FOOTBALL does not get much better than the incredible drama and rollercoaster rides of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division finals from the weekend. With just four teams remaining, a couple of upsets occured, with back-to-back premiers East Coast Eagles forced into the preliminary final, and third placed Parramatta bundled out in straight sets as Manly secured its grand final spot and Sydney University’s fairytale run from fifth spot continued.

The big question mark coming into the East Coast Eagles and Manly Warringah Wolves game was whether or not the Wolves had learnt enough from their last encounter to trouble the Eagles and book a spot in the grand final. By the end of the match, the answer was a resounding ‘yes’ as the Wolves got home in an accurate two-point thriller, 8.2 (50) to 7.6 (48).

In one of the best performances and most enjoyable games to watch that Sydney women’s football has seen, Manly hit the ground running from the first bounce, and right across the board was up for the fight. The Wolves accelerated their learning and adapted to finals footy, being the better team for most of the day.

Although East Coast changed gears in the final quarter, bringing Renee Tomkins onto the ball and came flying home, it would not be enough. The Eagles piled on three goals to one in the final term to try and make up for the five goals to two third term against them which saw them trail by 13 points with a quarter to play.

Manly thoroughly deserved the result, and it was not the Wolves’ superstars that got the job done. While Zara Hamilton and Hannah Woolf were still very good as expected, the likes of Ava Barraclough stepped up was was wildly influential in the result, while Montana Bray and Lauren Bourgeos were outstanding.

The latter booted three goals, just one short of Isabella Rudolph who has had a red-hot finish to the season, while young gun Lauren Bull worked up the ground to compliment her forward craft. Skipper Ash Cater’s defensive work early in the game set the tone for her side, though it truly was a universal effort.

For the Eagles, they will be deeply disappointed but know deep down they were genuinely beaten today, and will already be planning for next week in preparation for a hopeful return bout in the Grand final.

The performance was uncharacteristic for the most dominant side in recent times, with the pressure around the ball forcing fumbles and looking disjointed. Caitlin Reid tried hard in the ruck all day, but the Wolves midfield was often able to shark her hitout dominance.

Michelle Foscarini was named best-on by the coaches kicking two goals, and was the other multiple goalkicker with Rylee McGartland. Brooke Bailey and Shiarna Tarasenko were also named amongst the best with Reid.

The game was also marred by a staggering amount of silly free kicks from the Eagles, for things like not giving the ball back or hanging on too long in tackles and some had no answers to the Wolves’ pressure. By the end of the game, the manic pressure and hunting defence brought on by Many’s outstanding athleticism, was just too much for the Eagles to take.

Manly deserved the win, though the ominous sign was the fact that the Eagles had a really down day by their standards, but still only lost by two points, and will be hungrier than ever to chase that three-peat of flags. Now the Wolves have a break and will await the winner of East Coast and Sydney University.

EAST COAST EAGLES 0.2 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 7.6 (48)
MANLY WARRINGAH 1.0 | 2.0 | 7.0 | 8.2 (50)

GOALS:
East Coast: M. Foscarini 2, R. McGartland, C. Davidson, A. Prosser-Shaw, R. Tomkins
Manly Warringah: I. Rudolph 4, L. Bourgeois 3, J. Kennedy

BEST:
East Coast: M. Foscarini, B. Bailey, S. Tarasenko, C. Reid, R. McGartland
Manly Warringah: M. Bray, H. Woolf, Z. Hamilton, L. Bourgeois, A. Barraclough

If the qualifying final was anything to go by, then it was incredible to think that the elimination final would top it for closeness. Heading into the game, Parramatta Goannas would be strong favourites against Sydney Uni, but the Students had done their homework and were prepared to execute the work required to pull off the victory.

Boasting relentless tackle pressure on the immediate ball carrier, Sydney Uni forced Parramatta into fumbling everything to thwarting any forward forays. From the first bounce you could see young ruck Kendra Blattman was a standout once again, winning the first tap to get the ball forward.

Sydney Uni raced out of the blocks to lead by 11 points at the first break, but over the course of the next two quarters, it was the Goannas who kicked the only three goals to lead by five points with a quarter to play. Paige Pirotta stepped up around the ground in the ruck, but the Goannas could not make the most of her work in close.

The defensive pressure the Student put on the Goannas to force repeat stoppages worked, though Parramatta lead with seven minutes to go and were streaming into goal to put the result beyond doubt. Unfortunately the ball just skimmed the post, and then shortly after the game was delayed due to a serious injury.

When the teams came back onto the field, the play was a little scratchy, but the work of Ashley Dribbus, Emma Juneja, Blattman and Jasmine Smith cut the deficit back to five points. As the time ticked down it looked like Parramatta would hold on, but there was another twist left in the tale.

With about 20 seconds remaining, an innocuous deliberate out of bounds free kick was paid right next to the behind post. Smith hooked the ball around the corner from the sharp angle to put her side in front by a point. By the time was ball was bounced, the siren sounded, and Sydney Uni had pulled off an incredible victory.

All credit has to go to Sydney Uni’s defence, while the likes of Blattman, Dribbus, Daisy George and a host of others were impressive across the ground, with Deanna Darwall named best-on by the Sydney Uni coaches.

For the Goannas, Chloe Davis was everywhere and influential, Kiera Yerbury had her moments, and Brianna Wade provided a forward target when necessary. Zoe Clubb and the experience of Caitlin Fletcher and Amanda Farrugia saw them named among the best as well.

Overall, it was a fascinating contest and one that will not be forgotten for some time. Now for the Students, it is a case of whether or not they can go one step further and take down the benchmark side in the Eagles in order to make the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division Grand Final.

PARRAMATTA GOANNAS 0.2 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 3.5 (23)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.6. (24)

GOALS:
Parramatta: C. Davis, B. Wade, J, Whitehand
Sydney Uni: J. Smith 2, F. Walsh

BEST:
Parramatta: Z. Clubb, C. Fletcher, A. Farrugia, C. Brown, C. Davis
Sydney Uni: D. Darwall, K. Blattman, S. Johnson, A. Dribbus, D. George