ST GEORGE Dragons won their second match in AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division history with a comprehensive 10-goal thumping against Pennant Hills Demons on the weekend. The Dragons are in their second season at the level, and while both sides are clearly still building the youth stocks, St George has shown promising signs for the future.

St George Dragons 9.7 (61) def. Pennant Hills Demons 0.1 (1)

Two teams who have been trying to find the right level in the Premier Division locked horns in a twilight fixture under lights and both were desperate for a win. It was the Dragons who came out on top thanks to better skills, ball movement and being able to still use both under pressure.

To Pennant Hills’ credit, the game was very even for the first 12 minutes as the Demons restricted the Dragons to just three behinds. However eventually St George’s proactive field positioning allowed the home side to have repeat opportunities and became a matter of time before putting one through the big sticks.

Pennant Hills has not been able to test its offensive abilities thus far in 2025, with the midfield struggling to extract the ball from congestion and get it down to consistent scoring positions. Up the other end, the Demons missed the influence of defender Sheridan Baker who has constantly provided a source of composure behind the ball.

St George simply just used the ball better, found the right options when transitioning from inside to outside and the Dragons players were first to the ball at nearly every contest. On the flip side, their young Dragons opponents appeared hesitant and instead waited to lay the tackle.

When the game was in the balance early, it took the Dragons a little time but eventually they realised they were on top around the stoppages and began to play more surge football. Their ball movement speed increased and for a rare time in the 2025 season, were on top of their opposition and able to play with more finesse.

After conceding four goals in the second term which really blew the half-time margin wide open, the Demons did well to only concede two more goals per quarter through the second half and keep the margin to the even 10 goals.

Full credit goes to St George, with the dragons lead by young gun Hannah Phillips – returning from her Giants Academy duties – and Maggie Ritchie, both of whom were injected into the midfield and provided quality attack around the ball and going forward. While there is still much work to be done at St George to compete with the best sides, the potential is there.

Alongside Phillips, Montana Doubell (one goal) and Annabelle McHale (two) – a couple of forwards also coming back from their Giants Academy campaign – impressed, with Jasmine Baily kicking a game-high four goals. Bianca Rudzis‘ ability to deliver inside 50 while under pressure was also pleasing to see.

For the Demons, Sally Faehrmann was named best afield but it really was a universal contribution. Addison Hickey and Caitlin Gurney were among the other players named in the best. Pennant Hills next travels to Bruce Purser Reserve to face East Coast Eagles, while St George has a massive test on the road against Sydney University.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The shock of the round came at Bruce Purser Reserve when Manly Warringah Wolves dismantled East Coast Eagles in a 41-point result. The Wolves were first to the ball at every opportunity, and the Eagles’ depth which is being tested due to so many players missing at other levels was unable to handle it. Manly made a huge change to one aspect of its handball release game which has dramatically altered the way the Wolves have been playing.

Keeping the Eagles goalless for three of the four quarters, the Wolves won each term and came away with the 7.7 (49) to 1.2 (8) victory. It has meant the three-peat premiers are still outside the finals spot – albeit with games in hand. Isabella Rudolph and Kate Salmon each kicked two goals, while the likes of Hannah Woolf and Kenya Fahey were named among the best again. Emily Goodsir was named best-on for the Eagles and kicked her side’s only goal.

UTS Bats were far too good for Parramatta Goannas at Waverley Oval, running out 89-point winners, though the losers never stopped applying pressure throughout the four quarters. Though outplayed and inexperienced compared to their opponents, the Goannas gave their all. In the end though, the Bats were too slick with their extraction work and Brianna-Lee Wade booted six goals in the win. Giants Academy young guns Sophia Gaukrodger (two) and Aoife Berry were also outstanding.

In a nail-biting result, Sydney University came away with a six-point victory at home against fellow contenders North Shore Bombers, 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28). With the Bombers’ loss of Sophie Kavanagh to the Giants’ AFLW program, they had to find other options, and while Adrienne Keeffe appeared the most potent (two goals), the Students managed to shut her down late in the match, keeping the Bombers to just one goal after quarter time. Former Giants star Amanda Farrugia was a clear best on ground in the swarming victory.