Round Thirteen Men’s and Women’s Premier Division Match Previews
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Written by Michael Shillito
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As each week passes, the permutations of the ladder positions continue to change. With a final five, top spot holds a special advantage; with third holding a big advantage over fourth in avoiding sudden-death at least for the first week of finals.
While the Mens Premier Division ladder sees North Shore well clear on top, it’s not clear who will get the double-chance; and we have a tight race between Manly and St George for that last finals spot. In the Womens, East Coast’s hold on top spot is far from guaranteed as long as UTS keep winning; while Manly and Macquarie Uni have a tight battle for the double-chance and fifth spot is still up for grabs. Every game is important, not just for the four points but percentage could decide who gets the better spots in the playoffs.
This week UNSW-ES in the Mens and Sydney Uni in the Womens have the bye. The Bulldog men had a scare last week but just got over the line to retain their hold on second spot. A week to rest and regroup, because they have some tough games to come before the finals. While the Students women have worked their way into the five and will be looking to maintain that momentum when they next take the field.
For the remaining teams, there’s some big matches coming up; with some important competition points up for grabs for the teams that are good enough to get the job done when it matters.
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MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Inner West Magpies v Sydney University
Picken Oval, Saturday 12:50pm
Inner West – 8th. Played 11, Won 1, Lost 10, 73.74%.
Sydney Uni – 3rd. Played 10, Won 8, Lost 2, 129.12%.
A lunchtime local derby at Picken Oval sees the Inner West Magpies match up against Sydney Uni. The Magpies’ finals hopes may be mathematically alive only; but they’ll still want to have some influence over the playoffs by claiming the scalp of the Students. While Sydney Uni are looking to maintain their hold on third place and the double-chance.
The Magpies’ finals chances suffered a near-fatal blow at Henson Park last Sunday. Few gave them much of a chance of beating the highly-rated UNSW-ES; but all afternoon they took it up to the Bulldogs, and how close they came to pulling off the upset of the season. Luke Jamieson, James Bradley and Lachie Tiziani in particular were magnificent for the Magpies; but in heartbreaking scenes they finished one agonising point short. They showed that, on their day, they are capable of matching it with the high-flyers; and that’s what they’ve got to take into this week’s game.
Meanwhile Sydney Uni continue on their winning ways. Last week at Sydney Uni No 1 they were challenged by Pennant Hills, and only 10 points separated the two sides at the last change; but a strong last quarter extended the Students’ winning margin to 32 points. Izaac Hughes helped himself to four goals; while Jack Dimery, Nick Lees and Jay Tang were influential around the ground. The result sees the Students a game plus percentage ahead of the Demons and with a game in hand; but the battle for the double-chance in the finals is not done yet and the Students know only too well that they need to keep chalking up the wins each week.
The two sides met in round 7 at Sydney Uni No 1, and on that occasion the Students got the job done by 34 points. This time the Magpies are at home, and need to make their advantage count. Nothing would raise the Magpie spirits more after a difficult season than to upset Sydney Uni. But the Students can’t take this one lightly. Their top-three finish hopes needs them to take the points this time, and they’ll have to stand their ground against what should be a determined Magpies challenge.
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East Coast Eagles v St George Dragons
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
East Coast – 9th. Played 11, Won 1, Lost 10, 39.63%.
St George – 6th. Played 10, Won 4, Lost 6, 71.78%.
East Coast go into this clash looking to get off the bottom of the ladder. But they won’t find it easy against a St George side that’s looking to build some momentum after last week’s bye and get ahead of Manly into the top five.
The Eagles have saluted just once this season, and last week they travelled to Weldon to take on Manly. It was a close first half, with the Wolves ahead by 10 points at the long break; but the Eagles were unable to match it with their opponents in the second half and went down by 53 points. Scott Brown, Corey Dowle and Zach Johns kept working hard, but weren’t able to prevent another loss. But they are only on the bottom on percentage; and if they can claim a scalp here, the opportunity is there to finally climb off the bottom.
St George are coming into this game off the bye, a chance to rest and prepare for a sprint to the finish line. Their last start, in round 11, resulted in a comfortable 51-point win over UTS at Olds Park. Tim Coenen, Connor Flanagan and Ben Hodgson played pivotal roles for the Dragons in that game. But the Dragons have more work to do to work their way into the top five; and this is a must-win game for them. If the Dragons win and Manly lose to North Shore, the Dragons will go level on wins with the Wolves and only percentage will keep them out of the five this week.
Both these teams have faced their struggles this season. For the Eagles, the finals looks out of reach; but they’ll be looking to show signs of encouragement they can build on in the future, and to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon. The Dragons can still make the finals; and if they can replicate the 34-point win against the Eagles like they did in round 5 at Olds Park, they won’t do their chances any harm. With a poor percentage compared to Manly, which looks like too big a gap to catch up, the Dragons will need to win more games than the Wolves; and they can’t take any chances in a game like this one.
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Manly-Warringah Wolves v North Shore Bombers
Weldon Oval, Saturday 2:15pm
Manly – 5th. Played 11, Won 5, Lost 6, 112.50%.
North Shore – 1st. Played 11, Won 11, Lost 0, 269.57%.
The Battle of the Spit Bridge is always a keenly-fought contest between the two clubs from north of the Harbour. North Shore are flying high in 2023, but the Wolves will be looking to take the fight up to the Bombers and regain the northern bragging rights. There’ll be plenty of feeling in this contest, and for those who can’t get out to Weldon for this clash, you can catch the action live on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
The Wolves come into this game with winning form on the board after a 53-point result against East Coast last week. The first half was close, but eight goals to two in the second half was the run of form that the Wolves were looking for. Tom Sheldrick, James Lugsdin and Kyle Martin were in the thick of the action for the Wolves; showing the form that the Wolves will need to replicate this week if they are to challenge the undefeated ladder leaders.
This week they’ll be playing North Shore. The Bombers haven’t lost a game in 2023, and barely raised a sweat in getting over UTS by 55 points at Waverley last week. Jack Woodman, Jack Dillon and Sean Netting were in fine form for the Bombers as they again led from start to finish. So far this season the Bombers have looked in control and remain undefeated. But there’s still plenty of footy to be played, and no room for complacency. This is no time to let up on the form and momentum.
Manly hold on to fifth place with an advantage of one game plus percentage ahead of St George, but the Dragons have a game in hand. The Wolves will be determined not to drop this one, or their hold on the finals ahead of the Dragons will be in jeopardy. It’s a massive task for the Wolves, against a North Shore side that has been unstoppable so far this season. But with so much on the line, you can expect the Wolves to scrap and contest every possession; and this won’t be a walk in the park for the Bombers. Unless the Bombers turn up ready to perform, this is a danger game for them.
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Pennant Hills Demons v UTS Bats
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 2:40pm
Pennant Hills – 4th. Played 11, Won 7, Lost 4, 110.36%.
UTS – 7th. Played 10, Won 2, Lost 8, 49.85%.
Pennant Hills’ hopes of the double-chance in the finals took a blow last week; and the Demons will need to come out firing this week and get the points on the board if they are to avoid sudden death in the finals. This week they take on UTS, who will be desperate; and needing a win to remain in mathematical contention for the playoffs.
Last week wasn’t the result the Demons wanted when they travelled to Sydney Uni No 1. They took it up to the Students, and were only 10 points down at three quarter time; but weren’t able to match it with the Students in the last quarter and went down by 32 points. Jackson Preedy, Mitch Blow and Stephen Wray put the effort in, but the rewards didn’t come. This week at home against a lower-ranked team, they need to turn that around and get the four points on the board. An upset result here would all but ensure they miss out on the finals double-chance.
The Bats also were unable to get the job done last week, when they went down to a red-hot North Shore team by 55 points at Waverley Oval. Pat Gillingham, Xavier Barry-Murphy and Emil Thaning kept working hard, but the Bats didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Bombers. The result leaves the Bats precariously placed in 7th, three games behind Manly; their finals hopes fading unless they can quickly turn their form around. And that has to start here.
The Demons won the previous encounter between these two teams by 23 points at Trumper Park in round 6; but the Bats won both clashes between these two teams last year, which ultimately cost the Demons a place in the finals. This time everything is on the line. If the Bats go down here, their finals hopes are all but dead. But a Demon loss would pretty much guarantee them sudden death in the finals. Plenty to play for, and both sides will need to lift for this one.
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WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Macquarie University Goannas v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Macquarie Uni Oval, Saturday 11:40am
Macquarie Uni – 4th. Played 11, Won 6, Lost 4, Drawn 1, 232.27%.
UNSW-ES – 8th. Played 10, Won 1, Lost 9, 40.41%.
Mac Uni Goannas take to the field in a lunchtime matchup against UNSW-ES at Macquarie Uni. For the Goannas, a win is essential to stay within striking distance of the double-chance. The finals probably are out of reach for the Bulldogs, but to give themselves any chance at all they need a win here.
The Goannas remain in touch after last week’s convincing 152-0 win over Southern Power. On an afternoon where the goal-scoring love was shared around, 13 Macquarie Uni players got themselves onto the goal-kicking list; while Amanda Farrugia, Sophie Kavanagh and Keira Yerbury picked up numerous possessions around the ground. It was a one-sided affair, with the Goannas completely dominant, but one that keeps them within reach of the double-chance.
UNSW-ES return to the field after last week’s bye. Their last start in round 11 saw them unable to match it with the ladder-leading Eagles; and they would go down by 65 points. Hayley Stanford, Chloe Anderson and Sophie Griffiths tried hard, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Bulldogs in the contest. They haven’t won since their opening game of the season, and are three games plus plenty of percentage behind fifth place. Time is running out for the Bulldogs; and they need to find plenty more this week. If they don’t win this one, their finals chances look gone.
The Goannas are on a roll, and are half a game away from third. But they can’t afford to lose their momentum now. There’s some tough games to come before the finals, and they need to keep the wins coming now to keep in contention for the double-chance. Meanwhile for the Bulldogs, if they are to have any chance of playing in finals, they must win this one. Which needs a big turnaround in form, and it’s now or never for them to lift their performance.
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Manly-Warringah Wolves v North Shore Bombers
Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:15pm
Manly – 3rd. Played 10, Won 7, Lost 3, 174.71%.
North Shore – 7th. Played 11, Won 3, Lost 7, Abandoned 1, 90.53%.
Manly are looking to hold on to the double-chance, while North Shore are hanging on for dear life in their quest for finals contention. There’s always plenty of feeling in the Battle of the Spit Bridge; and plenty for both sides to play for at Weldon Oval on Saturday. The action will be red-hot in this derby, and if you can’t get up to Weldon for this, the next best thing is to catch the action live as it happens on Kayo Sports and the AFL Sydney Facebook page.
The Wolves last week took on East Coast in the replay of last year’s Grand Final, and it would yield a similar result. For three quarters the teams were closely matched, with just two points separating them at three quarter time. But the Wolves fell behind in the last quarter and went down by 19 points, despite the best efforts of Jackie Green, Caitlin Johnson and Andrea Roditis. The result reduced their margin on third place to half a game; and if they were to go down again this week they risk falling into the sudden death zone. It’s not a risk the Wolves can afford to take.
The Bombers have recorded four wins this season, and are a game and a half out of the five. Last week at Waverley they were never in the contest against UTS and went down by 79 points. Abby Latimer, Lucy Krimmer and Maddie Bart tried hard, but the Bombers weren’t able to match it against the second-placed Bats. Precariously placed, the Bombers aren’t done yet; but will need to claim an upset to keep themselves in finals contention. Local bragging rights would hit the spot nicely for the Bombers; it won’t be easy, but they must believe this can be done.
The two sides met at Gore Hill in round 6, and on that occasion the Wolves took out a 31-point win. Now the Bombers are desperate, and desperately need to claim this scalp. A North Shore win would put them well and truly in the finals race. But Manly are looking to bounce back, have the home ground advantage, and plenty to play for. The Wolves go into this one as favourites, but the Bombers must leave nothing in the tank today and put everything on the line. Their season depends on it.
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Pennant Hills Demons v UTS Bats
Mike Kenny Oval (Lower Oval), Saturday 12:40pm
Pennant Hills – 6th. Played 10, Won 4, Lost 6, 96.91%.
UTS – 2nd. Played 11, Won 10, Lost 1, 317.13%.
The Demons fell out of the top five last week. This week they have the home advantage, but it will be a big test for the Demons to regain their spot in the five when they host the second-placed UTS at Mike Kenny Oval.
Pennant Hills had their hearts broken at Sydney Uni No 1 last week, going down by just two points. There was never much in it all day, but the Demons were unable to get over the line. Eliza Harvey, Hayley Rowe and Rebecca Ives were magnificent for the Demons in a roller-coaster game, but in the end they fell agonisingly close; and fell out of the five. Still plenty of time to get back in, and with Sydney Uni having the bye they can do it this week if they can claim the win. But they’ll need to put on something special to claim this win.
The Bats have barely put a foot wrong in 2023, and have only dropped one game; that being against the ladder-leading East Coast. Last week at Waverley they were 79 points too good for North Shore. Gillian Behan was unstoppable, kicking six goals in a best-on-ground performance; while Melissa Lindsay and Imogen Brown were in the thick of the action for the Bats. All they need to do is keep winning, keep doing what they’re doing. It’s working.
When the two sides met at Trumper Park in round 6, the Demons were unable to score as the Bats powered home by 67 points. This time the Demons can’t afford another heavy loss like that one. It’s going to be a tight battle for that last finals spot, and the Demons need to keep their percentage intact. But the Bats have been impressive this year, and aren’t out of the running for the minor premiership yet. They’ll be hard to stop.
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East Coast Eagles v Southern Power
Kanebridge Oval, Saturday 4:50pm
East Coast – 1st. Played 11, Won 10, Lost 0, Drawn 1, 492.21%.
Southern Power – 9th. Played 11, Won 0, Lost 10, Abandoned 1, 4.54%.
Top v bottom. The undefeated top side with a percentage of nearly 500 at home against the winless side with a percentage of less than 5. It was 225-0 last time they played. On paper this looks like a mismatch. But footy games aren’t always played on paper.
The Eagles have won all but one game this season, and that game was a draw. Week after week they have bettered their opposition; and although they were tested by Manly for three quarters at Weldon last week, in the end they pulled away to win by 19 points. Renee Tomkins, Jess Whelan and Annaleise Barton were pivotal for the Eagles in getting them over the line. Even when they’re tested, they’ve found a way to get through.
Southern Power on the other hand are yet to sing the song this season, and didn’t get any closer to it at Macquarie Uni last week when they were unable to score and went down by 152 points to the Goannas. Tiana Marie, Brianna Harvey and Amy Kowski never stopped trying; but the Power didn’t have the firepower to compete with the Goannas and never looked able to get into the contest. It’s been an all too familiar tale for the Power this year. But as we head towards the end of the season, they’ll desperately want to achieve something before the year is out.
2023 has been a hard season for the Power. Can they trouble the Eagles here? It’s hard to see it happening, at least going by ladder positions. But maybe they can lift for one special performance, when no-one gives them a chance, and finally find something to cheer their spirits. They need to compete, make a game of it, and give the Eagles a run for their money. This season has had its challenges, but at least they’ll want to salvage something.
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