MANLY Warringah Wolves shook off a determined and inaccurate UNSW-ES Bulldogs to post a 12-point win in Round 4 of the 2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division season. The Wolves lead at each break, but it was not until the final stanza where they shook off dogged UNSW.

Manly Warringah Wolves 5.5 (35) defeated UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.11 (23)

It was a scrappy game in tough conditions, but the Wolves came away with the vital win in front of their home fans at Weldon Oval, kicking the last two goals of the game in a match where at least one of the teams was goalless in three of the four quarters.

Key Talking Points:

• Manly dominates early

• Inaccuracy proves costly for Dogs

• Clean extractions the difference in the contest

• Flying Rudolph kicks match-winner

Manly Warringah Wolves started like a house on fire kicking three opening quarter goals as ruck Jayme Saggers started promisingly against a very tough opponent in Sera Kaukiono. Both teams made mistakes in what was a really scrappy contest that saw the high volume of defensive pressure taking its toll on the ball carrier. Even one of the goals – to Lauren Bourgeois – came from a toe poke after fumbling the bounce running into goal.

That first term proved to be a key difference between the sides, though the Dogs continued to work back into the contest to be within a point at the final break. Skipper Emily Conlan got one on the board in the first quarter to provide a spark, and then vice-captain Hayley Stanford made it two for UNSW.

The Bulldogs kept the Wolves goalless through the middle two quarters and the momentum seemed to be with the visitors despite neither team getting too many good looks. However Isabella Rudolph continued to be the thorn in the Bulldogs’ side as she slotted four of the game’s seven goals, including the match-winner in the fourth term.

In the end, the work of Andrea Roditis and Hannah Woolf were superb, while Kenya Fahey‘s 2025 form continued as well. With Rudolph finishing off the great work of the midfielders, the Wolves were able to take the four points and run.

For the Dogs, they will feel they had their chances, with Aimee Whelan named best-on for the side, while Renee Scheffer, Stanford and Gabby Eaton were also impressive. They took it up to a contender and were not disgraced, with inaccuracy and clean ball use under pressure a couple of takeaways for the losing side.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

St George Dragons made history by picking up their first ever Women’s Premier Division win, knocking off the struggling Parramatta Goannas by seven points. The Goannas – who were yet to score in the season coming into the match – at least kicked 5.3 (33), but went down to the Dragons who scored 6.4 (40).

That was the closest match of the round, with reigning three-time premiers East Coast Eagles seeing off the threat of ladder leaders North Shore Bombers at Gore hill Oval by 17 points. The Eagles remain undefeated in the season, alongside Sydney University. The Students went to 3-0 for the year after accounting for UTS Bats by 35 points at home.