AFL SYDNEY ROUND 18 REVIEW

Written by David Redden

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Parramatta produced their most convincing performance of the season in dispensing of UTS by forty points at Waverley Oval; in doing so, guaranteeing a double chance for the Goannas and knocking UTS out of the finals. Final scores were Parramatta 8.8.56 to UTS 2.4.16.

The Goannas put the foot down from the start leading by 19 points at quarter time then by 28 points at half time. They went on with the job in the second half an excellent dress rehearsal for next week’s final series.

Home forward Lauren O’Sullivan kicked four goals for Parramatta in a match winning display up forward for the goannas.

Parramatta was best served by Lauren Easton, Caitlin Fletcher, Amanda Farrugia and O’Sullivan. Best players for UTS were Hannah Cerezo, Charlotte Owen, Aoife Berry and Aleshea Houlahan.

East Coast Eagles finished the home and away season with a solid twenty-three-point victory over Sydney University at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were East Coast 8.12.60 to Sydney University 6.1.37. The earlier UTS result meant that Sydney University had already qualified for the finals, and the Students produced a solid effort in keeping East Coast to eight goals at home.

The Students produced an exhilarating second quarter in which they kicked four goals to two behinds and led by 9 points at the main break. The Eagles came out flying in the third quarter kicking five goals to none to put the game away by the final break. The Students have played particularly good football in the last two weeks, defeating Parramatta at Gipps Rd and then keeping East Coast honest at Kanebridge.

Emily Hurley kicked four goals for East Coast and was well supported by key forward Caitlin Davidson who finished with two majors. Kendra Blackman, Lucy Gilfedder and Frances Walsh all finished with two goals for the students.

East Coast was best served by Jess Whelan, Caitlin Reid, Mostyn Medal hopeful Michelle Foscarini and Nellie McMillan. Sydney University’s best players were Walsh, Ashley Dribbus, Blattman and Ella Van Den Borne.

Manly Warringah continued their return to form with a dominant seventy-four-point thumping of St George at Olds Park. Final scores were Manly Warringah 14.9.93 to St George 3.1.19.

The Wolves’ last two victories over the Demons then the Dragons saw them finish the season in second place, getting a crucial double chance and an epic qualifying final next Saturday against Parramatta.

The Wolves struggled a little after the representative fixture in Tasmania, but they are back to full form and will be confident going into the final series. Manly Warringah will only be focusing on next week, with the winner having the difficult prospect of playing East Coast Eagles in the Second Semifinal.

Isabella Rudolph had a massive day for the walls kicking seven goals in a fabulous display. Peggy Stanbury continued her recent good form, kicking three goals. Maggie Ritchie kicked two goals for the Dragons.

Manly Warringah were best served by Hannah Woolf, Zara Hamilton, Rudolph and Lauren Bourgeois (Bourgeois’ successful return from a knee reconstruction has been timely for the Wolves). St George’s best players were Caitlin Edmonds, Hannah Kaine, Rhiannon Burns, and Ritchie.

UNSW-ES came from eight points down at half time to eventually defeat Pennant Hills by eight points at Henson Park. Final scores were UNSW-ES 5.0.30 to Pennant Hills 3.4.22.

The Bulldogs accurate kicking proved pivotal, converting all five effective shots on goal whilst Pennant Hills could only convert three times from seven effective shots at goal.

UNSW-ES’ best players were youngster Emma Haley, Chloe Anderson and Abbey Cunningham. With thier goals coming from Emily-Summer Hawes, Zali Deep, and 3 from Haley. Speedy wing Natalie Pajor kicked two majors for Pennant Hills.

Pennant Hills were best served by Jesse Smith, the consistent Hayley Lowe, Sheridan Baker and Lucy Boyd.

WOMEN’S DIVISION 1:

In Womens Division One action, East Coast Eagles defeated Sydney University by twenty-six points at Kanebridge Oval, UTS defeated Manly Warringah by sixteen points at Trumper Park, in an absolute thriller, Randwick City held on to defeat Newtown Breakaways by two points at Pioneers Park and North Shore thrashed South West Sydney Blues by ninety-two points at Gore Hill Oval.

WOMEN’S UNDER 20s:

In Womens Under 20’s action, UTS defeated Sydney University by twenty-two points at Waverley Oval, Parramatta held on for a two-goal victory over UNSW-ES at David Phillips Oval and in a high scoring fixture, Manly Warringah defeated North Shore 9.8.62 to 8.5.53 at Gore Hill Oval.

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

Inner West Magpies returned to form with a solid forty-one-point victory over UTS at Waverley Oval, an ideal hit out before next week’s elimination final against Sydney University at Blacktown. Final scores were Inner West 13.14.92 to UTS 7.9.51.

Inner West led by thirty-three points at the main break, and despite UTS keeping Ben Zoppo to one goal, the Magpies continued with the job in the second half, with their defensive work again a highlight for player-Coach Ben Klemke.

Leroy Veerhuis kicked three goals for the Magpies, and he was well supported by Luke Jamieson and Josh Zoppo, who both kicked two majors. Veteran Pat Gillingham and League Leading Goal Kicker Hugo Birks both kicked two goals for the Bats in their last game for the season.

Inner West was best served by Patrick Wilmot, Jamieson, Dan Hillam and Thye Hamilton. UTS’ best players were Oscar Doland, Gillingham, possible club Best & Fairest winner Lewis McCormack and Joshua Lee.

In an historic performance at Gore Hill Oval, North Shore finished the Home & Away season 18-0 with a 118-point thumping of South West Sydney. Final scores were North Shore 22.14.146 to South West Sydney 3.10.28. The Bombers have earnt a week off next week as Minor Premier, and will no doubt keep a close eye on the Qualifying Final between Manly Warringah and Pennant Hills next Saturday.

Wayd Blackburn and Matt Buskariol each kicked five goals for North Shore, aided and abetted by Max Thomas, who managed four majors from the half-forward flank.

The Bombers were best served by Buskariol, James Tidemann, Sean Netting and Thomas. The Blues’ best players were Bailey Stewart, Khy Gibbs, Matthew Storey and crafty veteran Kerwin Stuart.

Manly Warringah finished the Home & Away season with a solid thirty-five-point victory over St George at Olds Park in Penshurst. Final scores were Manly Warringah 11.8.74 to St George 6.3.39, on a blustery day in Sydney.

Scores were tight at half time with the Wolves leading by a mere 7 points. Manly Warringah kicked three goals in the third quarter whilst keeping St George scoreless and then added four more on for good measure in the last stanza. The Wolves now look forward to the qualifying final against Pennant Hills at Blacktown next Saturday.

Goals were evenly shared by the Wolves, with Phelan Medallist Kale Gabila, Zac Youlten, Willem Smith and Louis Jans all kicking two majors. The impressive Finn Richie kicked two goals for the Dragons.

Manly Warringah was best served by Kyle Martin, Smit, Nicholas Marsh and Ethan Williams. The Dragons best players were co-captain Patrick Tegg, Riley Michels, Ritchie and Jack Druery.

Pennant Hills ground out a tough fifteen-point victory over a dogged UNSW-ES at Henson Park. Final scores were Pennant Hills 7.10.52 to UNSW-ES-5.7.37, on a day where goals were hard to come by at Marrickville.

The Demons led by one point at half time and kept the Bulldogs goal-less in the second half in a defensive performance that will please coach Ben Roberts ahead of next Saturday’s Qualifying Final against Manly Warringah at Blacktown.

Nick Hey kicked three goals for the demons in an impressive display up forward. Max Rider, who has been in outstanding form over the last month, kicked three majors for the Bulldogs.

Pennant Hills was best served by Hey, Mitchell Blow, Joshua Boag and Thomas Edmonds, with all four club stalwarts sure to feature in the Demons club Best & Fairest vote count (the veteran Edmonds has taken his game to a whole new level this year, in particular). The Bulldogs’ best players were the impressive quartet of Max Geddes, Will Spencer, Jordan Endemann and Ned Hawkins.

A brilliant nine-goal performance from Sydney University’s Nik Dale, in which he nearly stole the League Goal Kicking award from UTS’ Hugo Birks, was a highlight of the Students thumping ninety-point win over East Coast Eagles at Kanebridge Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 21.13.139 to East Coast Eagles 7.7.49.

Dale was unstoppable for the students, and his performance will cause headaches for the Inner West Magpies brains trust ahead of the Elimination Final next Sunday at Blacktown (perhaps Pat Wilmot will go to Dale first?). The Students are in good form at the moment and will cause lots of problems should they progress next Sunday.

Dale was well supported by Declan Fitzpatrick, who kicked three majors. Ruckman Alex Foxall kicked two majors for the Eagles, who will have to regroup in the summer after a tough 2024 season.

The Students were best served by Dale, Fitzpatrick, Harry Morrison and Nick Andreacchio. East Coast’s best players were Angus Edwards (again), Cam Edwards, Nick Emanouel and Nathan Coxall.

MEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Mens Division One action, Parramatta defeated St. George by nineteen points at Olds Park, Pennant Hills defeated UNSW-ES by twenty-nine points at Henson Park, Inner West Magpies hammered Balmain by eighty-one points at Mahoney Park, and in a significant victory leading into the finals, Sydney University upset Camden by twenty points at Fairfax Reserve.