UTS Bats have thrown the gauntlet down to ladder leaders East Coast Eagles in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division, defeating the reigning premiers by nine points on the weekend. In the Eagles’ first loss of the season, the Bats were able to get the job done as the competition was thrown wide open in Round 14.

UTS Bats 6.7 (43) defeated East Coast Eagles 5.4 (34)

In the marquee match, the two top teams put on a ripper performance. In an excellent example of Sydney football, the Bats managed to wrestle control in the final term to kick two goals to one in the last term and secured the nine-point win.

East Coast lost control of the middle and were busted straight through the middle out of the centre bounces to start the fourth quarter, and if it hadn’t been for their excellent intercept marking and defence, the game might have been over earlier. UTS came home with a wet sail and had the upper hand on the final siren, taking top spot on the ladder.

Danika Spammer was excellent everywhere and bottom-age draft prospect Ella Parker had a breakout game with multiple involvements and impact on the game, showing she is truly ready to match it at the top level. For East Coast, Renee Tompkins and her organisation of the defence was the standout.

Sydney University 3.6 (24) lost to Manly Warringah Wolves 4.2 (26)

As expected, this game was a tooth-and-nail struggle all the way with every possession contested and the only scores coming when a player was able to create space. Sydney Uni had a set shot to win the game with just over a minute to go and create a gap in fifth place. Instead the Students temporarily fell out on percentage, showing just how close the race for fifth is.

Manly Warringah had athletic contributors all over the park, and the Wolves’ pressurised defensive ability is the best in the league and troubles all teams. However they just could not string the linkages together and will have to figure that out to really push deep into the post season. Hannah Woolf was a top contributor for the Wolves, whilst Jasmine Smith for the Students gave an almighty effort in the ruck and up forward.

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.3 (15) lost to Pennant Hills Demons 4.5 (29)

A fascinating game where Pennant Hills was always the slightly better team and created more opportunities, but the Demons were under siege during the final quarter. Despite it still being a 14-point margin, if the game had gone another 10 minutes, then the Bulldogs may have stormed home.

The two rucks, Emma Richards and Rebecca Ives, worked out how to take the initial athleticism of the opposition ruckman and gave good service or halved all of the contest for the rest of the game, which meant the match would be decided by the side that could create scoring opportunities out of the stoppages.

Liz Gordon put her head over the football all day and Eliza Harvey was the difference across the match, gradually figuring out what she is capable of and how she can impact a game. For the Dogs, it was a case of excellent tight and tough work around the stoppages, but no linkages to build from.

When the momentum came in the final quarter with relentless stoppage work, they could not hit the scoreboard as effectively as they would like, which has been a big Achilles heel for them all year.
Hayley Stanford was clearly the Dogs’ best, and in Eleanor Rugg‘s 100th senior milestone game, she controlled the game well from half-back.

North Shore Bombers 3.1 (19) lost to Macquarie University Goannas 7.11 (53)

Macquarie University remain the dark horse of this year’s competition and are right in finals contention. The Goannas have locked away a finals spot in their first joint venture year, and added a big chunk to their top three ambitions. On the weekend, the visitors ran out comfortable 34-point winners over North Shore Bombers.

As expected, they were just too fast and effective up front on the day and kept the scoreboard ticking over. North Shore now faces a huge task to make finals, but it is in the Bombers’ hands as they play their nearest opponents multiple times to finish the season.

Caitlin Fletcher was nominated as the Goannas’ best in the win as Sophie Kavanagh also impressed ith three majors. Abby Latimer was a strong contributor for the Bombers.

Southern Power had the bye.