Round 16 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
For our home and away seasons, the finish line is in sight. This weekend marks the third last round, and the hunt for positions within the finals is going to go down to the wire.
In Mens Premier Division, North Shore would need to lose all three of their remaining matches, none of them against finals contenders, to drop out of top spot. That seems unlikely, so you can be quite safe in writing North Shore as minor premiers. Manly can’t fall out of the top three, they’re safe for the finals double-chance.
But the double-chance in the finals is up for grabs. Pennant Hills are a game ahead of Sydney Uni, with the Demons and the Students playing each other this week. A win for the Demons will all but wrap up the double-chance; while the Students win will throw the race wide open.
Inner West are another game plus plenty of percentage behind Sydney Uni. They can’t make the top three. They could mathematically miss out on the finals if they drop their last three while South-West Sydney win their last three. But the odds against that are astronomical.
With some upsets in Womens Premier Division, it’s not as easy to work out the permutations.
With Manly’s loss last week, East Coast are officially minor premiers. They’ll be putting their feet up and enjoying the bye this week while keeping an eye on the carnage happening around them.
Parramatta have leap-frogged Manly into second, and it so happens that the Goannas and the Wolves are playing each other this week. The winner will tighten their grip on the double-chance; while the loser risks falling out of the finals completely.
If North Shore win, they will move into the top three. If they lose, UTS and Sydney Uni are ready to pounce. The Bombers have the bye in the last round and need to build up a buffer; and this is their opportunity.
It’s an important round of footy; and every team still in finals contention will be looking to lift and get themselves a winning run that will not only ensure their participation in the finals but also looking to build up the form that will make them competitive in the playoffs.
This weekend is cracker. You won’t want to miss it!!
MENS PREMIER DIVISION
Manly-Warringah Wolves v Inner West Magpies
Weldon Oval, Saturday 12:40pm
Manly – 2nd. Played 15, Won 13, Lost 2, 194.35%. Streak – W3
Inner West – 5th. Played 15, Won 8, Lost 7, 108.50%. Streak – L3
Second v fifth in a lunchtime shootout at Weldon Oval. The Wolves will have the double-chance in the finals, but will be looking to maintain their impressive run of form; while the Magpies have lost their last three and are still one win away from mathematically guaranteeing their finals participation. Plenty of work for the Magpies to do in this clash.
Last week at Weldon the Wolves burst out of the blocks and got off to a flyer against UTS and went on to record a comfortable 67-point win. Zac Youlten bagged six goals and Cameron Manuel four; while Lachlan Behagg was unstoppable in general play. It was an impressive football team going through their paces, and the Bats were powerless to stop them. It’s the sort of form that we’ve seen plenty of from the Wolves this year. And although none of the remaining home and away games will affect the Wolves’ finals destiny, they’ll be keen to maintain the form they’ve shown over the course of this season.
Inner West let an opportunity slip at Picken Oval last Saturday when they were only able to score one goal in the second half and were run down by UNSW-ES. Ben Zoppo kicked five goals, while Jye Doyle and Leroy Veerhuis also looked impressive for the Magpies. But in the end, they weren’t able to last the distance and slumped to their third straight defeat. Three games behind Pennant Hills and with a worst percentage, it was a result that cost them any chance of a top-three finish. It leaves the Magpies winless from their last three games, and with another challenging match here; and the Magpies have some work to do to regain their best form and momentum before the upcoming finals.
The Wolves will be keen to maintain their form and continue their winning momentum. They’ll need to keep that intact for when the business end of the season comes around. And that makes this match tough for the Magpies. But the Magpies need this win. Three losses in a row makes them look shaky; and a fourth loss on the trot would be a big hole to dig themselves out of. They should still make the finals, it would take a remarkable permutation of results to stop them getting there; but will need to regain their momentum and confidence, which can only come from winning.
South-West Sydney Blues v East Coast Eagles
Monarch Oval, Saturday 12:50pm
South-West Sydney – 6th. Played 15, Won 6, Lost 9, 83.87%. Streak – W2
East Coast – 10th. Played 15, Won 2, Lost 13, 48.76%. Streak – L3
South-West Sydney’s debut season has given the Blues some success, and they find themselves in sixth place, two games clear of their nearest challenger and on the back of a two-game winning streak. Not a bad position to be in, as they host East Coast on the vast terrain of Monarch Oval on Saturday afternoon. And if the long drive down the M5 isn’t to your liking, you can catch the action live as it happens on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/3877 ]
The Blues’ latest win came last week when they got on top of St George to take out a 27-point result at Rosedale. There was only a kick in it at the long break, but the Blues stepped up a gear in the second half. Caleb May was the star, booting seven goals; while Kain Flynn-Duncombe, Bailey Stewart and Kerwin Stuary were outstanding for the Blues. 2024 has been a learning curve for the competition’s newest team, but they’ve learned their lessons well and a strong last few rounds will set the club up well for future success.
East Coast have saluted just twice this season, both times against UNSW-ES. Last Saturday at Mike Kenny they were never in the hunt against Pennant Hills and went down by 57 points. Ben Currie defied the odds to land four goals, and along with Angus Edwards and Corey Dowle was among the Eagles’ best. But it was another afternoon of frustration for the Eagles; and they have just three weeks to work their wat off the bottom before the season comes to an end.
At home, higher placed, on a winning streak – the competition’s newest franchise is in the unfamiliar position of favouritism in this clash. But the Eagles will be desperate. If they are to avoid a third straight wooden spoon, they need two wins in the last three rounds; and this is one of the games they need to attack. The Blues won’t have everything their own way here against an opposition that desperately needs to put up a fight.
UTS Bats v St George Dragons
Trumper Park, Saturday 2:20pm
UTS – 9th. Played 15, Won 3, Lost 12, 63.92%. Streak – L4
St George – 7th. Played 15, Won 4, Lost 11, 69.32%. Streak – L2
The Bats and the Dragons face off at Trumper Park on Saturday afternoon. This match will not affect the finals, neither of these teams can make the playoffs this year. But in what has been a tough season for both clubs, here is a welcome opportunity for a much-needed confidence-boosting win.
UTS’s challenging season continued last week when they were never in the hunt against Manly, being jumped at the start and going down by 67 points. Hamish Latchford, Ash Backlund and Oliver Henderson kept working hard all afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Bats in the contest. Four losses on the trot sees them in ninth spot. But here is an opportunity to fly the flag for the club and grab some points and recapture that winning feeling.
St George have also had their fair share of adversity this season, and it was another tough afternoon for the Dragons at Rosedale last week. They stayed with South-West Sydney in the first half, and there was only a kick in it at the long break; but the Dragons were unable to match it with the Blues in the second half and went down by 27 points. Patrick Tegg, Lachlan Querzoli and Liam Taylor worked hard, but in the end the Dragons couldn’t hold the Blues out. The Dragons remain stuck on four wins, but will see this game as a chance to add to that tally.
When these teams met at Olds Park in round 7, the Dragons prevailed by 48 points. This time the Bats have the home ground advantage, and need to make it count. For both clubs, you can expect some young talent from the Under 19s to make their way into the Seniors; and they should be grateful for the opportunity and look to establish themselves at this level. Neither club will play finals this year, but these last few weeks can lay foundations for future success.
Sydney University Students v Pennant Hills Demons
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 2:45pm
Sydney Uni – 4th. Played 15, Won 10, Lost 5, 129.66%. Streak – L1
Pennant Hills – 3rd. Played 16, Won 11, Lost 4, 167.79%. Streak – W4
The double-chance, and avoiding sudden death in the first week of the finals, is a big advantage. And that’s what’s on the line in what is sure to be a keenly contested clash at Sydney Uni No 1 on Saturday afternoon when the Students and the Demons lock horns. The Demons hold the upper hand, a game plus percentage ahead of the Students, and can wrap up the double-chance here. If they don’t, it’s going to be a tight race in the final weeks of the regular season.
Sydney Uni fell off the pace of Pennant Hills when they went down last Saturday. But the Students had played a great game, taking the fight up to the undefeated North Shore at Gore Hill, hitting the front in the last quarter and being pipped at the post by three points. Tim Barton, Harrison Podmore-Taylor and Lucas Newman picked up myriad possessions as the Students put on a cracking performance in one of the best games this year only to fall so agonisingly short. But if they can replicate that standard of performance on their turf at the Campus, the Students will give themselves every chance of knocking off the Demons this time.
Four wins in a row have left the Demons with the upper hand in the race for the double-chance. The last win was at Mike Kenny last Saturday against East Coast. The first quarter was tight, but eight Demons goals in the second term put the game out of the Eagles’ reach, and the Demons would go on to win by 57 points. Harrison Pitt was a handy target up forward to score four goals, and was named alongside Brandon Clark and Ben Matthews among the Demons’ best. The Demons keep racking up the wins, and just need to keep doing what they’re doing.
The Students were so close to being the first to upset the North Shore juggernaut last week. But that heroic effort counts for nothing if they can’t get the points here. A Sydney Uni win would see them draw level on games with the Demons and the battle for the double-chance would be well and truly alive over the remaining weeks. But the Demons, if they get up in this one, can put the issue beyond doubt; they can book themselves a Qualifying Final against Manly and condemn the Students to sudden death in the finals.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers
Henson Park. Saturday 3:20pm
UNSW-ES – 8th. Played 15, Won 3, Lost 12, 70.03%. Streak – W1
North Shore – 1st. Played 15, Won 15, Lost 0, 216.92%. Streak – W15
The Bulldogs and the Bombers have been powerhouse clubs in Mens Premier Division in recent seasons, and have played in the last two Grand Finals. But their fortunes have gone on divergent paths in 2024, with the Bombers continuing their impressive form while the Bulldogs have slid down the ladder in 2024. But there’s a strong rivalry in recent years between these clubs, and there’s sure to be plenty of interest in this match. The best place to watch this match is at Henson Park; the second best is online on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/3879 ]
For all the Bulldogs’ trials and tribulations this season, they managed to lift a gear last week to knock off a top five team. It came at Picken Oval last Saturday, when the Bulldogs came from 19 points down at the long break to overtake the Magpies with an 18-point win. Toby Alker, Ned Clear and Pat Horan were impressive for the Bulldogs; as they gave a reminder that, although they won’t be playing finals this year, the Bulldogs still have enough premiership players in their ranks to be capable of causing some hard times to the top teams.
After going down to the Bulldogs in the last two Grand Finals, North Shore have pledged to go one position better this season; and the Bombers remain undefeated so far in 2024. But they were given a massive scare last Saturday at Gore Hill, when Sydney Uni took the lead in the last quarter. In the end, it took some heroics from best-on-ground Angus Loebel, along with solid games from Ned Campbell and James Tidemann, to get the Bombers over the line. A team is not going to dominate every week; but quality teams will still find a way to win, and the Bombers showed last Saturday that they have that quality. Which will stand them in good stead when the big challenges come at the business end of the season.
When these teams met at Gore Hill in round 4, the Bulldogs drew level early in the last quarter before North Shore kicked the last five goals. The sight of their Grand Final nemesis from the last two seasons should inspire the Bombers, who have taken all before them this season and have a point to prove against this opposition. But the Bulldogs, although their run of Grand Final appearances is over, are capable of lifting themselves for a big occasion like this. Despite the big gap between these two teams on the ladder, the Bombers won’t be treating this opponent lightly.
WOMENS PREMIER DIVISION
UTS Bats v St George Dragons
Trumper Park, Saturday 12:30pm
UTS – 5th. Played 13, Won 8, Lost 5, 169.91%. Streak – W3
St George – 9th. Played 13, Won 0, Lost 13, 5.84%. Streak – L13
A few weeks ago, UTS’s hold on a spot in this year’s finals was looking shaky. And they’re not guaranteed to make it yet. But three wins in a row has given them a great chance, and with a clash against the winless St George this week, the Bats will be looking to further strengthen their hold on a final five spot.
Last week the Bats travelled to Weldon Oval to take on the highly-rated Manly. In a low-scoring game in which only six goals were kicked, the Bats landed four of them to take a 10-point win; helped along the way by strong efforts from Madeleine Quinn, Aleshea Houlahan and Anja Samardzic. It was a result that makes the battle for finals, and positions within the finals, extremely tight; with just one win separating second from sixth. And in that context, not just the winner but the margin is critical; and the Bats will be looking for a percentage booster in this contest.
St George are returning to the field this week after last week’s bye. Their last start was back in July in a game moved to Mike Kenny at the last moment. The Dragons on that occasion were unable to keep up with the Demons, going down by 34 points despite some fight being shown by Sienna Smith, Caydelan Mitchell-Bruce and Rhiannon Burns. The Dragons are yet to win a game this season, and with just three rounds remaining will have to dig deep and break their duck. No-one likes a winless season, and after such a tough year, the Dragons need to work hard in this one to finally get to sing the song.
For the Bats, currently sitting in fifth place, the equation is clear. Keep winning and they will stay in the five. With a favourable percentage, if other results go their way, even the top three is possible. And the Bats can get a favourable percentage if they push hard all day. Standing in their way this week is St George, who have copped some heavy losses this year. With only three weeks to go and the finals out of reach, it’s been a nightmare of a season. But in these last few weeks, they’ll be desperate to salvage something. To push a top side and make them earn it. To put up a fight. They can make life difficult for the Bats if they do that.
Sydney University Students v Pennant Hills Demons
Sydney Uni No 1 Oval, Saturday 1:00pm
Sydney Uni – 6th. Played 13, Won 8, Lost 5, 124.93%. Streak – L1
Pennant Hills – 8th. Played 13, Won 2, Lost 11, 28.87%. Streak – L1
It’s a critical game for the home side when Sydney Uni host Pennant Hills at Sydney Uni No 1 on Saturday afternoon. After falling out of the top five last week, copping not just a win but a hit to their percentage, the Students need to make this clash count. Their opponents, Pennant Hills, can’t make the finals this year; but will be keen to have some influence over who does.
Last week was one of those days for Sydney Uni where nothing was going right. Up against North Shore at Gore Hill, they were unable to score a goal and went down by 58 points. Rose Stuart, Emma Gelsomino and Ella van den Borne kept putting the effort in; but it was one of those days best forgotten for the Students where North Shore not only took the points but overtook their percentage. This week against a non-finals team, a big win is imperative if the Students are to give themselves their best chance to re-enter the top five. The Students have some tough games to come in the last two rounds.
Pennant Hills have also had their share of challenging moments, and had one last week when they were unable to score against East Coast and went down by 97 points. Hayley Lowe, Eliza Harvey and Sheridan Baker tried hard, but the Demons didn’t have the firepower to match it with a very strong Eagles side. But each week is a new challenge, and the Demons have to get themselves up for this one. Time is running out, but the Demons would like to claim the scalp of someone other than St George before the year is out.
When these teams played in the rescheduled round 1 on the June long weekend, it was one-way traffic; with the Students holding the Demons to a single point to complete a 39-point win. The Students will look for a similar result this time, and they’ll need it to keep themselves in touch with the top five. But the Demons have nothing to lose. To take the fight up to a potential finals team and make their life difficult would be a satisfying result for the Demons. The Students can’t leave anything in the tank here, it’s got to be full steam ahead.
UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers
Henson Park, Saturday 1:40pm
UNSW-ES – 7th. Played 14, Won 3, Lost 11, 63.93%. Streak – L3
North Shore – 4th. Played 14, Won 9, Lost 5, 147.85%. Streak – W3
There’ll be plenty of interest in the result of the game between UNSW-ES and North Shore at Henson Park on Saturday. The Bulldogs can’t make the finals, but the Bombers have made their way into the top five; with a three-game winning streak against likely finals teams sending a message to the rest of the competition that the Bombers are hitting their best form as the business end of the season draws closer. And if you can’t get out to Henson Park for this battle, you can see it live on Streamer. [link – https://streamer.com.au/match/3878 ]
It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for the Bulldogs, and last Saturday at Gipps Road they weren’t able to match it with the Goannas and went down by 62 points. Lauren Whiting, Emily-Summer Hawes and Zali Deep never stopped putting the effort in; but the Bulldogs couldn’t keep up with a very strong Goannas team. Now they find themselves up against another in-form opponent. But with only a few weeks left this season, they’ll be hoping to find a strong performance within them and do some damage before the season is done and dusted.
North Shore’s purple patch of form hit another high point last Saturday when they completed a 58-point win over Sydney Uni at Gore Hill, holding the Students goal-less and not only recording the points but overtaking the Students’ percentage. Lucy Yates, Sophie de Montemas and Emily Cleghorn were in the thick of the action for the Bombers in aa game where they played their best football all season. The Bombers have the bye in the last round, so only have two more chances to impress; and this game is a must-win, no matter what.
The Bombers prevailed by nine points when these teams met at Gore Hill in round 4. In an extremely tight battle for spots within the top five, the Bombers will be keen to keep their impressive form of recent weeks going. For the Bulldogs, although they won’t make the finals, they won’t be lying down and making it easy for the Bombers. This is no dead rubber, it’s a chance to upset an old rival. The Bombers can’t afford to take them lightly.
Manly-Warringah Wolves v Parramatta Goannas
Weldon Oval, Saturday 3:10pm
Manly – 3rd. Played 13, Won 9, Lost 4, Drawn 0, 196.17%. Streak – L2
Parramatta – 2nd. Played 13, Won 9, Lost 4, 236.60%. Streak – W1
A potential preview of the upcoming finals action sees Manly and Parramatta face off at Weldon. Both teams with a 9-4 record, both teams with a strong percentage. Second v third. And with the loser running the risk of falling out of the top three into the sudden death zone. This contest has plenty to get the football connoisseur excited about.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Wolves were battling it out for top spot. But their second loss in a row sees them now battling to stay in the double-chance for the finals. It came against UTS last week, when the Wolves were out-pressured and out-scrapped by a desperate Bats lineup; going down by 10 points in a low-scoring contest. Ash Carter, Elise Wallace and Kenya Fahey battled hard all afternoon, but the Wolves were unable to take the points. Now against another tough opponent, the Wolves will surely come out swinging and look to make a statement early.
The Goannas returned to the winning list in style last Saturday when they dominated from start to finish to complete a 62-point win over UNSW-ES; a win built around the efforts of Keira Yerbury, Caitlin Fletcher and Megan Mifsud. The win was enough of a percentage booster to get them ahead of Manly into second; and in a tight season with several teams within a game of each other, the Goannas’ strong percentage may get them into a higher ladder position than their immediate rivals. As long as they can win their remaining games, their fate is in their hands.
These teams met at Gipps Road in round 7, and on that occasion the Goannas took out a 36-point win and the Wolves were unable to score a goal. Now they meet again, this time at Weldon. It’s not just the four points the winner picks up, but the four points the loser doesn’t. And potentially a psychological advantage should these clubs meet again in the finals. Plenty of star power, plenty to play for. This match should be a cracker. And despite their strong win-loss records, there’s a real risk that whoever drops this game will be forced into sudden death finals.
