EAST Coast Eagles are one win away from defending their 2022 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division title after reaching the 2023 decider. The Eagles knocked off minor premiers UTS Bats with a 25-point win at Henson Park on the weekend, with the Bats heading to a knockout preliminary final against Macquarie University Goannas.

UTS Bats 3.4 (22) defeated by East Coast Eagles 7.5 (47)

East Coast Eagles booked their place in the 2023 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Grand Final with a huge performance against UTS Bats in the semi-final over the weekend. Led by Caitlin Reid – who showed incredible on-field courage and leadership to help guide her side into the decider.

Plagued by repeated bumps to the facial area, she had a stack of influential plays and while she could have been down and out three times, Reid soldiered on like a trooper in a remarkable performance.

The Eagles jumped the Bats with two early goals, and despite the top side coming back multiple times and the game being hotly contested at times, the Eagles were just too good on too many occasions and at too many crucial moments.

A four goals to nil second term ultimately decided the game, with the Eagles going from level at quarter time, to leading by 22 points at half-time. The Bats cut the deficit back by a goal in the third term, but it was not enough as the Eagles steadied to win by 25 points.

For the Bats, Danika Spamer was in everything all around the ground and her tackling prowess was a standout feature of her game. Hannah Cerezo also had some very classy influences on play, but, as expected, it was the Bats’ overall unity around the ground that kept them in the game.

For the Eagles, last year’s premiers used all of that experience well. Their positional switches were excellent and well timed to suit the situation if the game, and the margin could have been even greater given they left quite a few goal scoring opportunities out there on the park.

The big guns fired in the big moments, with Abbey Martin and Renee Tomkins clunking marks or effectively clearing the footy when needed, while competition leading goalkicker Caitlin Davidson finished off their hard work with the early goals.

That was the difference between the sides, but the Eagles also could not have done it without really nice contributions from others. Summer Hall did a lot of nice things and Amelie Prosser-Shaw really linked the play well and bobbed up everywhere. Sarah Burns and Erin Nadan also had a lot of crucial possessions aswell.

The Eagles now go straight through to the grand final in two weeks. Whilst the Bats will have learnt a lot on the weekend, hopefully including the value of run and carry combined with the value of contested marks will make them a better side for the preliminary final.

UTS BATS 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 (22)
EAST COAST EAGLES 2.2 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 7.5 (47)

GOALS:
UTS Bats: J. Quade 2, M. Lindsay
East Coast: C. Davidson 2, A. Martin 2, L. Moran, E. Naden, J. Whelan

BEST:
UTS Bats: H. Cerezo, T. Canobie, G. Stanwix, E. Carey, I. Brown
East Coast: A. Prosser-Shaw, A. Barton, C. Reid, S. Burns, S. Tarasenko

Manly Warringah Wolves 4.4 (28) defeated by Macquarie University Goannas 7.6 (48)

Macquarie University toppled Manly Warringah to keep their premiership hopes alive and send the Wolves out in straight sets. The Goannas burst out of the blocks and booted four goals to one, and while the Wolves got back within a couple of majors at half-time, a two goals to one third term solidified the 20-point victory.

The game was a good contest as expected and the game started with two very questionable non holding the ball decisions that lead to two goals for Mac Uni. But that is where the contest ended, as Mac Uni came storming out of the gates.

Right from the opening bounce, Amanda Farrugia provided the surge football difference. Manly Warringah did not get past halfway for eight minutes and got effective possessions for the entire first quarter. The Goannas pressured the Wolves into fumbling or marking turnovers with minimal space, then protected the defensive end well.

Manly Warringah figured it out and adapted throughout the game, but Sera Kaukiono and Michala Ford continually repelled and drove the ball forward for the Goannas. Paige Pirotta was allowed to be pivotal around the central contest, and Caitlin Fletcher and Farrugia made the difference all day.

Easton had a lot of chances up forward and Olympia Plummer had a very good game. Especially going in for the hard ball. For Manly, Caitlin Johnson lead the way, but it really was a team effort of almosts, over and over again.

Having won their semi-final, the Goannas will face off against UTS Bats next weekend in the preliminary final for the chance to go all the way to the grand final. The preliminary final will be held on Saturday, September 2 at Kanebridge Oval.

MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 (28)
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY GOANNAS 4.1 | 5.3 | 7.6 | 7.6 (48)

GOALS:
Manly Warringah: L. Ashcroft 2, H. Cooper, J. Green
Macquarie Uni: L. Easton 2, A. Farrugia 2, M. Ford, M. Jansen, O. Plummer

BEST:
Manly Warringah: C. Johnson, J. Green, A. Roditis, J. Layton, J. Kennedy
Macquarie Uni: C. Fletcher, P. Pirotta, C. Latsombath, A. Farrugia, M. Ford