign to finish a disappointing 2025 on a positive note. But the stakes are higher for the Demons. After an inspirational win against Sydney Uni last week, the Demons are back in finals calculations.
The Bats broke their losing run last week with an 11-point win over East Coast at Waverley. The Eagles led by 10 points at the long break; but a run of four goals to one in the premiership quarter turned the game in the Bats’ favour. Henry Gosse, Lachlan McNamara and Ash Backlund played key roles for the Bats, particularly in their third quarter revival. Too late to make the finals, but the Bats will be looking to finish 2025 strongly and lay the platform for future success.
Pennant Hills returned to form in style last Saturday at Sydney Uni No 1. The Students led at every change, but the Demons were always close enough to be within striking distance. And when the game was there to be won in the last quarter, the Demons stood up and took their opportunity. Nick Hey landed five goals; while Michael Carroll and Kieran Coldrake were in the thick of the action around the ground. Still plenty of work to be done to get into the final; but the Demons can’t be written off yet. They are still in ths hunt; but need a win here. If it gets tight, the Demons know what they have to do.
When the two sides met at Mike Kenny in round 6, the Demons got up in a close one by seven points. It’s absolutely essential for the Demons that they get the job done here. Last week’s win gets them to within a game and a half of South-West Sydney in fifth; and the Demons do have a game against the Blues to come. But to make the finals, they need to win and wait for the Blues to fall over. If they can’t fulfil their own end of the bargain, the finals are gone. But the Bats won’t be making it easy for them. This is UTS’s turf, and they won’t be viewing this game as a dead rubber. They want to win, and they’ll make it a challenge for the Demons; but if the Demons are genuine finals contenders, it’s a challenge they must rise above.
East Coast Eagles v South-West Sydney Blues
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 1:50pm
Eagles – 8th. Played 14, Won 3, Lost 11, 58.13%. Streak – L4
Blues – 5th. Played 14, Won 8, Lost 6, 108.55%. Streak – L1
2025 has had its challenges for the Eagles, and after winning their first two games they’ve only won one since. This time they’re up against a South-West Sydney side whose loss last week makes their hold on a top five place vulnerable. The Blues aren’t finals-bound yet.
Last week was one that got away for the Eagles, when they led UTS by 10 points at the long break at Waverley. But when the Bats stepped up the pressure in the third quarter, the Eagles were unable to match it. Reeve Simmons, Brody Kane and Jacob Jones kept working hard; but it was an opportunity missed for the Eagles. Back at home this week, a big four quarter effort is required.
In their second season in Premier Division, the Blues are in fifth place and have high hopes of playing finals. But they’re not there yet, and suffered a setback last week when they went down to UNSW-ES by 36 points at Rosedale. Khy Gibbs, Josh Croft and Bailey-Dean Lateinis never stopped working hard; but the Blues were short of their best and never looked like getting back into the contest. But they remain in the five; and as long as they get back on the winning list and stay there, they’ll make it. Their fate is in their hands.
These teams met at Rosedale in round 7, and on that occasion the Blues were 49 points too good. Now at the Eagles’ home, the home side needs to find something more. The Blues shouldn’t be short of motivation. Last week’s loss has cut the gap between the Blues and sixth-placed Pennant Hills; and if the Blues drop another game here, there’s no safety margin for their upcoming game against the Demons. To strengthen their hold on a top five berth, the Blues must win; nothing else matters. But the Eagles, looking to salvage something from a season that hasn’t lived up to their early-season hopes, this is a chance to make a statement that the Eagles of the future will be a tough proposition. The Blues can’t expect a walk in the park here.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Inner West Magpies
Henson Park, Saturday 1:50pm
Bulldogs – 3rd. Played 14, Won 10, Lost 4, 166.67%. Streak – W4
Magpies – 10th. Played 14, Won 0, Lost 14, 49.92%. Streak – L14
Four wins on the trot has the Bulldogs comfortably in third place. The double-chance for the finals beckons; and they can take another step towards avoiding finals sudden death when they host the winless Magpies at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulldogs’ fourth win of their current streak came at Rosedale Oval last Saturday when they were too good for South-West Sydney, getting up by 36 points. In a low-scoring contest, Kieran Emery’s five goals were worth their weight in gold; while Harrison Dyson, Oscar Peter and Anthony Halikas featured prominently around the ground. A game and a half clear of Sydney Uni, the Bulldogs have the fate of the double-chance in their own hands. A win against the struggling Magpies will get them so close.
Inner West Magpies will be the first to admit that 2025 has fallen short of expectations; and they are yet to win a game this year. Last week against St George, the Magpies had hopes of breaking the losing streak, but those hopes were dashed when they fell 20 points behind in the second quarter; going down by 23 points. Lucas Lam, Ryder Eberhard and Keegan Litchfield battled gamely against the odds, but it was an all too familiar tale for the Magpies. If they drop this game, the wooden spoon is locked in. To avoid that fate, against a team battling for a favourable finals position, the Magpies will need to fight like they haven’t fought all year.
When the two sides met under lights at Picken Oval in round 8, the Bulldogs faced minimal opposition in accounting for the Magpies by 43 points. For the Magpies, it was one episode in a litany of below-expectations performance this season. No team likes to get through a season without a win; and the Magpies will need to scrap and contest if they are going to break their duck this week. But the Bulldogs can’t afford to take them lightly. In what is likely to be tricky conditions when the skills are difficult and marks hard to hold, the fighting spirit will come to the fore. This is the Magpies’ opportunity to claim the scalp of a finals team. But the Bulldogs will be doing everything in their power to ensure the competition points stay with them. If they don’t, the risk of sudden death in the finals remains real.
North Shore Bombers v Sydney University Students
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 2:30pm
Bombers – 1st. Played 14, Won 13, Lost 1, 198.40%. Streak – W12
Students – 4th. Played 14, Won 8, Lost 5, Drawn 1, 133.95%. Streak – L1
An enthralling contest at Gore Hill sees new ladder leaders North Shore put top spot on the line against a Sydney Uni side who stumbled last week and who need everything to go their way from here if they are to get the double-chance in the finals. It’s a game not to be missed; and if you’re not able to get to the Goretress, and for the Bombers and Students diaspora around the globe – make sure you catch the action live on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/5467 ]
North Shore’s battle against Manly at Gore Hill last week was a total triumph, with the Bombers completing a 64 point win, just enough to displace the Wolves at the top of the ladder. Ned Campbell, Harry Walker and Fraser Thurlow were everywhere for the Bombers, as they won every quarter and denied the Wolves any hope of getting back into the contest. It’s taken 14 rounds to get there, but the defending premiers have made their way to top of the ladder. But there’s some hard work to be done to stay there against an opposition that has troubled the Bombers in recent seasons.
Sydney Uni’s quest for the finals double-chance hit a snag when they went down to Pennant Hills by four points last week. There was never much in it all day, but when the game was in doubt in the last quarter, the Students were unable to take their opportunity. Harry Cameron, Mamadou Faye and Braydon Pilot kept the effort up; but it was one that got away from the Students. A game and a half behind third-placed UNSW-ES, the Students do have a game against the Bulldogs to win; but need to win more of their other remaining games over the remainder of the season than the Bulldogs do. They just can’t afford to drop this one.
North Shore prevailed over the Students by 25 points in round 8; and we well remember the thriller at Gore Hill last year when the Students went so close to toppling the Bombers’ undefeated season. The Students can trouble the Bombers, and if they are to avoid sudden death in the finals they have to. But the Bombers need a big win to stay in top spot, the percentage gap over Manly is very tight. So much to play for, plenty of quality players in both lineups. This one should be a cracker of a contest.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v St George Dragons
Weldon qOval, Saturday 2:30pm
Wolves – 2nd. Played 14, Won 13, Lost 1, 193.89%. Streak – L1
Dragons – 9th. Played 14, Won 3, Lost 11, 57.18%. Streak – W1
We’re on the Northern Beaches for a match-up between a Manly side keen to regain top spot on the ladder against a St George team that has finally re-discovered that winning feeling. And having enjoyed the spoils of victory and sung the song in the rooms last week, they want more of it.
Manly suffered their first loss of the season at Gore Hill last week when they went down to North Shore by 64 points. Byron Laws, Aiden Adams and Jacob Saxby kept working hard for the Wolves all day; but the Wolves never looked like challenging the Bombers on the day. It ends their unbeaten run and dislodges them from top spot; but the Wolves will be looking for a fightback this week. Champion teams don’t always win, but when they don’t they hit back hard.
The Dragons returned to the winning list with a 23-point win over the Magpies at Picken Oval. Jed Robin contributed four goals to the Dragon cause; while Dom Michalak, Patrick Tegg and Finn Ritchie were decisive around the ground. It was a welcome return to form for a team that has battled hard this year without the firepower that the top teams possess; but they’ve hung in there against the odds. And this week the odds are massive, against a strong Manly team on their turf.
It’s the second time these teams have met at Weldon this season, after a closure of Olds Park in round 6 saw that game moved to the Beaches. On that occasion the Wolves were 98 points too good. And the Wolves will be hungry this week. Every team will drop an occasional game, but a title contender can’t risk a drop-off in their form and momentum. And the percentage gap between the top two is so narrow that every score for or against counts. With North Shore likely to be in a tight game, the Wolves can leap-frog them and regain the ladder leadership if they deny the Dragons scoring opportunities and get a winning score on the board. The Dragons will need to pull out something extraordinary to stop them.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
UTS Bats v Pennant Hills Demons
Blacktown International Sportspark, Oval 2, Saturday 11:00am
Bats – 6th. Played 13, Won 6, Lost 7, 153.26%. Streak – L3
Demons – 9th. Played 12, Won 0, Lost 12, 1.28%. Streak – L12
Six teams are in the finals race. The Bats sit in sixth, a game plus plenty of percentage behind the Bulldogs, who have the bye this week. For the Bats, this is their opportunity to get the win and make up the percentage gap as they host the winless Pennant Hills at BISP, Oval 2. While for the Demons, time is running out to salvage anything from what has been a very poor season.
The Bats fell behind the finals pace last week when they went down to East Coast at Waverley by 19 points. Six goals to one in the first half saw the Bats up against the odds, and although they played better in the second half, it was too much ground to make up. Alex Wade, Charlotte Owen and Sophie Gaukrodger never stopped putting the effort in; but the Bats’ slow start cost them dearly. This week they need a four-quarter effort to make up the percentage they need to if they are to be in this year’s finals.
For Pennant Hills, it was another week with more of the same as they went down to Sydney Uni by 110 points. Sheridan Baker, Amelia Bennett and Maddy Maconachie-Dykes battled hard, but if wasn’t enough to get the Demons into the contest. Winless with a percentage of just over 1, it’s not easy to keep fronting up week after week for another heavy loss. But only the Demons themselves can turn that around, finding a way to compete and take the fight up to their opposition.
With the home ground advantage and their finals hopes in the balance, the Bats will be the hottest of favourites to win this one comfortably. And the Bats need to. The race for that last finals spot is going to be tight; and every goal for and point against is vital. They need to keep going all day. But the Demons will be desperate to stop them. To put up a competitive effort and give an opponent a run for their money. Getting beaten by huge margins every week is not fun; but only the Demons can find a way to lift themselves and put an opponent under pressure like they haven’t done all season.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v St George Dragons
Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:40pm
Wolves – 2nd. Played 12, Won 10, Lost 2, 373.39%. Streak – L1
Dragons – 7th. Played 12, Won 3, Lost 9, 20.23%. Streak – W1
It was a close-run thing, but Manly were toppled from top spot last week. But the Wolves have the opportunity to hit back hard this week, and depending on the result at Gore Hill could regain top position. But nothing that happens elsewhere counts for anything if the Wolves can’t fulfil their own end of the bargain. They simply must get the job done against St George.
Last week was a cliff-hanger for the Wolves at Gore Hill. There was less than a kick in it at every break, and even when North Shore hit the front in the last quarter, the Wolves went so close to regaining the advantage. But the siren sounded, leaving them an agonising one point short. Andrea Roditis, Lauren Bourgeois and Kenya Fahey were magnificent in a spectacular contest. But in the end, the Wolves would fall just short. Now they return to their own turf at Weldon and are ready to hit back hard. Against the struggling Dragons, to fight back is essential.
Strangely enough, it’s St George that goes into this game with winning form on the board. Although the Dragons haven’t played since before the Rep weekend, having had the bye last week. In their last start, they eked out a 14-point win over the Goannas at Olds Park; with Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce, Delaney Gwynn and Annabelle McHale featuring prominently. For much of this season, it has been a struggle. But they’ve had plenty of time to prepare for this clash; and the Dragons would love to take the fight up to one of the competition heavyweights and give them a run for their money.
The battle for ladder positions is very tight. The Bombers are a game clear with a better percentage, but Manly and Sydney Uni have played one less game. With the Bombers and the Students set for a tight clash, this is Manly’s opportunity. A big win, bridge the percentage gap, and even if North Shore get up, the Bombers have a bye next week. Manly have their opportunity, but need to take it. This could be a tough away trip to the Beaches for St George.
East Coast Eagles v Parramatta Goannas
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 4:10pm
Eagles – 4th. Played 11, Won 7, Lost 4, 207.33%. Streak – W1
Goannas – 8th. Played 12, Won 1, Lost 11, 10.05%. Streak – L2
Both teams go into this clash wearing the same colours of blue and gold; but the similarities end there. The Eagles are looking to consolidate their hold on a finals berth, while the Goannas have only saluted once this year and won’t be anywhere near the business end of this season.
The Eagles haven’t had everything go their way in 2025, but they’ve done enough to be likely finallists; and a win here will strengthen that hold. Last week they travelled to Waverley and got off to a flyer against UTS, landing six goals to one in the first half and going on to complete a 19-point win. Michelle Foscarini, Olivia Fuller and Renee Tomkins were in the thick of the action for the Eagles as they wrapped up some important competition points. They haven’t been totally convincing every week this season, but the Eagles know what’s needed to prevail at the business end of the season and are slowly building up to their best form.
2025 has had more than its fair share of challenges for the Goannas; and they came up short again at Gipps Road last week when they were unable to raise a flag from the goal umpires and went down to the Bulldogs by 110 points. Kayla McGinty, Imogen Down and Tayliya Noack kept trying hard; but it was another day of disappointment for the Goannas. Now they hit the road to Bruce Purser to take on another finals-bound sound; and need to find more than they did last week.
When the two sides met at Gipps Road in round 7, the Eagles were 108 points too good for the Goannas. On form, the Eagles should get this game done easily. A win here will see them pull two games clear of the Bulldogs and Bats, and they’ll be hard to displace from the finals. But the Eagles are just warming up, and their biggest challenges are yet to come.
North Shore Bombers v Sydney University Students
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 4:50pm
Bombers – 1st. Played 13, Won 11, Lost 2, 520.89%. Streak – W7
Students – 3rd. Played 12, Won 10, Lost 2, 351.15%. Streak – W2
The Sundown Rundown at the Goretress matches the top of the ladder Bombers against third-placed Sydney Uni. The Bombers are a game plus percentage clear on top, but have played one more game; so if the Students get up here, they move ahead of the Bombers, in what is going to be a close finish to the Womens Premier Division ladder. With the stakes so high, the interest will be huge; so if you’re not there, make sure you tune your device into the live feed from Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/5466 ]
North Shore took top spot on the ladder in a thriller against Manly at Gore Hill last week. There was never much in it all day, but the Bombers kicked the only goal of the final quarter to take the lead and hung on to win by a point. Liv Edwards, Liz Yates and Grace Hill were superb for the Bombers in getting them over the line in the best game of the season to date. But there’s no time for the Bombers to rest on their laurels. It’s another tight battle this week, another contender for the ladder leadership is here; and the Bombers have to back up last week’s effort with another strong effort this time.
Sydney Uni drew level with Manly and just behind the Bombers when they were untroubled in a 110-point win over Pennant Hills last week. Amanda Farrugia, Natalia Waterson and Molly Cameron were standouts in a solid team effort. But they’re playing a much tougher opposition this time. North Shore at Gore Hill is one of the toughest away trips there is, and it’s games like this that can make or break a season.
Both teams in winning form, flying high on confidence and up in the upper reaches of the ladder. This game should be a cracker. The stakes are high, and should be even higher if these teams meet again in the finals; which seems likely. When these teams met at the Campus earlier in the seaspn, the Students got up by six points. Expect another close contest this time, this is a contest that both teams will be up for.
