Finals Week 3, 2025 – Men’s & Women’s Premier Division Preliminary Final Preview
Written by Michael Shillito
The penultimate weekend of footy for the year. Just three teams remain in each competition. This week in both Premier Division competitions, North Shore wait and watch to see who their Grand Final opponents will be. Will it be a local derby against Manly, or will the Bombers be renewing their rivalries with the Universities?
By any objective measure, finishing in the top three is a good season. To come this far, you’ve won more games than you’ve lost. To come this far, you’ve played some great footy. To come this far, you’ve had players who have progressed enormously this season. But talk to anyone playing or coaching a Preliminary Final this week, and they’ll tell you the same thing:
We haven’t come this far to only come this far.
The Grand Final is the goal, and only one team can get through.
It’s the team that won the Minor Semi-Final on Sunday that has the winning momentum. A short turnaround, but they sang the song last week and confidence is high. And over the last 20 years or so, more often than not it’s the team that won the Minor Semi-Final that has got up in the Preliminary Final. And there’s been plenty of instances of the minor premiers going out in straight sets and missing the Grand Final.
But Manly are a quality lineup in both competitions. They wouldn’t have topped the ladder if they weren’t. They’ll be sure to hit back hard. And with so much on the line, they’ll be hard to knock off.
Don’t forget that if you’re going to the finals, you’ll need a ticket. Get onto Eventbrite to get that sorted. Make sure you select the correct date and venue; Premier Division is at Bruce Purser this Saturday while Blacktown is hosting divisional Grand Finals.
And now it’s footy time. The stakes are high, and these games should go down to the wire.
MEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Manly-Warringah Wolves v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 3:30pm
Major Semi-Final – Manly 5.15 (45) lost to North Shore 15.15 (105)
Minor Semi-Final – UNSW-ES 17.10 (112) def South-West Sydney 9.10 (64)
Winner – Will play Grand Final Saturday 20th September v North Shore
Loser – Eliminated
The second last game of the season, a spot in the Grand Final is up for grabs. North Shore waits to see who their opponent will be. Will it be Manly, who they played last year; or will it be UNSW-ES, who they played in 2022 and 2023.
If the Metro ride to Bruce Purser isn’t an option for you this Saturday, get your device online and you can see all the action as it unfolds on Streamer.
Manly find themselves here after going down by 60 points in last Saturday’s Major Semi-Final. The Wolves were minor premiers, only dropping one game in the regular season, finding themselves up against North Shore. It was goal for goal in the first quarter, with just three points separating the teams at the first change. But the Wolves fell behind in the second quarter as the Bombers ran through five goals to one; and there was no way back into the game for the Wolves. Joe Harrison, Sam McMeekan and Zac Youlten battled hard, but in the end it wasn’t Manly’s day. But, as minor premiers, they get a second chance for the big dance. This time they need to make it count. After such a strong home and away season, dropping only the one game, it would be a wasted opportunity if they were to crash out of the finals in straight sets.
The Bulldogs come into this game with winning form on their back after completing a 48-point win over South-West Sydney in last Sunday’s Minor Semi-Final. Similar to the Saturday game, the decisive break came in the second quarter; as the Bulldogs scored five goals to one in the second term to stretch their lead from one point to 28 points at the long break. The Blues’ second season was coming to an end as the Bulldogs were in control; coming up with the answering goals in the third quarter to shut down any chance of a Blues comeback and shutting the Blues out in the final term. Kieran Emery stood tall in the forward line to finish with five goals; while Jordan Endemann and Taine Moraschi also featured prominently for the Bulldogs. After missing out on finals footy last year, the Bulldogs have built up nicely to the business end of the season. And a return to Grand Final action is very much an achievable goal from here.
Every footballer dreams of Grand Final action, and now the dream can become a reality. Both these teams have been here before, with this clash between the teams that won the Preliminary Final in the last two seasons. There’s no shortage of experienced hands in both teams; but also some exciting talent who are chomping at the bit to experience a Grand Final. In this, the final audition and dress rehearsal, any mistake can be fatal. Plenty of these games have gone down to the wire in recent seasons. It’s the team that can stand up under pressure, not let the nerves get to them, and turn on the quality football that was good enough to get them here; that is the team that will be a part of our league’s showpiece game.
WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION
Manly-Warringah Wolves v Sydney University Students
Bruce Purser Reserve, Saturday 1:30pm
Major Semi-Final – Manly 0.3 (3) lost to North Shore 9.5 (59)
Minor Semi-Final – Sydney Uni 7.4 (46) def UNSW-ES 5.5 (35)
Winner – Will play Grand Final Saturday 20th September v North Shore
Loser – Eliminated
Playing in the Grand Final is every footballer’s dream. For one of these teams, that dream will become a reality. For the other, the summer will be contemplating what might have been. There’s no more chances, it all comes down to this game. It’s a high-stakes encounter; and the best place to see it unfold is at Bruce Purser Reserve. But if you can’t be there, the next best thing is to see all the action as it unfolds live on Streamer.
Manly had a strong home and away season, finishing top of the ladder. But the Wolves were unable to replicate their regular season form when the Major Semi-Final came around. Against a strong start from North Shore, the Wolves were behind on the scoreboard early and never looked like getting back into the contest. In the end, they were unable to score a goal and went down by 56 points. Jessica Layton, Kenya Fahey and Ash Carter kept putting the effort in; but the Wolves struggled to get the ball moving forward and scoring chances were few and far between as they were well held by the Bombers on the day. But the Wolves, thanks to finishing top, get another shot at making it through to the Grand Final. But it will need to be a stronger effort this time. They’ve worked too hard this season and achieved too much to let it go now.
In last Sunday’s Minor Semi-Final, Sydney Uni were given a tough test by UNSW-ES early on, and trailed by eight points at the first change. But the tide turned in the second quarter as the Students added four goals while holding the Bulldogs scoreless, a burst which proved to be the difference between the two teams. The Students came up with the answers to any challenge the Bulldogs would throw at them after half time, keeping their season alive with an 11-point win. Molly Cameron, Niamh McMahon and Ash Dribbus were pivotal to Sydney Uni’s success; and will need to step up again this week. The Students made it to the Preliminary Final last year; their hopes of going one better this time and getting through to the big dance depend on a massive effort here.
Manly won both games between these teams during the regular season; by seven points at Sydney Uni No 1 in round 11 and by 23 points at Weldon in round 17. But this one will be tough for the Wolves, looking to hit back after a disappointing result last week; while the Students have winning form and confidence. Both sides well stocked with quality talent, pumped and ready to go.
But for whoever wins, they’ll sing the song; but the celebrations will be short and subdued. The true test, the toughest challenge, is yet to come.
