Round 16, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Review

Written by David Redden

 

WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

A cancelled fixture at Uni #1 Oval, combined with East Coast Eagles winning by 101 points over Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval, has suddenly opened the door for the Eagles to remarkably secure the double chance in Womens Premier Division.

If Sydney University does not upset Manly Warringah at Weldon Oval this Saturday and East Coast combine a good win over St George with a lock-down defensive performance, the Eagles could feasibly sit in the third place on Saturday Night.

Manly Warringah thrashed Parramatta by 129 points at Gipps Rd Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 19.15.129 to Parramatta 0.0.0.

The Wolves, knowing they must keep winning well to keep pressure on North Shore (who had the Bye), raced out to 73-point lead at half time and went on with the job in the third quarter, leading by 20 goals at the main break. Parramatta produced a much better defensive effort in the fourth quarter, keeping Manly to 1.3.9 in the final 18 minutes.

League leading goalkicker Isabella Rudolph proved unstoppable for the Wolves, kicking 11 goals in a superb display from the small forward. Lauren Bull (3 goals) and Kate Salmon & Lauren Bourgeois (2 goals each) piled on the misery for the Goannas as the Wolves showed little mercy.

The recent absences of Zara Hamilton and Hannah Woolf have propelled the consistent Andrea Roditis into serious contention for the Mostyn Medal. Roditis turned in another outstanding display for Manly Warringah, and she was well supported by teammates Rudolph, Holly Wickham, Kenya Fahey, skipper Ashleigh Carter and Salmon. Parramatta was best served by Ashley Gray, Michala Ford, Ava Saad, Cindy Lam, Tayliya Noack and Skyla Seal.

UTS kept the pressure on UNSW-ES in the battle for fifth place with a 97-point drubbing of St George in a fixture transferred from a waterlogged Olds Park to Fairfax Reserve in Harrington Park. Final scores were UTS 14.13.97 to St George 0.0.0.

The Bats produced a consistent four-quarter display, kicking 4, 4, 4 and 2 goals to boost their percentage leading into their only remaining game, the massive challenge of North Shore at Gore Hill in Round 18.

Ella Parker and Brianna-Lee Wad kicked 5 goals each for the dominant Bats. Regular contributor Sophia Gaukrodger chipped in with two majors for UTS.

UTS’ best players were athletic midfielder Aoife Berry, Wade, Parker, Gabriella Stanwix, Hannah Cerezo and Madeleine Quinn. St George was best served by Bianca Rudzis, Montana Doubell, Kaitlyn Eisenhuth, Delaney Gwynn, Zoe Maher and Danielle Plunkett.

East Coast Eagles continued their late-season resurgence with a 101-point demolition of Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were East Coast Eagles 15.17.107 to Pennant Hills 1.0.6.

A nine-goal first half from the Eagles set up their crushing win. Only inaccuracy in the second half (the Eagles kicked 6.8) kept them from winning by 20 goals.

Abbey Martin kicked 6 goals for the Eagles, sending a warning to the other finallists that she is fit and raring to go in the Eagles attacking setup (key recruit, representative fullback Kaitlyn Noble allows Martin to go forward). Chloe Arndt kicked 3 goals for East Coast in a valuable supporting role to the rejuvenated Martin.

East Coast’s best players were Bryany Parker, Martin, Jess Whelan, Aysha Sanchez, Taylah Canobie and Noble. Pennant Hills was best served by Scarlett Sheridan, Caitlin Gurney, Stephanie Este, Amelia Bennett, Jasmine Blow and Sheridan Baker

The crucial fixture between Sydney University and UNSW-ES was cancelled due to a waterlogged Uni #1 Oval, throwing the final two rounds of the Womens Premier Division into must-win games for several clubs, noting UTS then Manly Warringah have the Bye in Rounds 17 & 18, respectively.

 

WOMEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Womens Division One action, Newtown hung on to defeat UTS by 8 points at Mahoney Park, Randwick City eked out a tough 6-point victory over Manly Warringah at Pioneers Park, Camden thrashed local rivals South West Sydney by 72 points and the fixture between Sydney University and North Shore was cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Bat & Ball Oval.

That UTS loss could be crucial for the Bats as they sit 6.16 Match Ratio points behind Manly Warringah in the battle for fourth place on the ladder. UTS still has a huge chance of qualifying for the Finals, playing South West Sydney at Waverley this week then hosting the Wolves in a finals curtain-raiser at Trumper Oval in Round 18.

 

WOMEN’S UNDER 20S:

In Womens Under 20s action, North Shore thrashed UTS by 104 points at Gore Hill Oval. Manly Warringah received a forfeit from Parramatta and the fixture between Sydney University & UNSW-ES was cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Uni #1 Oval.

Manly Warringah and North Shore will play in the Qualifying Final, whilst Sydney University are a strong chance of making the Elimination Final. UTS and UNSW-ES are separated by 0.62 Match Ratio points. UTS could qualify for the Finals this weekend as they host Sydney University at Waverley, with UNSW-ES finishing the season with Manly Warringah then North Shore.

 

MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION:

After a Round 16 that contained one cancellation, a serious fright for Pennant Hills and St George upsetting UTS at Fairfax Reserve, we know the following things:

• The Top Three is locked in. Either North Shore (leading Manly Warringah by 12.44%) or the Wolves will be Minor Premiers.
• UNSW-ES are a lock for the Qualifying Final in Week 1 of the Finals.
• Sydney University, South West Sydney and Pennant Hills are in an epic battle for fourth and fifth place on the ladder. Just 3.54 Match Ration points separates the three clubs ahead of Sydney University’s arduous trek to Weldon Oval AND potentially the game of the season between South West Sydney and Pennant Hills at Mike Kenny Oval this Saturday.

Manly Warringah defeated South West Sydney by 48 points at Rosedale Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 16.11.107 to South West Sydney 8.11.59.

The Wolves led by 41 points at the main break, their much-vaunted back six keeping the Blues to 2.2.14 in the first half. An entertaining second half saw Manly kick 8 goals to 6 as the Blues finally put some pressure on the Manly defensive structures.

Trent Dennis-Lane (5 goals) and Cam Manuel & Byron Laws (3 goals each) led a blue-chip goalkicking list for the Wolves. Bailey Stewart and Josh Croft kicked 2 goals each for the Blues.

Manly Warringah’s best players were Willem Smit, Manuel, Jonathan Marsh, Dennis-Lane, Laws and Tom McCaffrey. South West Sydney were best served by Croft, Phelan Medal chance Finbar Delbridge, Luke Parkinson, Blake Jarvis, Ethan Roberts and Angus Langley.

North Shore’s recent run of enormous second halves continued in their methodical 71-point victory over winless Inner West Magpies at Picken Oval. The Bombers kicked 10 goals to 3 in the second half to run out 17.15.117 to 7.4.46 victors.

The Bombers raced out to a 21-poinut lead at the first break. Inner West fought hard in the second quarter, as the teams both kicked 3.2.20 heading into the main break. However, the reigning premiers put the foot down in the second half, running away with the game to gain crucial percentage ahead of their massive clash with UNSW-ES at BISP 1 on Saturday.

The Maxes, Thomas and Yeoland, kicked 3 goals each for the Bombers, as did consistent half-forward Matt Buskariol. Club stalwart Ben Zoppo kicked 2 goals for the Magpies.

North Shore’s best players were Ned Campbell (who may have picked up 9 votes in the past three weeks as he chases an historic third Phelan Medal), Cooper Donald, Matthew Wilson, Jarvis Hemmings, Harry Walker and Felix Rogers. Inner West was best served by Michael Tuttle, Jonathon Bowyer, Keegan Litchfield, Will Deller, Jye Doyle and Ryder Eberhard.

St George hung on against a fast-finishing UTS to upset the Bats by 19 points in a fixture transferred from a waterlogged Olds Park to Fairfax Reserve in Harrington Park. Final scores were St George 14.8.92 to UTS 11.7.73.

After an even first quarter, St George went to the main break leading by 7 points. The Dragons then kicked 5 goals to 1 in a wonderful third quarter, and despite UTS kicking 5 goals to 3 in an entertaining last quarter, the Dragons prevailed for an excellent win.

Lachlan Cabor led the Dragons surge with 4 goals. Lachlan McNamara returned fire with 4 majors of his own for the Bats.

St George’s best players were Lachlan Querzoli, Dominic Michalak, Cabor (these three consistent Dragons are surely favoured to contest the Dragons Best & Fairest at season’s end), Kirian Ayres, Jordan Taylor and Riley Taylor. UTS was best served by McNamara, Henry Gosse, Joshua Lee, Lewis McCormack, Ed Palmer and Oscar Doland.

Pennant Hills’ recent habit of racing away to a first quarter served them well in their hard-earned 15-point victory over a gallant East Coast Eagles at Mike Kenny Oval. Final scores were Pennant Hills 10.9.69 to East Coast Eagles 8.6.54.

The Demons essentially won the game in the first quarter, leading by 32 points after a blistering 6 goal to 1 start to the match. East Coast were right back in it at the main break, only trailing by 13 points. Both teams kicked 3 goals each in the second half as the Demons stayed in the race for the finals, despite an excellent performance from the young Eagles outfit.

Oscar Irwin kicked 3 goals for the Demons, whilst Nick Hey continued his hunt down of Hugo Birks for the league goalkicking award with 2 majors. Marshall Poynter kicked 2 goals for East Coast.

Pennant Hills’ best players were Nicholas Eynaud, Charles Allison, Aidan Russell, Irwin, Thomas Edmonds and Thomas Rivers. East Coast was best served by Nathan Penna, Jacob Jones, Cameron Edwards, Jesse Eldred, Brody Kane and Reeve Simmons.

The fixture between Sydney University and UNSW-ES was cancelled due to a waterlogged Uni #1 Oval.

 

MEN’S DIVISION ONE:

In Mens Division One action, Camden continued their recent surge with a 55-point victory over St George in a game transferred from Olds Park to Fairfax Reserve, Southern Power defeated Pennant Hills by 21 points at Mike Kenny Oval, and North Shore thrashed Inner West Magpies by 98 points at Picken Oval. The Sydney University versus UNSW-ES fixture was cancelled due to unplayable conditions at Uni #1 Oval.

In the fascinating Division One Top Five, North Shore leads Camden by 37%, with both teams tied on 85.71 Match Ratio points. Parramatta holds the aces for the double chance, playing Pennant Hills this Saturday whilst Sydney Uni has the Bye. A massive Round 18 sees Sydney Uni host Parramatta AND North Shore host Camden, in the perfect curtain-raiser for what will surely be an extraordinary MD1 Finals Series.