EVERY AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division team has been proven to be beatable after UTS Bats delivered Sydney University its first loss of the 2025 season. Playing in front of a home crowd at Waverley Oval, the Bats did what they had to do to really help their chances of playing finals with a 7.4 (46) to 3.6 (24) win.

The game went as expected until the third term with Sydney University in front throughout the opening half before piling on three goals to one in the premiership quarter and going on with it to make it six goals to one in the second half. What looked like an Amanda Farrugia goal was given a behind and from that miss, the momentum started to shift for the home team.

UTS used the ball cleanly and transferred it effectively downfield, and pressured the Students’ defence with repeat acts and huge tackles, looking hungry against the unbeaten ladder leaders. Ella Parker set up Piper Khouri straight in front of goal and the positivity from the major further shifted the momentum. Sydney Uni’s offence had been quelled .

The Bats maintained forward half possession and essentially denied the Students any easy looks at goal through the second half. Pressure was the defining factor in the match, with youngster Aoife Berry leading the way for the Bats. Forwards Jessica Quade (three goals) and Brianna-Lee Wade (two) were both able to take control of the match, and only a Molly Gibbs major in the third term moved the needle for the visitors.

UTS standouts included Berry (20 disposals, four clearances) and ruck Emelye Blades (19 disposals, three marks, 28 hitouts, seven clearances and four tackles), while another top-ager in Sophia Gaukrodger and over-ager Parker both had 12 disposals in the win.

For Sydney Uni, Farrugia (23 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles) worked well with Emma Juneja (30 disposals, eight clearances and four tackles) and Daisy George (19 disposals, five clearances and eight tackles), while Brianna Davies was named best-on for her side and bottom-ager Frances Walsh also stood out around the ground.

The Bats have created somewhat of a fortress at home and their performance against the Students showed they will be difficult to beat there for the rest of the season. The win moved the Bats to outright fifth on the ladder, four points off East Coast Eagles and eight points from a double chance. The Students remain on top but second placed North Shore Bombers have a ridiculous percentage of 662.59 and will leapfrog the ladder leaders with a win and a Students’ loss.

UTS BATS 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 7.4 (48)
SYDNEY UNI 0.2 | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
UTS Bats: J. Quade 3, B. Wade 2, P, Khouri, E. Parker
Sydney Uni: M. Gibbs, R. Stuart, E. Walsh

BEST:
UTS Bats: E. Blade, E. Parker, A. Berry, Z. Bush, C. Owen
Sydney Uni: B. Davies, M. Cameron, A. Price, E. Juneja, A. Farrugia

AROUND THE GROUNDS

North Shore Bombers continued their dominant season with a 98-0 thrashing win over the struggling Parramatta Goannas. The Bombers had 28 scoring shots in the big victory, with teenagers Heidi de Saxe and Amelia Rainbow combining for 45 disposals, nine clearances and 13 tackles. Matilda Eder and Adrienne Keeffe both booted three goals, while ex-Matildas junior Teigan Collister and Lauren O’Sullivan finished with two apiece in the big win. Marley Rhodes was named best-on for the Goannas.

Picking up a hard-fought win, Manly Warringah Wolves overcame UNSW-ES Bulldogs by nine points in a low-scoring contest. The Wolves got up 2.10 (22) to 1.7 (13) at Henson Park, with the likes of Hannah Woolf and Ashleigh Carter named among the best. Amaia Wain starred through the ruck for the Bulldogs in defeat, amassing 43 hitouts and five clearances from 18 disposals and three marks.

East Coast Eagles kept St George Dragons scoreless in another big win, booting 9.16 (70) to 0.0 (0) at Olds Park. Jessica Whelan had six clearances and five tackles from 19 disposals, with Taylah Canobie and Aysha Sanchez both busy, while Charlee McPherson slotted three goals in the win. Annabelle McHale was a standout for the Dragons despite the defeat with 18 disposals and four marks.