FANS are anticipating a hugely contested final few rounds in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division, starting this week. Round 14 begins a battle to take the third through fifth spots in the lead-up to the post season series presenting plenty of opportunities for the teams.

UNSW-ES BULLDOGS vs. PENNANT HILLS
Saturday, July 15 @ Henson Park, 2:40pm

The match is a game Pennant Hills simply has to win. UNSW has had a season to forget, simply not able to trouble the scoreboard consistently enough all year, but play a style that always results in tight tussles with the Demons.

The back five and the tight marking and physical pressurised scrapping for Pennant Hills have been shining lights for the year. The Demons will not give UNSW’s main weapons – the Bulldogs’ target forwards – enough opportunities to kick a score.

However, Pennant Hills still have not worked out how to smoothly link possessions, especially full field from back to front. They will have to find a way this week, as whilst the win is important, percentage might be vital as well. Expect Eleanor Rugg and her defensive team restrict the Bulldogs to only a few goals.

NORTH SHORE BOMBERS vs. MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY GOANNAS
Saturday, July 15 @ Gore Hill Oval, 3:10pm

Potentially the most critical battle of the round, with North Shore having mixed fortunes of late including one big loss. However, they really put it to two big opponents in the last few weeks. Whilst over the past few weeks, Macquarie Uni has blooded youngsters and piled on some goals, sometimes in very easy and untested fashion.

North Shore must win and Macquarie Uni need the win for top three ambitions, so expect a hotly contested game. The central battle to be pivotal and players will have to be accountable unless both coaches give give roaming licence to the big guns.

The question mark will be how the Goannas handle the astroturf at Gore Hill Oval and if anyone can stop their speed up forward. Macquarie Uni should win in a close one, but North Shore has enough quality at its disposal to cause a few headaches.

UTS BATS vs. EAST COAST EAGLES
Saturday, July 15 @ Waverley Oval, 3:10pm

What more can be said than it is a top two battle for control of top spot? A lot more, because UTS will give this game an almighty shake and send notice to all that the finals are not going to be a one-horse race .

Everybody knows the Eagles are this year’s benchmark team, but there is something about the last few weeks, and the vision of last week’s game for the Eagles that suggests they are not as smooth as they should be. East Coast has not been too tested to sharpen the iron, and when they face a whole team of goers from UTS, a likely tight, low scoring battle is going to ensue.

The question is how much a red hot and ruthless team would have won by last week against Southern Power, with plenty of missed chances (25 behinds) which against top sides could come back to bite them. Equally, it could just jolt them back into top flight mode as soon as they see the challenge in front of them.

It is hard to split these two teams, and it could very well be a grand final preview.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY vs. MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES
Saturday, July 15 @ Sydney Uni Oval, 3:25pm

Sydney Uni have been the most improved team over the last four weeks of the competition, and finds itself in the finals race. By the end of the weekend, the Students could actually have created a fifth place gap. Manly Warringah is their nemesis and the Wolves’ athletic ability to get to the ball carrier with pressure, troubles all teams and particularly Syd Uni’s inside and outside midfielders.

Manly has been on a roll, and whilst this should be a cracking game, the question is – can Syd Uni create enough free and open linkage footy to put a winning score on the board?

Expect plenty of defensive pressure and limited space, with the winning team the one that deals with it the best, or has built the necessary top end pressure footballing extractions into its players the most. Manly in a thriller.

Southern Power have the bye.