Round 18, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review

Written by David Redden

 

 

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Sydney University finished off their Home & Away season with a 115-point thumping of Parramatta in a game transferred to Fairfax Reserve at Harrington Park due to Uni #1 Oval being unplayable. Final scores were Sydney University 17.13.115 to Parramatta 0.0.0.

The Students led by 55 points at the main break and kept the foot firmly on the accelerator in the second half as they tuned up for a blockbuster Qualifying Final against North Shore on Saturday. The welcome return of Mostyn Medallist Maryanne Harley from an arm injury was huge for Uni as they face a minimum of 2 gruelling finals in the next fortnight.

Key forward Lucy Gilfedder kicked 5 goals for the Students. 7 Students kicked two goals each; Asha Goddard, Amanda Farrugia, Cassie Brown, Arabella Hendriks, Emma Walsh, Deanna Darwall and Molly Gibbs.

Sydney University’s best players were Yasmin Sayer, Evie Bowie, Harley, Farrugia, Saskia Johnson and Jasmine Smith. Parramatta was best served by Michala Ford, Skyla Seal, Ava Saad, Caitlin Connaughton, Leanne Wood and Marley Rhodes.

A superb second half performance from UNSW-ES, in which they kept East Coast Eagles scoreless, saw the Bulldogs defeat the Eagles by 41 points and qualify for the Final Five, highlighting the huge development of the Bulldogs Women’s Program this season. Final scores at BISP 1 were UNSW-ES 9.7.61 to East Coast Eagles 3.2.20.

The Bulldogs led by 2 goals at quarter-time, but the Eagles fought back strongly in the second quarter to trail by a solitary point at the main break. The Bulldogs piled on 4 unanswered goals in the third quarter followed by 2 more in the fourth quarter as they completed a massive 7-day period in which they defeated fellow finallists North Shore and East Coast.

Key forward and co-skipper Emily Conlan kicked three goals for the Bulldogs, with Senna Gulden and Sera Kaukiono chipping in with two majors each. East Coast had three players kick 1 goal each.

UNSW-ES’s best players were Ahlani Eddy, Mostyn Medal hopeful Aimee Whelan, Amaia Wain, Kaukiono, Zali Deep and Conlan. East Coast was best served by Grace Tracey, Bryany Parker, Renee Tomkins, Taylah Canobie, Michelle Foscarini and Matilda Elbourne.

North Shore defeated UTS by 66 points at Gore Hill Oval, with the Bombers bouncing back well after their upset loss to UNSW-ES last week. Final scores were North Shore 10.8.68 to UTS 0.2.2.

After a quiet first quarter, the Bombers kicked 4 unanswered goals in the second quarter to head to the main break leading by 31 points. North Shore kicked 5 more goals in the second half as they clinically disposed of finals hopefuls UTS.

Goalkickers for North Shore were; Eder – 3, Keefe – 2 and Yates, Edwards, Cleghorn, McArthur and Watson all kicking 1. UTS’ Goals came from Ella Parker and Gaukrodger with both 1 each.

North Shore’s best players were Lila Micheletti, Grace Hill, Grace Parsons, Kiera Yerbury, Mostyn Medal chance Heidi de Saxe and Emily Bliss. UTS was best served by Madeleine Quinn, Zoe Bush, Aoife Berry, Ella Parker, Hannah Cerezo and Aleshea Houlahan.

St George finished off their significant development in 2025 with a solid 40-point win over Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were St George 5.10.40 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.

The Dragons did most of the damage in the first half, leading by 29 points at the main break. After a scoreless third quarter, only inaccurate shooting kept the margin to 40 points, with the Dragons kicking 1.5 in the final term.

Montana Doubell kicked 2 goals for St George.

St George’s best players were Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce, Doubell, Ruby O’Dwyer, Annabelle McHale, Zoe Maher and Kaitlyn Eisenhuth. Pennant Hills was best served by Bela Nash, Sienna Lindsay, Remy Ally, Sheridan Baker, Scarlett Sheridan and Josephine Smith.

 

WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:

In Women’s Division One action, North Shore defeated Camden by 45 points at Gore Hill Oval, securing an Elimination Final on Sunday at BISP 1. In the only other game played, UTS kicked the only goal of the last quarter to sneak home by a solitary point over Manly Warringah at Mike Pawley Oval and sensationally knocked the Wolves out of the Final Four. The Sydney University vs South West Sydney Blues and Randwick City vs Newtown Breakaways fixtures were cancelled because of Sydney’s atrocious weather during the week.

 

WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:

In Women’s Under 20s action, North Shore thrashed UNSW-ES by 72 points at BISP 1. Manly Warringah accounted for UTS by 56 points at Mike Pawley Oval. The Sydney University vs Parramatta fixture was cancelled due to an unplayable Uni #1 Oval.

 

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Manly Warringah secured the minor premiership with a 74-point demolition of Inner West Magpies at Picken Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 15.20.110 to Inner West Magpies 5.6.36.

The Wolves lead by 16 points at half time, with the Magpies keeping Manly to five goals in a solid defensive performance in the first half. As has so often being the case in 2025, Manly just exploded in the final half, kicking 10 goals to 2 as that ran away with victory and secured a week off in the finals.

Cameron Manuel kicked 4 goals for Manly Warringah, with Kale Gabila chipping in with 3 majors of his own. Magpies stalwart Ben Zoppo kicked 2 goals for the Magpies.

Manly Warringah’s best players Oliver Rojo, Cooper McClellan, Louis Jans, Gabila, Manuel an Aiden Adams. Inner West Magpies was best served by Jye Doyle, Ben Klemke, Oliver Burnett, Will Deller, Nick McCormack, and Jonty Inglis.

Sydney University withstood a furious finish from an inaccurate South West Sydney Blues to squeak home by 5 points at Rosedale Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 8.4.52 to South West Sydney 6.11.47.

Sydney Uni did most of the damage in the first quarter, kicking 5 unanswered goals to lead by 29 points at the first break. Owners were even in the second quarter, and then Uni led by 32 points at the final change. The Blues kicked 4 goals to 0 in the final term, with a desperate defensive act from key back Oscar Bosnjakovic right before the siren securing a vital win for the Students and qualification into the finals.

Izaac Hughes kicked 3 goals for the Students, with Brayden Pilot and Alex Witherden chipping in with 2 majors each. Small forward Bailey-Dean Latanis kicked 3 goals for the Blues.

Sydney University’s best players were Bosnjakovic, Nicholas Andreacchio, Harry Cameron, Marcus Valastro, Sam Barkley, and Michael Nettheim. South West Sydney was best served by Khy Gibbs, Callum Burns, Ryan Shipard, Luke Parkinson, representative ruckman, Finbar Delbridge, and Max Lower.

UNSW-ES finished off their preparation for the Finals with a solid 65-point win over East Coast Eagles at BISP 1. Final scores were UNSW-ES 17.23.125 to East Coast Eagles 9.6.60, in a high-scoring fixture on the wide-open expanses at BISP.

After a close first quarter, the Bulldogs led by 22 points at the main break. The Bulldogs kicked out eleven goals to five in the second half, with their midfielders and half back line running riot.

Small forward Kynan Kilpatrick kicked 5 goals for the Bulldogs, with skipper Will Spencer chipping in with 3 majors for UNSW-ES. Key forward Marshall Poynter kicked 3 goals for the eagles, with Scott Brown and Brendan Coxall kicking 2 majors each in the Eagles last game of the season.

UNSW-ES’s best players were Jordan Endemann, key back Cooper Kilpatrick, Spencer, Kynan Kilpatrick, Toby Alker, and Luther Juric. East Coast’s better players were Nick Johns, Brody Kane, the ever-consistent due of Jacob Jones & Cameron Edwards, Poynter, and Mitchell Bradley.

Reigning Premier North Shore thrashed UTS by 80 points at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 17.14.116 to UTS 5.6.36.

The Bombers kicked 15 goals in the final three quarters as they prepared for a monster Qualifying Final with UNSW-ES on Saturday afternoon. The Bombers, who unusually rely on their small forwards for most of their goalscoring, again had their mobile forwards make strong contributions. UTS has badly missed the injured Hamish Latchford at the back of the season, after a mid-season revival when they skirted with the bottom end of the Top Five.

Matt Buskariol kicked 4 goals for the Bombers, with Max Thomas (3), and Patrick Bolger & Tom Gillis (2) also kicking multiple majors as North Shore shared the goalkicking duties around. UTS had 5 individual goalkickers.

North Shore’s best players were Nicholas Pavlou, Buskariol, Matthew Wilson, Christian Loone, James Tidemann, and skipper Jake Veale. UTS was best served by regular contributors Louis Pribula, Joshua Lee, Henry Gosse, Ash Backlund, Jack Calabro, and Blake Tabe.

In the night game at Mike Kenny Oval, Pennant Hills ground out a tough 10-point win over an inaccurate St George. Final scores were Pennant Hills 7.8.50 to St George 5.10.40.

In a feisty game that simmered all night, Pennant Hills led by single digits at every change before 3 last-quarter goals sealed victory in both teams’ swansong for season 2025. The Dragons will rue their inaccuracy in the final term, kicking 1.5 in a desperate last 33 minutes of action.

Theo Moraitis, who let his team down badly in the second quarter with a 50-metre penalty for dissent, proved a match-winner for the Demons, kicking 4 goals, 2 in the hectic final term. Moraitis was the only multiple goalkicker in the match, with Nick Hey, who had earlier drawn level with Hugo Birks as Premier Division leading goalkicker, went off in the third term with what appeared to be a serious facial injury.

Pennant Hills’s best players were Wilson Mudge, Zac Elliott, Moraitis, Charles Allison, Cameron Mitchell, and rugged veteran Patrick Witt. St George was best served by Patrick Tegg, Jack Druery, Lachlan Querzoli, Nathaniel McKenzie-Hicks, emerging talent Cave McKnight, and Luke Arendse.

 

MEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Men’s Division One action, Parramatta rocketed into second place with a comprehensive 58-point win over Sydney University at a game transferred to Fairfax Reserve in Harrington Park. North Shore claimed the Minor Premiership and a week off with a tough 13-point win over a determined Camden Cats at Gore Hill Oval, St George accounted for Pennant Hills by 49 points at Mike Kenny Oval, and UNSW-ES defeated Southern Power by 14 points in an entertaining fixture at BISP 1.