2024 AFL Sydney Finals – Week 1 Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
We’ve finally made it to the finals. This is the business end of the season, where some dreams come true and others are shattered. The weather is warmer, the pressure builds and it’s time to step it up another notch. We’ve said farewell to the bottom half of the ladder, and just five teams remain in each competition. By the end of this weekend, we’ll be down to four. And each weekend we drop a team until only the Grand Final teams remain.
The minor premiers get the week off before going straight through to the Major Semi-Final. For North Shore in the Men’s and East Coast in the Women’s, it’s a chance to rest and recover from any little niggles they may have picked up. You can be sure that there’ll be a Bombers and Eagles presence in the grandstand at Blacktown on Saturday as they keep an eye on who their next opponent will be.
In the Men’s, all our finals teams had wins in the last round of the regular season and come into this finals series with some winning momentum behind them. We have Manly and Pennant Hills playing off for the right to meet North Shore in the Major Semi-Final. Then on Sunday, there’s no second chance for Sydney Uni and Inner West as they fight to keep their seasons alive. For one of them, it ends on Sunday.
And in the Women’s, Manly and Parramatta face off; with the winner just one win away from the Grand Final and a date with East Coast to come. And then on Sunday, North Shore and Sydney Uni lock horns in a contest from which only one team will survive while the loser’s season is over.
Don’t forget that if you’re coming to the finals, you’ll need a ticket. Head over to Eventbrite to get that sorted. And if you’re coming to Blacktown International Sportspark by public transport, there’s trackwork on the T1 line this weekend and buses replace trains west of Parramatta; so allow plenty of travel time.
This is the time of year we all love. Let the excitement build!!
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Qualifying Final – Manly-Warringah Wolves v Pennant Hills Demons
Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 3:30pm
Wolves – 2nd after home & away season. Played 18, Won 15, Lost 2, Drawn 1, 186.90%. Streak – W1
Demons – 3rd after home & away season. Played 18, Won 13, Lost 4, Drawn 1, 160.21%. Streak – W1
The finals series gets under way on Saturday when the Wolves and the Demons meet at Blacktown. If this game is anything like the last clash between these teams a fortnight ago, we’re in for a treat. This is a game you won’t want to miss; and even if you can’t get out to Blacktown, you don’t have to. Tune your device to Streamer and catch the action live as it unfolds – Stream here
Both these teams come into this clash with winning form behind them. For the Wolves, the last round of the regular season saw them travel to Olds Park to take on St George. The Dragons stayed with the Wolves for a half, and there was only seven points in it at the long break. But the Wolves made their move in the premiership quarter, with three unanswered goals while keeping the Dragons scoreless to put the game out of the home side’s reach. Kyle Martin, Willem Smit and Nick Marsh were influential for the Wolves in getting the job done. It completed an impressive regular season for the Wolves, in which they only dropped two games; and when it comes to the playoffs, the Wolves are ready to go.
Pennant Hills were given a test by a determined UNSW-ES team at Henson Park last week; and had to dig deep to get over the line. There was only a point in it at the long break, and the Demons had to defend grimly in the second half; but scored the only two goals after half time to record a 15-point win. Nick Hey, Mitch Blow and Josh Boag were prominent performers for the Demons, who didn’t look totally convincing but did enough to get themselves over the line. The Demons have the big game experience, and know how to step up at the business end of the season; and Manly can’t expect to have everything going their way in this contest.
In round 9, these two teams met at Weldon Oval, and on that occasion the Wolves dominated to record a 25-point win. The return game at Mike Kenny Oval in round 17 was a cracker, as the Wolves made a late run to catch up to the Demons; and in the end the teams couldn’t be separated as the game finished in a thrilling draw. The Demons haven’t lost for seven weeks and the Wolves for six; both of these clubs are full of running; and there’s some fascinating potential match-ups here. When the final siren goes, there shouldn’t be much separating these teams.
Elimination Final – Sydney University Students v Inner West Magpies
Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 3:30pm
Students – 4th after home & away season. Played 18, Won 12, Lost 6, 135.40%. Streak – W2
Magpies – 5th after home & away season. Played 18, Won 9, Lost 9, 104.40%. Streak – W1
In the dangerous world of sudden death finals, one slip-up will end the season. For Sydney Uni and Inner West, now is the time to step up. Neither of these teams have been in particularly convincing form lately; but both recorded wins against non-finals teams last week to build up some form of momentum for the finals. The Inner West derby always has plenty of feeling and passion in it; and the best place to watch it is at the game. But if you can’t get there, the next best place is live on Streamer.
The Students had been through their share of trials and tribulations in recent weeks; but put those tough times behind them last Saturday at Kanebridge when they burst out of the blocks with six goals in the opening term and went on to beat East Coast by 90 points. Nik Dale was the standout, kicking nine goals; and the Students will again be looking to him in this match to play a key role in getting a winning score on the board. Declan Fitzpatrick and Harry Morrison got plenty of the ball around the ground, and will be called on to do the same this time around.
The latter part of the regular season has seen plenty of challenges for the Magpies. After looking set to challenge for the double-chance two-thirds of the way through, a five-game losing streak threatened to suck the winning momentum from the team. But last Saturday at Waverley, the Magpies finally returned to the winning list with a 41-point win over UTS. Holding the Bats to a solitary goal in each of the first three quarters, the Magpies built up enough of a lead to ensure a comfortable result; ably led by the efforts of Pat Wilmot, Luke Jamieson and Dan Hillam. It was a welcome respite for the Magpies, and singing the song felt good. But there’s some hard work ahead for the Magpies if they are to make a run through the finals.
These clubs have faced off twice this season, both times at Picken Oval. In round 5 on a very wet Friday night Streamer game, the Students got the job done by 20 points. Then just two weeks ago, the Students repeated the dose and got the result in a low-scoring affair by 31 points. With two wins against the Magpies, and having finished three games plus plenty of percentage ahead; the Students will go into this game as hot favourites. But the Magpies have battled the odds to get here, and if ever they are going to show some backs-to-the-wall fighting spirit, now is the time. The Students can’t expect this to be a walk in the park, and they’re going to have to bring their best footy into this game. As the sun sets behind the western grandstand on Sunday evening, it will only rise again for one team.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Qualifying Final – Manly-Warringah Wolves v Parramatta Goannas
Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 1:30pm
Wolves – 2nd after home & away season. Played 16, Won 11, Lost 5, 235.84%. Streak – W2
Goannas – 3rd after home & away season. Played 16, Won 11, Lost 5, 144.89%. Streak – W1
We have a keenly-anticipated clash to open our finals for 2024 when Manly take on Parramatta in the Qualifying Final. Both clubs have recorded some critical wins to get here, and in an closely-contested competition, the winner will find themselves just one w]]in away from the Grand Final. If you can’t get yourself to Blacktown for this match, the next best thing is to catch the action live on your device on Streamer.
The Wolves have finished the regular season in barn-storming fashion, recording a couple of thumping wins to boost their momentum and find their way back up to second spot. Last week at Olds Park it was no contest as they dominated St George from start to finish to record a 74-point win. Isabella Rudolph left the Dragons red-faced as she landed seven goals; while Hannah Woolf and Zara Hamilton also featured prominently for Manly. They are in form, high on confidence and ready to go. They’ll be a hard team to stop.
The Goannas went into last week needing to win to make the double-chance, and were no certainties against a UTS side who needed a win to make the finals. But from the start, it looked clear that the Goannas would get the job done; with four first quarter goals laying the platform for a 40-point win. Lauren O’Sullivan spearheaded the charge with four goals, while Lauren Easton, Caitlin Fletcher and Amanda Farrugia picked up numerous possessions around the ground. There’s plenty of star power in this Goannas lineup; and when they click like they did last Saturday, it will take something special to slow them down.
Both clashes between these teams during the regular season went the way of the Goannas. In round 7 at Gipps Road, the Wolves were unable to score a goal as the Goannas took the game by 36 points. It was closer at Weldon Oval in round 16, when the Goannas kicked four unanswered goals in the final quarter for a come-from-behind 14-point win. Expect an even closer contest this time, with some big name players in both teams fired up and ready for action. A date with the Eagles for a spot in the Grand Final is at stake. Anyone who isn’t revved up for a big performance here isn’t doing it right.
Elimination Final – North Shore Bombers v Sydney University Students
Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 1:30pm
Bombers – 4th after home & away season. Played 16, Won 11, Lost 5, 144.89%. Streak – W5
Students – 5th after home & away season. Played 16, Won 10, Lost 6, 126.57%. Streak – L1
Two big rivals facing off in a clash where there is no tomorrow for the loser. The stakes are high, the tension is high; and this clash between the Bombers and the Students has the ingredients for a cracking contest. There’ll be plenty of interest in this clash; and for the North Shore and Sydney Uni diaspora around the globe, you can catch all the action live on Streamer.
North Shore goes into this clash rested and refreshed after last week’s bye. But they may have preferred not to have had that bye; they were on a roll before that, having won their last five games and claimed some big scalps along the way. Their last start was in round 17 against UTS at St Lukes; and it was a thriller, with the Bombers getting up by two points. Charlotte Tidemann, Georgina Maher and Zoe Millgan were in the thick of the action for the Bombers as they hung on to ensure their participation in the finals. They’ve been in good form in the last several weeks of the regular season; but that counts for nothing if they can’t get the job done here.
By the time Sydney Uni took the field against East Coast at Kanebridge last Saturday, they knew their finals spot was secure. The Students took the challenge up to the minor premiers, leading by nine points at the long break but ultimately going down by 23 points. Frances Walsh, Ashley Dribbus and Kendra Blattman were prolific performers for Sydney Uni as they put up a credible effort against the top side. In a topsy-turvy regular season, the Students didn’t always look likely to make the finals; but now that they’ve made it, it’s time to stand up and make it count.
These teams have split the points in their previous meetings this season, which were both played on the Gore Hill synthetic. In round 9, the Students came from behind to win by 10 points. But the Bombers turned the tables in style in round 15 to hold Sydney Uni goal-less and win by 58 points. This time we’re on grass, this time there’s no second chance. This has been a season of momentum swings, of winning streaks and losing runs. For one of them, it ends here. For the other, the dream is kept alive for at least another week.
