JUST a month remains in the home and away season for the AFL Sydney Premier Division clubs and the race for finals heats up. Across Round 15, there are a couple of potential blowouts and a couple of anticipated tight contests, making for intriguing viewing.

PARRAMATTA GOANNAS vs. UNSW-ES BULLDOGS
Saturday, August 3 @ 12:30pm
Gipps Road Ovals

Top three side Parramatta Goannas head into the clash againist bottom three side UNSW-ES Bulldogs with a significant advantage and will be smiting after their loss to the Bombers last week. Missing an opportunity to jump into the top two, the Goannas will want to make the mostd of this clash, especially with the two sides belopw them on equal points facing off as well.

A win for the Goannas is a non-negotiable for a side hoping to be a premiership contender, and the Goannas have the quality on their list to get it done. For the Bulldogs, it will be about keeping the opposition’s score low and trying to put enough goals on the board to win, something the Dogs have struggled with against most sides.

Look for the talent of Caitlin Fletcher – who was best-on in the NSW/Canberra side’s win over Tasmania recently – as well as ex-Giant Amanda Farrugia to take control of the midfield. The youth coming through the club is certainly exciting as well with the likes of Kiera Yerbury and Megan Mifsud complimenting the exprience of Eleanor Rugg and Brianna Wade.

The Bulldogs look to Ahlani Eddy for some experience, while Ella Willey and Georgia Voura were among the side’s best in the loss to Sydney University last week.The last time these sides faced off back in Round 6, the Goannas took home the points but were made to work for it, only really kicking away in the third term to get a 19-point victory. Still, the Goannas should have too much depth.

PENNANT HILLS DEMONS vs. EAST COAST EAGLES
Saturday, August 3 @ 1:10pm
Mike Kenny Oval

In what looms as the most one-sided clash of the weekend, ladder leaders East Coast Eagles travel to face bottom two team Pennant Hills Demons. The Demons did pick up a long-awaited victory last round, defeating St George Dragons by 34 points. However as the only side below them, Pennant Hills would need to go to a whole new level to challenge the rampaging Eagles.

When the teams last went head-to-head, the Eagles came away with the four points in a six-goal victory at Kanebridge Oval, as Rylee McGartland booted five goals and the likes of Caitlin Reid and Jessica Whelan dominated. They will be looking for more of the same, with young gun sisters Amelie and Darcie Prosser-Shaw among the inclusions.

Abbey Martin has also played a key role for the Eagles, while it is hard to look past sharpshooter Caitlin Davidson as a source of goals, though the Demons did well to hold her goalless last time out. In the same game, Natalie Pajor slotted three goals, while Kaitlin Quinn and Kaitlin Noble loom as important players in quelling the Eagles attack.

Expect the Eagles to win this one comfortably as they cannot afford to drop any games in the lead-up to securing the minor premiership and double chance.

NORTH SHORE BOMBERS vs. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Saturday, August 3 @ 3:50pm
Gore Hill Oval

Though their season has been up and down at times, North Shore Bombers reminded AFL Sydney Premier Division fans what they are capable of with a great win over the Goannas last round. They are on a tear of late, having upset premiership favourites East Coast Eagles the week before, to go from likely just missing finals, to being right in the hunt.

In a similar vein is Sydney University, with the Students bouncing back from a heartbreaking six-point loss to UTS Bats, in order to post a 45-point victory over UNSW-ES Bulldogs last round. The last time these sides played was only back in Round 9 at the very same Gore Hill Oval. On that day, it was an absolute thriller with the Students getting up by 10 points.

Kendra Blattman (two goals) and Emma Juneja (one) were among the key contributors, with Saskia Johnson and Frances Walsh named in the best. Jasmine Smith has quickly become one of the most important players across the competition, with the skipper slamming home five goals against the Dogs a week ago.

North Shore’s even contribution across the board has been important, with co-skipper Matilda Eder, and Zoe Hurrell both able to turn matches. Add in the likes of Lucy Yates and Emily Bliss who are influential, and the Bombers have the foundations to do some damage in finals. The game is a quinessential “eight-point match” considering the ladder positions, expect a single-digit margin.

MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES vs. UTS BATS
Saturday, August 3 @ 4:20pm
Weldon Oval

In the final game of the round, UTS Bats are desperate to keep in touch with the fop five sides, but face a tough challenge up against second placed Manly Warringah Wolves. The Wolves went down to the Eagles last week to all but miss out on the minor premiership unless East Coast slips up, but they still need to hold onto a double chance. The Wolves are four points clear of three sides and have a superior percentage to all bar the Goannes, but a loss and a Goannas win would see them sink to third.

The Bats have just as much at stake in gaining the four points to try and maintain their place in the mid-table logjam, having already guaranteed a finish in the top six away from the bottom three straglers. Importantly the Bats scraped past Sydney University a fortnight ago before having a bye last week, and enter with a two-game winning streak thanks to their 134-point shellacking of the Demons in Round 12.

Forward Jessica Quade slammed home five goals in the side’s win over the Students to be the difference, while the likes of youngsters Serina Baukes and Tallulah Kirk are playing consistent football. Hannah Cerezo has been in great form and will look to continue that here against quality opposition.

Hannah Woolf is the one to watch from the appropriately named Wolves, having hardly put a foot wrong of late. After being contained last week, one of the league best and fairests in ex-Giant Zara Hamilton will likely bounce back to produce a big performance, while teenage talents Lauren Bull and Holly Wickham are other names who could impress.