Written by David Redden
WOMEN'S UNDER 20S:
In Women's Under 20s action, Pennant Hills thumped South West Sydney by 112 points at Rosedale Oval, UNSW-ES thrashed Sydney University (2) by 110 points at University No.1 Oval, North Shore defeated UTS by 38 points at Trumper Park and Manly Warringah belted Parramatta by 12 goals at Weldon Oval. Sydney University (1) had the Bye.
WOMEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Women's Division One action, Sydney University thrashed East Coast Eagles by 114 points at Bruce Purser Reserve, Manly Warringah kept Southern Power in winning by 7 goals at Waratah Oval, Randwick City secured the double chance with a 61-point win over UTS in Halo Round at Pioneers Park, and in a thrilling fourth-place qualifier, North Shore hung on to defeat the Newtown Breakaways by a mere three points to secure a finals berth at BISP 1 next Sunday.
WOMEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
St George produced a second-half comeback to defeat East Coast Eagles by just 6 points at Bruce Purser Reserve. Final scores were St George 4.6.30 to East Coast Eagles 3.6.24.
The Eagles led by 13 points at the main break, but the Dragons kept the Eagles to 2 behinds in the second half as they secured sixth spot on the ladder, a reasonable performance from a developing squad who fought their way to 5 victories over the course of the Home & Away season.
The 7 goals in the match were kicked by 7 individual goal kickers.
St George’s best players were Ashleigh L’Estrange, Samara Cooke, Bianca Rudzis, Charlotte Bulmer, Chantelle Ladner, and Ava Stirzaker. East Coast Eagles were best served by Nellie McMillan, Scarlett Jackson, Skye Southon, Savannah Codd, Ammie Vamah, and Jess Whelan.
A superb third quarter from UNSW-ES led to the Bulldogs defeating Sydney University by 9 points at University No.1 Oval, securing third place and the double chance. Final scores in a great game were UNSW-ES 7.6.48 to Sydney University 6.3.39.
The Bulldogs kicked 3 goals to 1 in the first quarter, but the Students roared into life in the second term, kicking 4 goals to 1 to lead the Bulldogs by 6 points at the main break. UNSW-ES then kicked 3 goals to 1 behind in the “premiership” quarter and held on in the final term to win an instant classic over their great rival.
Sera Kaukiono and Francesca Ryan kicked 2 goals each for the Bulldogs. Skipper Lucy Gilfedder kicked 4 of the Students 6 goals in an outstanding individual performance.
UNSW-ES’ best players were Maddy Collier, Ryan, Emily Conlan, Bonnie Swan, Hayley Stanford, and the consistent Rani Sossai. Sydney University was best served by Gilfedder, Claudia Gray, Allie Smith, Madison McCarthy, Frances Walsh, and Evie Bowie.
Manly Warringah’s renowned defensive wall again proved they are the best back 5 in the competition, leading to the Wolves 56-point victory over Parramatta at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 9.10.64 to Parramatta 1.2.8.
The Wolves kept Parramatta scoreless over the first 3 quarters in a simply superb defensive performance. A final percentage of 627.60% shows how dominant Manly has been in the midfield and down back, highlighted by only conceding 192 points across 16 rounds, with 54 of those points coming in a first-round loss to UNSW-ES.
The Wolves have next weekend off and will keep a close eye on the Qualifying Final next Saturday between North Shore and UNSW-ES at BISP 1.
Isabella Rudolph continued her recent dominance in the goal square, kicking 5 goals for the Wolves.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Kenya Fahey, boom youngster Marley Vella, the graceful Holly Wickham, Jayme Saggers, skipper Ashleigh Carter, and Stephanie Wilkins. Parramatta was best served by Marley Rhodes, Sienna Stanford, Haylee Shelton, Stacey Phillips, Cindy Lam, and stalwart Ashley Gray.
An astonishing 15-goal performance from representative full-forward Adrienne Keeffe not only saw North Shore demolish Pennant Hills by 197 points, but Keeffe also secured the WPD Goal Kicking Award by 1 goal from Manly’s Isabella Rudolph. Final scores were North Shore 30.17.197 to Pennant Hills 0.0.0.
Great conditions suit Keeffe to a tee, and the imposing full-forward also loves playing at home at Gore Hill. Fed brilliantly by the Bombers’ dominant midfield, Keeffe proved way too much for the Demons, who simply had no answer on a day where the Sydney/Canberra full forward sent the statisticians scurrying for the record books.
Apart from Keeffe’s amazing 15-goal haul, Ava Thomas kicked 4 goals for North Shore and the quartet of Zoe Clubb, Abbey Martin, Eloise Stewart, and Lily Sullivan chimed in with 2 goals each for the second-placed North Shore.
North Shore’s best players were Keeffe, Clubb, Genevieve Hynes, Ava Horneman, Heidi Charles, and Sullivan. Pennant Hills were best served by Remy Ally, Ashleigh Grubba, Lillian Ward, Charis Zacharias, Mia McGregor, and Makayla Holmes.
MEN'S UNDER 19.5 DIVISION ONE:
In Men's Under 19.5s Division One action, St George defeated East Coast Eagles by 20 points at Bruce Purser Reserve, North Shore belted Pennant Hills by 73 points at Gore Hill Oval, Manly Warringah thumped Inner West Magpies by 126 points at Weldon Oval, Sydney University defeated great rival UNSW-ES by 4 goals at University No.1 Oval, and South West Sydney edged out UTS by 2 points in a thriller at Rosedale Oval.
MEN'S DIVISION ONE:
In Men's Division One action, North Shore accounted for Pennant Hills by 50 points at Gore Hill Oval, Camden thrashed St George by 113 points at Fairfax Reserve, Sydney University annihilated UNSW-ES by 152 points at University No.1 Oval, and Manly Warringah roared into the Finals with a 56-point demolition of Parramatta at Weldon Oval. The Wolves & Goannas meet again next Sunday in a fascinating Elimination Final at BISP 1.
MEN'S PREMIER DIVISION:
On a rare day in AFL Sydney Premier Division, helped by warm, 23C sunshine, former AFL star Trent Dennis-Lane kicked 17 goals in a one-in-a-decade performance as Manly Warringah destroyed Inner West Magpies by 155 points at Weldon Oval. Final scores were Manly Warringah 30.16.196 to Inner West Magpies 6.5.41.
Dennis-Lane, like WPD star Adrienne Keeffe, came home with a wet sail to win the MPD Goal Kicking Award by 4 goals from Sydney University star Alex Witherden.
The Wolves kicked 11 goals to 1 in the first quarter as they prepared for their Elimination Final against Pennant Hills with a ruthless display. Such was Manly’s dominance, led by the unstoppable Dennis-Lane, that they led by 109 points at halftime.
Manly Warringah piled on the misery toward the Magpies in kicking 12 goals to 5 in the second half.
Apart from Dennis-Lane’s extraordinary 17 majors, Riley Dillon continued his fine form with 5 goals, and Lachlan Price chipped in with 2 majors of his own for the Wolves. Skipper Callum McEvoy Gray kicked 2 goals for Inner West Magpies.
Manly Warringah’s best players were Dennis-Lane, Aiden Adams, Nathanael Newman, Price, Kyle Martin, and Conrad Blackwell-Smith. Inner West Magpies were best served by Daniel McMahon, Ben Zoppo, Will Deller, Thomas Coughlin, Ethan White, and Finnegan Ritchie.
In a highly entertaining thriller at Bruce Purser Reserve, St George hung on to defeat an accurate East Coast Eagles by 9 points. Final scores were St George 15.12.102 to East Coast Eagles 15.3.93. In what has been a tough season for both clubs, St George will take some solace from their final three games, wins over Inner West Magpies and East Coast Eagles and a creditable performance against fifth-placed Manly Warringah.
After a 22-goal first half, the Dragons led by 15 points at the main break. East Coast kicked 5 goals straight to 3.6 after half time, but St George showed grit and determination to secure four points in the final game before the advent of the SFL in 2027.
Dominic Maunder kicked 3 goals for St George, with Roman and Hunter Pickett chiming in with 2 goals each for the Dragons. Lyndon Hupfield starred for East Coast Eagles with 4 goals, with key forward Marshall Poynter adding 3 majors and the trifecta of Baylee Jones, Brady Mackay and Blake Rundell chiming in with 2 majors each for the Eagles.
St George’s best players were Kye Pfrengle, Callum Nash, Joshua Nicholls, Liam Taylor, Maunder, and stalwart Patrick Tegg. East Coast Eagles were best served by Hupfeld, Cameron Edwards, club B & F favourite Jacob Jones, Nick Johns, Riley Hayman, and Poynter.
Minor Premiers North Shore produced a huge first quarter and then a compelling second half (kicking 8 goals to 2) to comfortably account for a slightly inaccurate Pennant Hills by 46 points at Gore Hill Oval. Final scores were North Shore 15.9.99 to Pennant Hills 7.11.53.
The Bombers raced out to a 4-goal lead at quarter-time, then the Demons clawed their way back to trail by just 11 points at the main break. The Bombers shut the Demons down in the second half, in an impressive tune-up for the Major Semi-Final at BISP 1 on Saturday, 5 September.
Matt Buskariol and Thomas Hitchens kicked 4 goals each for the Bombers, with Finn Chalmers chiming in with 2 majors for the hosts. Oscar Irwin, in a breakout year, kicked 4 goals to finish with the impressive haul of 49 goals for the season for the Demons.
North Shore’s best players were Thomas Drum, Nicholas Brewer, Nicholas Pavlou, Jake Veale, Jackson Nelson, and Robert Tooth. Pennant Hills were best served by Zac Elliott, Irwin, custodian Michael Carroll, Liam Everett, Cooper Lee, and Joshua Everett.
South West Sydney Blues, on the back of Pennant Hills’ loss, rocketed back into the Top 3 with a 119-point demolition of a disappointed UTS at Rosedale Oval. Final scores were South West Sydney Blues 23.15.153 to UTS 5.4.34.
The Blues have shown no mercy to sides outside the Top 5 this season, and continued this in systematically dismantling UTS, who, after a great start to the year, faded away at the back end of the season to miss the Finals Series.
The Blues led by 91 points at the main break, such was their dominance. South West Sydney then kicked 8 goals to 4 in the second half as UTS produced a much better effort after half-time.
The Blues Dynamic Duo, Jerome Lawrence (7 goals) and Phelan Medal hopeful Luke Parkinson (6 goals) proved too much for the UTS backline. Cam Spong and Kyle Veerhuis chipped in with 2 majors each for the Blues.
South West Sydney’s best players were Lawrence, Edward Cole, Parkinson, Kain Flynn-Duncombe, Jaiden Butson, and Kohan Prenter. UTS was best served by Zachary Smedley, James Warton, Joshua Garrels, Ash Backlund, Jackson Bukor, and Jack Jarvis.
Sydney University thumped UNSW-ES by 78 points in the University Derby at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Final scores were Sydney University 21.15.141 to UNSW-ES 9.9.63.
The Students led by 44 points at the main break, then kicked 8 goals to 2 in the third quarter as they careered away from the Bulldogs. The Students have a blockbuster Qualifying Final clash with the young, hungry South West Sydney at BISP 1 next Saturday and head into the Finals in good form and fitness.
At their absolute best, Sydney University present a huge challenge for Minor Premiers North Shore and South West Sydney, as they chase their first Premiership in many years with a loaded roster and an appetite for big scores.
Alex Witherden kicked 7 goals for Sydney University, with Patrick Smith adding 3 majors and the triumvirate of Lachlan Keeffe, Michael Nettheim and Braydon Pilon all chipped with 2 majors each for the Students. Noah Harper kicked 3 goals for UNSW-ES.
Sydney University’s best players were Arlo Merewether, Noah Connick, Connor Kent, Pilot, Harry Moxey, and Louie Barrington-Case. UNSW-ES were best served by Harrison Dyson, Harper, William Foster, Byron Middleton, Conor Haswell, and Joe Hamilton.