Round 17, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review
Written by David Redden
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
A monumental Saturday in Women’s Premier Division, highlighted by a huge upset at BISP 1, has seen the Manly Warringah Wolves secure the Minor Premiership with 1 Round remaining in the Home & Away season.
Parramatta secured their second win of the season with a solid 35-point victory over winless Pennant Hills at Gipps Rd Oval. Final scores were Parramatta 5.5.35 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.
The Goannas led by 21 points at the main break, and despite a solid defensive effort from the Demons in the second half, Parramatta won comfortably in what has been a tough season for both clubs.
Katherine Spender kicked 2 goals for the Goannas.
Parramatta’s best players were Spender, Skyla Seal, Ava Saad, Imogen Gow, Kayla McGinty, and Allyana Levy. Pennant Hills was best served by Scarlett Sheridan, Sophie Pendlebury, Amelia Bennett, Sienna Lindsay, Hayley Marriott, and Remy Ally.
In a result that definitively changed the make-up of the Finals, UNSW-ES produced their best win of the decade with an amazing, backs-to-the-wall upset of an inaccurate North Shore at BISP 1. Final scores were UNSW-ES 6.4.40 to North Shore 3.8.26.
6 of the game’s 9 goals came in a hectic first quarter, with the Bulldogs leading by 10 points at the first change. North Shore reduced their deficit to a mere 3 points at the main break, but then a simply superb defensive performance from UNSW-ES kept the Bombers goalless in the second half as the Bulldogs held onto fifth place ahead of UTS.
Skipper Emily Conlan and Francesca Ryan kicked 2 goals each for UNSW-ES. Key forward Adrienne Keeffe kicked 2 goals for North Shore.
UNSW-ES’ best players were representative midfielder Aimee Whelan, Amaia Wain, Ahlani Eddy, 2022 Mostyn Medallist Sera Kaukiono, Ella Willey, and Hayley Stanford. North Shore was best served by Kiera Yerbury, Charlotte Tidemann, Emily Bliss, Ella Daniel, Heidi de Saxe, and Cassidy McArthur.
In an entertaining and tough encounter at Weldon Oval, Manly Warringah secured the Minor Premiership (and a 21-day break) with a 23-point win over a gallant Sydney University. Final scores were Manly Warringah 7.5.47 to Sydney University 3.6.24.
The Wolves led by 11 points after the first quarter, with the Students pegging that back to a 7-point deficit at the main break. Manly’s vaunted back 5 kept Uni to 1 goal in the second half, led by Ava Barroclough and Chloe Davis across half-back.
Isabella Rudolph and Lauren Bourgeoise kicked 2 goals each for the Wolves. Vice-captain Jasmine Smith kicked 2 goals for the Students.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Kenya Fahey, Andrea Roditis, 2024 Mostyn Medallist Hannah Woolf, Bourgeois, Barraclough, and Davis. Sydney University was best served by
Evie Bowie, Frances Walsh, Amanda Farrugia, Cassie Brown, Claudia Gray, and the reliable Saskia Johnson.
East Coast Eagles gained some crucial percentage in their hard-fought 30-point win over a determine St George at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were East Coast Eagles 7.6.48 to St George 3.0.18.
The Eagles kicked 3 goals in the first half and then 4 in the second half as the improved Dragons defence fought hard to repel consistent forward 50 entries from East Coast, who have a fascinating fixture this Saturday against fifth-placed UNSW-ES at BISP 1.
Representative star Bryany Parker kicked 3 goals in an excellent display from the crafty and talented midfielder. St George had three players kick 1 goal each.
East Coast Eagles’ best players were the outstanding Parker, Renee Tomkins, Kaitlyn Noble, Charlee Mcpherson, Taylah Canobie and Aysha Sanchez. St George was best served by Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Delaney Gwynn, Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce, Jasmine Baily, Montana Doubell and Zoe Maher.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:
In Women’s Division One action, Camden ground out a tough 10-point win over a dogged Newtown Breakaways at Fairfax Reserve, UTS kept their finals hopes alive with a 145-point thrashing of South West Sydney at Mahoney Park, the huge top four fixture between Randwick City and North Shore was cancelled due to an unplayable Pioneers Park, and Manly Warringah produced a solid 29-point victory over Sydney University in the night fixture at Weldon Oval.
Manly Warringah and UTS have a sudden-death Round 18 fixture at Trumper Oval on Saturday to decide the last place in the WD1 Final Four.
WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:
In Women’s Under 20s action, UTS consolidated fourth place on the ladder with a 3-goal win over Sydney University at Mahoney Park, the UNSW-ES vs Manly Warringah fixture was cancelled due to unplayable conditions at David Phillips Oval, and North Shore received a forfeit from Parramatta.
Manly Warringah and North Shore have already booked places in the Major Semi-Final. A fascinating battle between Sydney University (currently third), UTS (fourth) and UNSW-ES (fifth) culminates this Saturday with Sydney Uni hosting Parramatta, UNSW-ES hosting North Shore at BISP 1 and UTS facing the daunting task of beating Manly Warringah at Trumper Oval to secure a finals berth.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:
In a simply huge penultimate round of the season, Inner West Magpies fought back from 5 points down at three-quarter time to sneak home by 5 points over UTS, giving a relieved Magpies contingent their first victory of a long season. Final scores (in a fixture transferred to Picken Oval) were Inner West Magpies 6.14.50 to UTS 7.3.45.
Despite an inaccurate 6 goals from 20 effective shots, the Magpies back 6 dug deep to keep the Bats scoreless in the final quarter, in front of a raucous home crowd.
Ryder Eberhard kicked 2 goals for Inner West. Thomas Charles kicked 4 goals for UTS, another excellent display from the Bats main avenue to goal.
Inner West’s best players were Lucas Lam, Keegan Litchfield, player-coach Ben Klemke, Jye Doyle, Jonty Inglis and Oliver Burnett. UTS was best served by Joshua Lee, George Boyd, Charles, Lewis McCormack, Henry Gosse, and Lachlan McNamara.
Manly Warringah were ruthless in the first half before running out 78-point victors over a wayward Sydney University at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 14.15.99 to Sydney University 2.9.21.
The Wolves jumped out of the blocks, leading by 26 points at the first break then a huge 57 points at half-time. University regrouped somewhat in the second half, throwing extra men behind the ball as they kept Manly to 4.7 in the second half. The Wolves equation is simple – defeat Inner West Magpies at Picken Oval for the Minor Premiership and Week 1 of the Finals off. Sydney University must defeat South West Sydney OR have St George upset Pennant Hills to qualify for the Elimination Final.
Zac Youlten kicked 4 goals for the Wolves, with Jesse Wadeisha and Ryan Stubbs chipping in with 2 majors each on a day where club stalwart Ryan Wearne played his last home Premier Division game.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Lachlan Behagg, Wadeisha, Phelan Medal favourite Travis Schiller, Aiden Adams, Youlten and Lachlan Kilpatrick. Sydney University was best served by Kobe Banks, Brodie Hendrie, Nathan Tang, Sam Barkley, Liam Shallies and Luke Haddad.
East Coast Eagles led at every change to defeat an inaccurate St George by 14 points at Bruse Purser Reserve. Final scores were East Coast 9.10.64 to St George 6.14.50.
East Coast led by 11 points at the first change then 17 points at the main break. Try as they might, the Dragons could not peg the Eagles back, not helped by kicking 4.7 in the second half.
Regular contributor Marshall Poynter kicked 4 goals for East Coast. Lachlan Cabor and Jed Robin kicked 2 goals each for the Dragons.
East Coast’s best players were Brody Kane, Marshall Poynter, Cameron Edwards, Baylee Jones, Reeve Simmons and Jacob Jones. St George was best served by Eddie Marning, Lachlan Querzoli, Alexander Box, Thomas Ingram, Luke Arendse and Callum Nash.
A massive third quarter from South West Sydney saw them defeat Pennant Hills by a whopping 64 points at Rosedale Oval, in doing so, qualifying for the Premier Division finals in only their second year in the top grade. Final scores on an historic day at Rosedale were South West Sydney 12.13.85 to Pennant Hills 3.3.21.
The Demons still had much to play for at half-time, only trailing the Blues by 16 points. However, a clinical South West Sydney poured on 7 goals to 1 behind in the third quarter, securing a famous victory and an Elimination Final appointment at BISP 1 on Sunday 31 August.
Small forward Bailey-Dean Latanis kicked 3 goals for the Blues, supported by Nick Dunshea, Blake Jarvis, and Bailey Stewart, who all kicked 2 goals. Oscar Irwin kicked 2 goals for the disappointed Demons.
South West Sydney’s best players were Ryan Shipard, Liam Burns, Latanis, Ethan Roberts, Kain Flynn-Duncombe and backline general Khy Gibbs. Pennant Hills was best served by Lachlan Willey, Liam Everett, Jonathan Friend, Charles Allison, Irwin, and Cameron Este.
UNSW-ES produced the upset of the season with a 40-point victory over reigning premier North Shore at BISP 1. Final scores on a massive day at Rooty Hill were UNSW-ES 15.13.103 to North Shore 9.9.63. The Bulldogs established themselves as genuine third candidate for the premiership as they stunned the AFL Sydney community with a superb victory.
The Bulldogs led wire to wire in a convincing display. The Bulldogs led by 19 points at the main break, then kicked 8 goals to 5 in the second half in a dress-rehearsal for the Qualifying Final on 30 August.
Best players and goalkickers were not available at the time of writing.
MEN’S DIVISION ONE:
In Men’s Division One action, Parramatta took full toll of a depleted Pennant Hills a with a 124-point thumping of the Demons at Gipps Rd, North Shore ran riot in defeating UNSW-ES by 99 points at BISP 1 and Camden thrashed Inner West Magpies by 115 points at Fairfax Reserve. Southern Power narrowly went down to St George at Waratah Oval with final scores 6.6.42 to o8.9.57.
The scheduling gods have produced a monumental Round 18 in MD1. Sydney Uni host Parramatta in the battle for third place and the double chance, and North Shore host Camden in the battle for the Minor Premiership and the week off.
