Written by Michael Shillito
A week off for Easter, and now we’re back into it. For the first round winners, they’ll be hoping the week’s break won’t halt the momentum they created in the opening round. While the teams that were unable to take the points have had an opportunity to reset. It’s a long season, a first round loss isn’t fatal; but now is the time to hit your straps and get your season under way.
In Mens Premier Division, every game this round sees a team that made the finals last year playing against a team that didn’t. If the 2025 form repeats this week, we could already see a gap opening up between the top teams and the rest. That’s the risk. But for those teams that missed out on playoff action last year, this is their chance to show the Sydney footy world that they are big improvers, a team to watch in 2026.
Parramatta have the bye in Womens Premier Division this week. After being unable to score in their opening match, they will need the extra week to fine-tune the game plan and find a way to lift their game for the season ahead. Last year’s Grand Finalists, North Shore and Sydney Uni, enjoyed identical 94-0 wins in their opening round games and will be looking over each other’s shoulders this week in the race for early ladder leadership. Pennant Hills enter the competition this week, and the campaign to hit back after a catastrophic 2025 starts right here, right now.
Opening round is done. The Easter Bunny has been and gone. The clocks are back at standard time. Saturday is forecast to be warm, but footy season is well and truly here. Time to get into it and build some momentum. Start to string some wins together here and the season will be well set up.
ROUND 2 PREVIEW
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 10:55am
Demons – 7th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 69.12%. Streak -L1
Wolves – 5th. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 115.58%. Streak – W1
An early start at Mike Kenny for this clash between the Demons and the Wolves; and the stakes are high. The Demons are looking to fight back this week after a late fadeout against South-West Sydney in their opening round match; and they’ll be enjoying the home ground advantage against a Manly side that had to bide their time to get over UNSW-ES in a hard-fought season opener.
The Demons took the fight up to South-West Sydney at Bob Prenter in the opening round, and for three quarters it was a low-scoring and tightly-contested affair; with just two points separating the teams at the last change. But when the game was in the balance, the Demons were unable to find the key pieces in the puzzle and faded out in the last quarter to go down by 21 points. Aidan Russell, Mitch Blow and Josh Stern fought gamely throughout; but it wasn’t the start to the season the Demons were hoping for. But now they’re on their turf at Mike Kenny, and in front of their home fans, now is the time to step up.
Manly were given a solid test in their opening round game, when they hosted UNSW-ES at Weldon Oval. The Wolves found themselves in trouble, down 19 points at the long break and still 12 points in arrears at three quarter time. But a run of five goals to one in the final quarter got them over the line by 12 points. Trent Dennis-Lane spearheaded the charge with eight goals; and along with Lachlan Price and Aiden Adams was among Manly’s best. It wasn’t a totally convincing performance; but even when things aren’t running your way, a quality team will still find a way to win. And Manly’s ability to run games out will certainly be a help to them when, as will inevitably happen at times during the season, they’re playing in close matches.
A slow start to the season cost the Demons dearly, and despite getting some wins as the season progressed they were unable to recover enough ground to make the finals. Against one of last year’s Grand Finalists, they run the risk of going 0-2 this year. It’s going to take a four quarter performance to hold Manly out; with the Wolves showing last week that they’re capable of lasting the distance in a tight contest. But the Wolves can’t expect an easy contest here, and they’ll be facing a determined opponent with plenty to play for. This will be a tough clash, and every possession is vital. The Demons can’t afford for this to be any other way.
St George Dragons v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Kelso Oval, Saturday 11:00am
Dragons – 10th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 34.31%. Streak – L1
Bulldogs – 6th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 86.52%. Streak – L1
It’s a morning start in East Hills for this clash between St George and UNSW-ES. Both dropped their opening round matches; with the Dragons never being in the contest in their game while the Bulldogs are lamenting one that got away. But now it’s time to put things right. Back to back losses to start the season will leave the loser with plenty of work to do if they are to get into contention; but that will be the fate of one of these teams.
St George suffered a tough start to the season, being drawn to play Sydney Uni at Mahoney Park first up. Jumped at the start, the Dragons were never in the contest and went down by 90 points. Klan Todd-Banselaar, Dominic Soffe and William Mazor battled tirelessly, but it was one of those days for the Dragons when nothing was going right. But the Dragons will need to confine that one to memory and reset for this clash. They can’t afford another heavy loss, and a bigger effort all around the ground is needed this time. The real Dragons effort starts now.
Having let a lead go against Manly in last year’s Preliminary Final, it felt like déjà vu all over again for the Bulldogs at Weldon Oval in the season opener as again they were unable to last the distance against the Wolves. Leading by 19 points at half time, and still 12 points ahead at the long break; the Bulldogs were run down in the last quarter. Jacquin Mifsud landed four goals; while Jake Sutton, Harrison Dyson and Conor Haswell kept the work rate up. But it was a disappointing end to the day for the Bulldogs, and it’s a tough lesson they’ll have to learn if they are to be among the top challengers for this year’s title.
No-one wants to start a season with back to back losses, among the bottom teams on the ladder and playing catch-up for the rest of the year. But that is the fate that must befall one of these teams. Both teams believe they are capable of better results than they showed in their opening round game; and now is the time to stand up and prove it. Get the job done here, and you’re well placed to get the season back on track. But drop this one, especially if it’s a big percentage-busting loss, and the next few weeks becomes a salvage operation for the season’s hopes and dreams. A big performance is needed here.
North Shore Bombers v East Coast Eagles
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 1:30pm
Bombers – 2nd. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 279.25%. Streak – W1
Eagles – 8th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 44.92%. Streak – L1
Defending premiers North Shore will unfurl their 2025 premiership flag before their clash against East Coast at Gore Hill Oval on Saturday. Back to back titles, going for the three-peat this season; and coming into this game on the back of a big win against the Magpies. This time they’ll be hosting an East Coast team looking to fight back after going down in their season opener.
The Bombers started their premiership defence in style in the opening round, 95 points too good for Inner West at Picken Oval. The Magpies stayed in touch in the first half; but the Bombers tightened the screws after half time and held their opponents to a single goal after half time. Jackson Nelson landed six goals, while Felix Rogers and Luke Giacometti each scored four; with Angus Loebel, Guy Richardson and Jake Veale were prolific around the ground. It was a strong start for the Bombers, and they’re already looking like they’ll be hard to stop in 2026.
The Eagles go into this match desperate to turn their fortunes around after going down to UTS by 65 points in their season opener at Bruce Purser. The Eagles fell behind early and never looked like catching up to the Bats, despite the hard work of Mitch Bradley, Nathan Penna and Lyndon Hupfeld. It wasn’t the start to the season the Eagles were looking for, and now they find themselves with one of the toughest away trips Sydney footy has to offer. But every week is a new opportunity, and the Eagles will need to steel their resolve and take this challenge on.
North Shore go into this game as the strongest of favourites. The Eagles haven’t won at the Goretress since the synthetic was installed and the Bombers are having a premiership celebration. It will take something special for the Eagles to spoil North Shore’s party, and they’ll need to step up and find something from within themselves. But it’s a young and enthusiastic Eagles team that will take the field, and they need to see this as a challenge to embrace and take on. Take the fight up to a competition heavyweight, and if they contest relentlessly and pile on the pressure, who knows what might happen.
UTS Bats v Sydney University Students
Waverley Oval, Saturday 2:15pm
Bats – 3rd. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 222.64%. Streak – W1
Students – 1st. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 291.49%. Streak – W1
Two first-up winners face off in this university derby at Waverley Oval as UTS play host to Sydney Uni. Both enjoyed big wins to start the season. For the Bats, this is their opportunity to prove to the Sydney footy world that they are the real deal in 2026. But it won’t be easy against the blue and gold hoops, a team that has a point to prove this season after going out of the finals in the first week last year. If you’re not there, don’t miss a moment of the action when you get on to Streamer and wherever in the world you find yourself, you can see it unfold before your very eyes. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6056 ]
The Bats enjoyed a comfortable opening to their season when they travelled to Bruce Purser and got off to a flying start; leading all the way and powering their way to a 65-point win. John Boylan, Henry Gosse and James Warton were superb for the Bats as they showed plenty of promise for the season ahead and ticked all the boxes to ensure some early premiership points went there way. But this will be a tougher test, and the Bats will need to get their best team on the park to match it with the Students.
Meanwhile at Mahoney Park, Sydney Uni got their season off to a near-perfect start with a comprehensive 90-point win over St George. The contest was effectively over at quarter time after they found the big sticks nine times in the first quarter; and there was never any chance of the Dragons coming back from there. Hugo Blacker landed six goals and former Collingwood and GWS forward Lachie Keeffe five; while Hugh Sienklewicz, Harry Podmore-Taylor and Brayden Pilot were flying high around the ground. The Students have high hopes for this season; and this game is an opportunity to show that they mean business in 2026.
It was a good first-up win for the Bats. For many years they’ve promised more than they’ve delivered. Will 2026 be different? Here’s their first chance to show that the UTS side of 2026 is vastly improved on recent years; and to take it up to one of the competition heavyweights will go a long way to showing the Sydney footy world that they are a team on the way up. But if Sydney Uni dominate this, not much has changed. If the Bats are to rise to their potential in 2026, this is their time to shine.
South-West Sydney Blues v Inner West Magpies
Bob Prenter Reserve, Saturday 2:30pm
Blues – 4th. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 144.68%. Streak – W1
Magpies – 9th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 35.81%. Streak – L1
Two home games to start the season for South-West Sydney; and the Blues will enjoy plenty of room to move as they take to Bob Prenter again looking to once again salute in front of their home fans. This time they’re taking on a Magpies lineup that copped a heavy opening round loss and will be determined for a fresh start and find a way to get their 2026 season on track.
Round 1 was a tight contest for three quarters as the Blues were given a solid test by Pennant Hills. Some inaccurate finishing held them back, but the Blues had to stand firm against plenty of Demon pressure and led by just two points at the last change. But when the game was there to be won, the Blues stood and delivered; a run of five goals to two in the last quarter enough to seal a 21-point win. Once again this week, the Blues will be looking to Jerome Lawrence, Kyle Veerhuis and Khy Gibbs to make the key plays at the critical moments to get the job done for the Blues.
A late fightback in the second quarter got the Magpies to within striking distance of North Shore at the long break in the opening round at Picken Oval. But when North Shore got on top in the second half, the Magpies were unable to match it with them and the Magpies were held to one goal in the second half, going down by 95 points. Lachlan Tiziani managed four goals from limited opportunities; while Finn Ritchie, Jonty Inglis and Max Fasolo never stopped putting the effort in. But the Magpies were well behind the pace through the second half; and they’ll need to find something more this week as they travel to take on another team with high ambitions for this season.
After a finals appearance last year, the Blues won’t be flying under the radar in 2026. They go into this game as favourites, but that means little once the siren sounds and the ball goes into the air. Opponents will lift for the challenge of taking them on; and it’s a challenge for the Magpies. They fought it out for a half against North Shore, but couldn’t get it done after half time; and they’ll need to put in four quarters against a South-West Sydney side who lifted at the business end of their opening round fixture. The Magpies need a competitive performance here, another heavy defeat would leave them a mountain to climb to get into contention this season. The Magpies can’t allow the Blues to have an easy win here.
North Shore Bombers v East Coast Eagles
Gore Hill Oval, Saturday 11:50am
Bombers – Equal 1st. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, infinity%. Streak – W1
Eagles – 5th, Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 31.48%. Streak – L1
Our first Womens Premier Division match this weekend has two teams who are no strangers to premiership glory. North Shore, in their first home game for the season, will be unfurling their 2025 premiership flag; while East Coast had taken three titles in a row from 2022 to 2024. But the opening round this year gave these clubs contrasting fortunes, with the Bombers continuing on their winning ways from last year while the Eagles suffered a first-up loss.
The Bombers began their premiership defence in style at Gipps Road, recording a clean sheet and an easy 94-point win. Adrienne Keeffe was once again unstoppable up forward to finish with four goals; and along with Sophie Kavanagh and Charli Tidemann was among the Bombers’ best. It didn’t look like much had changed from the dominant North Shore side of last year, and now they come home to celebrate their 2025 title. But every week is a new challenge, and every week they still have to turn up and get the job done.
East Coast had a vastly different start to their season, as they went down by 37 points to UTS at Bruce Purser in their season opener. Despite the persistent efforts of Nellie McMillan, Jess Whelan and Erin Naden, the Eagles found it hard to keep up with the Bats around the ground and never looked like getting back into the contest. But two weeks later, a few more sessions on the training track, it’s time to turn the hard work into results; and what better way to do it than with a strong performance against one of the competition favourites.
The Eagles were the only team to beat North Shore at Gore Hill last year. And even with a few departures, there’s still plenty of players with premiership experience in the Eagles’ lineup. Round 1 was below expectations, but there’s still plenty of time to fight back. And this is their opportunity to claim a big scalp. But the Bombers are waiting and ready. This is an impressive black and red lineup, and there won’t be easy points against them. It will take a determined effort by the visitors if they are to knock off the defending champions and return the Sydney footy world to where it was in 2022-24.
UTS Bats v Sydney University Students
Waverley Oval, Saturday 12:20pm
Bats – 4th. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 317.85%. Streak – W1
Students – Equal 1st. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, infinity%. Streak – W1
Two teams who started the season in impressive form meet up at Waverley in this keenly-anticipated clash between the Bats and the Students. Both coming in with first-up wins, both looking for a share of the ladder leadership and to make some early front-running in this year’s premiership race. An early key match in a season that will boast many. You won’t want to miss this, and even if you can’t get down Bondi Road, you don’t have to. Tune your device into the Streamer feed and you won’t miss a thing. [link - https://streamer.com.au/match/6055 ]
It was an impressive start to the season for UTS when they travelled to Bruce Purser for the opening round and put in a dominant performance against a team with three recent premierships to their name. The Bats, stung into action after missing out on last year’s finals, wasted no time in making a statement of their intentions in 2026 as they dominated to record a 37-point win; with numerous possessions recorded by the likes of Hannah Cerezo, Gabbie Stanwix and Zimra Hussain. If the Bats can maintain form like that, they’ll worry the top sides; and here is one of the top sides to test their 2026 progress.
Meanwhile Sydney Uni’s start to their season couldn’t have been any better, as they held St George scoreless for a 94-point win at Mahoney Park. Lucy Gilfedder and Molly Gibbs were a lethal combination up forward to kick four goals apiece; while Lily Race, Arabella Hendriks and Emma Juneja were prolific ball-gatherers around the ground. The Students are on a mission in 2026, they want nothing less than premiership success; and this was the perfect start for them. But there’s still plenty of footy to be played and every week they have to get the job done.
The winner here will strike a key blow. UTS, missing out on last year’s finals, have already claimed the scalp of a 2025 post-season participant. If they can claim another here, they’re well set for a big improvement this season. But it will be tough. Sydney Uni, after playing in last year’s Grand Final, have a premiership in their sights this season. A clean sheet in their opening game showed they mean business. Someone will go 2-0 here, and be up there with the ladder leaders. Plenty to play for, and we’re just warming up.
Pennant Hills Demons v Manly-Warringah Wolves
Mike Kenny Oval, Saturday 1:20pm
Demons – First game
Wolves – 6th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 27.78%. Streak – L1
Mike Kenny Oval is the venue for this clash between the Demons and the Wolves, two teams desperate for redemption. The Demons looking for improvement from a disastrous 2025, while the Wolves are looking to build some momentum for 2026 after last year’s minor premiers were never in the hunt in this year’s season opener.
After a bye in the opening round, Pennant Hills now joins the competition. 2026 is a fresh start, the slate is wiped clean. Last year wasn’t kind to the Demons; no wins, a percentage of less than two, scoring just three goals for the season. A repeat this year would not be acceptable. The lessons learned from last year, and the new faces in the Demons’ lineup who never knew last year’s pain; this is the long-awaited new beginning. The revival starts here; win or lose, they must compete.
Manly were minor premiers last year but went out of the finals in straight sets; and suffered another loss in the opening round this year. The Wolves were unable to score in either of their quarters going into the wind, and conceding six goals in the third term cost them dearly despite the determined efforts of Ash Carter, Sabrina Zochling and Brooke Bailey. Not the start to the season the Wolves wanted, and they’ve had to wait two weeks to put things right. But now their time has come.
For the Demons, this new beginning requires a full game of determination and dogged defence. Even if things aren’t running their way, they must be competitive. But Manly also know they need a lift. The way last season finished was disappointing; and the opening round this year won’t have lifted their mood. But four points here will go a long way towards restoring that self-belief. For both teams, it’s about competing relentlessly for all of four quarters. It’s only by doing this that the foundations of the season are laid.
St George Dragons v UNSW-ES Bulldogs
Kelso Oval, Saturday 1:40pm
Dragons – Equal 7th. Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, 0.00%.Streak – L1
Bulldogs – 3rd. Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0, 360.00%. Streak – W1
St George’s history in Womens Premier Division hasn’t lived up to their hopes; and it was another tough game to start this season. But the Dragons now hit their 2026 home turf at Kelso, and need to use these wide expanses to their advantage as they take on a Bulldogs lineup that go into this game with a spring in their step after a stirring first-up win.
The Dragons’ season opener was a tough experience for them, as they were unable to make any impact against a red-hot Sydney Uni side; unable to draw a flag from the goal umpires as they went down by 94 points. Ruby O’Dwyer, Jasmine Baily and Delaney Gwynn kept working hard; but the Dragons didn’t have the firepower to match it with the Students. But it has to be a different story on their turf. Getting more of the ball, defending grimly, creating opportunities. To search within themselves and find a new hope, a new drive and new strategy. They can’t afford another season like the last two. They need to find a way.
A devastating third quarter burst by UNSW-ES, in which they landed six unanswered goals, was the difference in the Bulldogs’ first-up win against Manly at Weldon. A result that gives plenty of reason for the Bulldogs to believe they’re on the right track; and they’ll this week be looking for another set of top efforts from the likes of Emma Haley, Amelia Wain and Aimee Whelan. The Bulldogs have plenty of reason for confidence. But there’s a long way to go this season.
The Bulldogs started the season in form. They’re confident, they have every reason to believe they’re heading in the right direction. Finished last season strongly, and going on with the job in the opening round this year. But the Dragons are needing to find a way to cut the Bulldogs down. It won’t be easy, but it must be done. And it’s now, while the season is young and everyone is keen, that sets the tone for the year to come. Another poor result here and it’ll look like a long, hard year ahead. But a competitive showing will give them re-assurance that they can turn their fortunes around. Now is the time to make that happen.