Written by Michael Shillito
And so it came to pass that just five teams remain. The regular season is over, and now we come to the part of the season where premierships are decided. Over the next four weeks, we lose one team every week until only the premiership team remains.
The top team after the regular season is rewarded with the first week off. North Shore in the Men's, going for their third flag in a row, get a rest week. So do Manly in the Women's, for the second year in a row. For both the Bombers men and the Wolves women, they’ll be watching on with interest as this weekend’s matches unfold. Their toughest tests are yet to come.
Saturday is Qualifying Final day. Second v Third. The winner gets a shot at the ladder leader, a chance to be first into the Grand Final. The loser’s season isn’t over, they get another crack next week. Sydney Uni take on South-West Sydney in the Men's; while the Women's sees North Shore up against UNSW-ES. Four clubs with high hopes and dreams, and this weekend gives them a chance to move those dreams closer to realisation.
Then on Sunday it’s Elimination Finals. As the sun sets behind the western grandstand, the sun sets on the season of the losing teams. While the winners live to fight another day. Pennant Hills and Manly in the Men's; Sydney Uni and UTS in the Women's. To fight like there’s no tomorrow.
Don’t forget that if you’re going to the finals, you’ll need a ticket. Head over to Eventbrite and get that sorted. Make sure you select the correct ground and date. No alcohol is to be brought into any finals venue; and Council regulations prohibit you bringing dogs to finals at Blacktown.
Then sit back and watch it all unfold. This is where dreams are made and broken.
FINALS WEEK ONE PREVIEW
Qualifying Final – Sydney University Students v South-West Sydney Blues
Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 3:20pm
Winner plays Major Semi-Final v North Shore on Saturday 5th September
Loser plays Minor Semi-Final v winner of Pennant Hills v Manly on Sunday 6th September
Students – 2nd. Played 18, Won 15, Lost 3, 184.12%. Streak – W3
Blues – 3rd. Played 18, Won 13, Lost 5, 188.13%. Streak – W1
For much of the home and away season, the Students and the Blues were battling it out with North Shore at the top of the table; and it comes as no surprise to see that these clubs have made it through to the double-chance – something neither club was able to achieve last year. The Students finished the home and away season strongly and have some good form behind them; while the Blues had a slight hiccup in recent weeks but bounced back last week to ensure their Qualifying Final spot.
It’s a game not to be missed, so if you can’t get out to Blacktown for this; make sure you keep on top of the action as it unfolds by tuning in to the Streamer feed. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6707 ]
The Students have won their last three; and had few worries in getting past UNSW-ES by 58 points at the Campus in their last regular season game. Alex Witherden was again unstoppable in the forward line to finish with seven goals; while Arlo Merewether, Noah Connick and Connor Kent were influential around the ground. The Students haven’t done too much wrong this season, only dropping three games; and if they can click into top gear in this clash, they’ll be hard for the Blues to stop.
Meanwhile the Blues bounced back from back-to-back losses with a resounding 119-point win over UTS at Rosedale Oval. After eight goals to one in the first quarter, it was clear the Blues had put their recent form lapse behind them; and were untroubled to power home to a big win from there. Jerome Lawrence landed seven goals to be best on ground, while Luke Parkinson added six and Ed Cole was a ball magnet all afternoon. When the Blues are in the form they were showing last Saturday, it will take something special to hold them back; and this is a South-West Sydney team that has the belief that they can do some serious damage in these finals.
These teams have met twice during the season to date, with Sydney Uni emerging with the points on both occasions. In round 4, in a low-scoring arm-wrestle at Bob Prenter, the Students prevailed by six points in a thriller. It was more one-sided a fortnight ago at Sydney Uni No 1, when the Students made a big statement against their finals rival with a comfortable 71-point win. With a recent big win on the board against the Blues, the Students will fancy their chances here. They have the big game experience. But for the Blues, in just their third season at this level, they keep surpassing expectations. Write them off at your peril.
Elimination Final – Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 3:20pm
Winner plays Minor Semi-Final v loser of Sydney Uni v South-West Sydney on Sunday 6th September
Loser eliminated
Demons – 4th. Played 18, Won 13, Lost 5, 158.42%. Streak – L1
Wolves – 5th. Played 18, Won 12, Lost 6, 150.23%. Streak – W2
It’s sure to be a no-holds-barred contest at Blacktown on Sunday afternoon when Pennant Hills and Manly do battle. Both have had plenty of success, winning two-thirds of their games in the season to date. Both are keen to keep going; they don’t want to stop now. But for one of them, their season comes to an end here. To find out who, get yourself to Blacktown; alternatively you can see it all as it happens on Streamer. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6708 ]
The Demons had got themselves into the top three before the final round, but weren’t able to hang on to it when they went down to North Shore at Gore Hill. A strong second term got the Demons within 11 points of the Bombers at the long break; but that was as close as they could get. Oscar Irwin scored four goals; while Zac Elliott and Michael Carroll were useful contributors around the ground. But in the end, the Demons fell short and find themselves in sudden death. They’ve played some good footy this season, but now it’s time to step up another gear. There’s no second chances from here.
When it comes to storming into the finals with a wet sail, the Wolves achieved that in their thumping win over the Magpies at Weldon last week. Spearheaded by a whopping 17 goals from Trent Dennis-Lane, the Wolves finished only a few points short of the double-century. Riley Dillon also chipped in with five goals; while Aiden Adams and Nat Newman were prominent around the ground. It’s a much tougher opponent this week; but the Wolves will take a lot of confidence from last week and they’re ready for the challenge in front of them. Everything will have to go right for them to make a third straight Grand Final; and a win this time round is essential.
The Demons claimed the points on both occasions when these teams met; firstly by 26 points at Mike Kenny in round 2, and then in a thriller in round 16 at Weldon when they hung on for a three-point win. It wouldn’t surprise if this game also went down to the wire. The Wolves finished the regular season strongly, and they’re in good form. Dennis-Lane is sky-high on confidence and will be hard to stop. But the Demons have blunted him before and they have goal-scoring options of their own. These teams will leave nothing in the tank and go all-out like there’s no tomorrow. For one of these teams, there is no tomorrow.
Qualifying Final – North Shore Bombers v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 1:20pm
Winner plays Major Semi-Final v Manly on Saturday 5th September
Loser plays Minor Semi-Final v winner of Sydney Uni v UTS on Sunday 6th September
Bombers – 2nd. Played 16, Won 12, Lost 2, Drawn 2, 511.63%. Streak – W5
Bulldogs – 3rd. Played 16, Won 13, Lost 3, 387.76%. Streak – W4
The finals get under way with a mouth-watering clash between the Bombers and the Bulldogs. Two teams in strong form, two teams with no shortage of star power. The only teams to have taken points off Manly this year, and the Wolves await the winner. This game is pivotal to how the finals unfold, so you won’t want to miss a moment of the action; and you don’t have to. Even if you’re not at Blacktown, fire up your device and you can see it all on Streamer. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6705 ]
Four wins on the trot to end the regular season, and the Bombers go into this finals series with plenty of momentum and confidence. Last week at Gore Hill they were always going to record a big win against Pennant Hills; but the big question was whether Adrienne Keeffe could land the 15 goals she needed to take the Belinda Pride Medal as the competition’s leading goal-kicker. The 15th came in the dying minutes, with the Bombers just one goal short of the double-century. In addition to Keeffe’s 15, Zoe Clubb chipped in with four; while Genevieve Hynes was a prominent performer. Pennant Hills was an easy win, but the Bombers have had some good wins against top sides in the lead-up to the finals; and they’re ready for this challenge.
The Bulldogs showed they are finals-ready last week when they recorded a hard-fought nine-point win over Sydney Uni at Sydney Uni No 1. Three unanswered goals in the third term was the decisive break, and the Bulldogs then defended grimly in the last term to hold the Students out. The win was enough to ensure the finals double-chance, so here they are; and they have Maddy Collier, Francesca Ryan and Emily Conlan to thank after key plays at the critical moments got the Bulldogs through to this occasion. They’re ready, they’re keen, and they’ll be hard to beat.
These clubs split their meetings during the regular season. In round 4 at Henson Park, the Bulldogs’ flying start got them a 13-point win over the Bombers. But North Shore turned the tables in round 13 at Gore Hill, dominating from start to finish to be 69 points too good for the Bulldogs. A home win apiece, but now we’re on neutral territory out west. And the stakes are high. The winner will be just one win away from the Grand Final, with two chances to get through to the big dance. The loser’s season could end next week. With so much playing quality, and so much to play for; this one should be a cracker.
Elimination Final – Sydney University Students v UTS Bats
Blacktown International Sportspark, Sunday 1:20pm
Winner plays Minor Semi-Final v loser of North Shore v UNSW-ES on Sunday 6th September
Loser eliminated
Students – 4th. Played 16, Won 11, Lost 4, Drawn 1, 261.65%. Streak – L1
Bats – 5th. Played 16, Won 8, Lost 8, 98.46%. Streak – L3
Sunday’s Elimination Final is 4th v 5th. Two university clubs, only one spot on the ladder separating them. But Sydney Uni and UTS have had very different seasons, especially in recent weeks. The Students, despite a loss last week, have some strong recent form. Not so for the Bats, who haven’t kicked a goal since round 14. But it’s now or never for the players from both these teams to stand and deliver. One of these teams’ season ends here.
If you can’t get to Blacktown for this do-or-die battle, the next best thing is to fire up the wi-fi router and get your device on to Streamer; where you’ll see it all as it happens. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6706 ]
The Students find themselves in sudden death after going down to UNSW-ES at Sydney Uni No 1 last week by nine points. After falling behind in the third quarter, the Students created plenty of chances in the last; but were only able to convert one of them into a goal, not enough to snatch the game. Lucy Gilfedder managed four goals; while Claudia Gray and Allie Smith also looked impressive. But it wasn’t enough to get the win; and Sydney Uni will have to do it the hard way through the finals. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. And the hard work of playing knockout finals every week starts right here.
UTS had the bye last week, a chance to regroup and re-set for the finals. If ever a team needed a pre-finals bye, it’s the Bats; who go into this game on the back of a three-game losing streak and didn’t score a goal in any of them. Their last start was a 37-point loss to North Shore at Waverley; where despite the hard work of Emma Keane, Olivia Morris and Tara Coopman, the Bats weren’t able to land a glove on the Bombers. The stats in recent weeks don’t look good. But they’re in the finals, it’s a fresh start. And now is the time to step up to top gear and show the footy world what they’re capable of. It’s now or never.
The Students won both games between these teams during the regular season; by 21 points at Waverley in round 2 and by 40 points in round 13. Despite dropping two of their last three games, on form the Students go into this game as favourites. But form is fickle, and when the critical moment comes, the test is who can stand up. When the going gets tough, who is tough enough to get going? It’s this time of the year, when the pressure is on and the teams are looking for an edge, that champions emerge and legends are born. Who can stand tall and make their mark on this year’s finals?