NORTH Shore Bombers ran the UNSW-ES Bulldogs off their feet in a commanding nine-goal win that was set up by a six goals to nil opening term for Round 9 of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division. The Bombers still outscored the Dogs after that with four of the last five goals, but it was the first quarter blitz that proved the difference.

The Bombers ran with the football at every opportunity and the Bulldogs could just not quite find an answer with the former only further strengthening its premiership claims. North Shore played with a very offensive set up and kicked the first goal through a lovely transition of play. From there, the Bombers went to work using all their skills to hit up targets down the field and put on a mammoth first term score of 6.2 (38) before the Dogs had barely blinked.

North Shore was able to release by hand consistently out of the stoppage with their possession always looking controlled and deliberate, compared to the Dogs’ rushed or clunky kicks that turned straight over to the Bombers players. It changed a little after quarter time to stem the bleeding, but essentially the damage was done and the Bulldogs still could not score.

Amaia Wain began to have more of an influence through the ruck and helped her midfielders surge from the centre, even looking to spin and take a shot on goal herself but could not convert. Bombers’ Charlotte White began to take more control of the rack battle and the Dogs hardly got a look-in close to goal. The staggering difference of transition and execution ability between the two teams was stark.

When Ella Daniel stepped into the ruck, the game was beyond doubt but her athleticism and enthusiasm gave the home side an edge for the rest of the game. Adrienne Keeffe would boot two goals as would youngster Heidi de Saxe, while the sole Dogs goal came early in the fourth term with a rare surge forward that Sera Kaukiono was able to set up Zali Deep with a slick handball. In the end though, the quality and polish of the Bombers’ running football and offensive mechanisms were the difference in the match.

It was an even team performance from the Bombers with de Saxe (15 disposals, two marks, three clearances, six tackles and two goals) one of a number of young guns standing out. Kiera Yerbury (16 disposals, two clearances, three tackles and four inside 50s), Charlotte Tidemann (16 disposals, three marks and three inside 50s) and Amelia Rainbow (18 disposals, five tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) all played well.

For the Bulldogs, Wain finished with 34 hitouts from 14 touches, four clearances and four tackles, while Aimee Whelan (25 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and nine inside 50s) and Emily Conlan (15 disposals, four clearances, three tackles and five inside 50s) were all very good. Rani Sossai (nine disposals, six clearances) had an impact around the stoppages as well.

NORTH SHORE BOMBERS 6.2 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 10.5 (65)
UNSW-ES BULLDOGS 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 (11)

GOALS:
North Shore: H. de Saxe 2, A. Keeffe 2, T. Collister, A. Horneman, L. O’Sullivan, A. Rainbow, L. Watson, E. Yates
UNSW: Z. Deep

BEST:
North Shore: H. de Saxe, C. Tidemann, A. Rainbow, K. Yerbury, C. White
UNSW: A. Wain, A. Whelan, E. Conlan, R. Sossai, E. Haley, Z. Deep

AROUND THE GROUNDS

All the other three matches were even more one-sided with bottom three teams, St George Dragons, Parramatta Goannas and Pennant Hills Demons all suffering heavy defeats. The Dragons at least kicked a goal during a 10.15 (75) to 1.2 (8) loss to Sydney University, with Caydelan Mitchell Bruce (31 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles) battling harrd against the dominant Students’ midfield. Amanda Farrugia and Emma Juneja combined for 63 disposals, five marks, 11 clearances and 10 inside 50, with the latter also slotting two goals.

Meanwhile East Coast Eagles made light work of Pennant Hills with a 16.20 (116) to 0.0 (0) triumph at Bruce Purser Reserve. It was an even performance from the Eagles with 12 individual goalkickers including Grace Tracey (25 touches, seven marks, seven clearances, 18 hitouts and two goals), Aysha Sanchez (20 disposals, three clearances, four inside 50s and two goals) and Caitlin Davidson (16 disposals, three marks, two inside 50s and two goals) all prominent. Sheridan Baker (27 disposals, seven marks) again worked tirelessly behind the ball for the Demons.

In the other match, Manly Warringah Wolves slammed home 17.21 (123) to 0.0 (0) against Parramatta Goannas as Isabella Rudolph had a day out with seven majors from 15 disposals. Through the middle, Zara Hamilton, Kenya Fahey and Hannah Woolf were all huge ball-winners for the Wolves. Bottom-age Goanna Brea Trevitt tried hard for her side with 14 touches, two marks, three clearances and seven tackles in the loss.