A MASSIVE top of the table clash between North Shore Bombers and Manly Warringah Wolves headlines Round 14 of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division competition that returns after a week off due to representative duty. A handful of teams will be minus their Allies players who face Queensland in the AFLW Under 18 Championships, so the depth of certain squads will be tested.

PARRAMATTA GOANNAS vs. UNSW-ES BULLDOGS
Saturday, July 26 @ 12:20pm
Gipps Road Ovals

Parramatta showed plenty of effort against the Dragons last week, but their offensive output at this level is still developing. In contrast, the Bulldogs are coming off a dominant performance, posting over 180 points in their most recent outing.

Expect a significant margin in this one, though the Goannas will be doing everything they can to keep it in check. Hopefully their younger players continue to take the game on, focus on offensive play when possible, and keep progressing in their overall development. Bulldogs by 55 points.

UTS BATS vs. EAST COAST EAGLES
Saturday, July 26 @ 12:30pm
Waverley Oval

A fascinating contest looms between two sides coming off heavy defeats. The reigning back-to-back-to-back premiers, East Coast, were soundly beaten on the scoreboard last round, while UTS also found themselves on the wrong side of a significant margin.

This game will hinge on which team can generate clean offensive linkages. Right now, sitting back and waiting for intercepts before trying to launch forward simply isn’t working for either side. Both midfield groups will need to roll up their sleeves and proactively create scoring opportunities.

East Coast deserve to come in as favourites, but as has been the case all season, their depth is under the microscope. The question remains whether the next generation of Eagles can rise to the level required to keep them among the competition’s elite.

The ruck battle will be pivotal, with both teams likely to rotate multiple players through, while the Eagles need to make an effort to curb the influence of Ella Daniel. Expect the Eagles to create just enough chances to allow their potent forward line to kick a winning score and get up by four goals.

NORTH SHORE BOMBERS vs. MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES
Saturday, July 26 @ 1:10pm
Gore Hill Oval

Without doubt, this shapes as the match of the round, and quite possibly the match of the season so far. Expect a fiercely contested battle in the middle, with midfield pressure likely to determine the outcome.

If Manly can apply their trademark athletic pressure on the ball carrier and expose North Shore’s current weakness in contested situations, they should prove too strong. However, if the Wolves’ defence switches off and fails to contribute offensively, it could open the door for the Bombers’ outside runners to find space, take ground, and deliver long inside 50. If that happens, North Shore could pile on a few quick goals and swing the game in their favour.

North Shore is of course minus a stack of players due to Allies representation, which means the experience of the Manly Warringah Wolves midfield will be important. In saying that, expect it to be a tight contest if the Bombers can keep Wolves’ goalkicking machine Isabella Rudolph quiet. Wolves by a point.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY vs. PENNANT HILLS DEMONS
Saturday, July 26 @ 1:10pm
Gore Hill Oval

Sydney University is on a strong run of form, while the Demons are still searching for answers when it comes to implementing effective offensive football this season.

Expect a high-scoring game with a considerable margin. There should be plenty of breakaway plays, and Sydney Uni will look to fine-tune its ball movement —particularly their stoppage exits and full-field link-ups. However, they may not get many opportunities to test those structures thoroughly, with most of the game likely played in their forward half.

The league is firmly behind the young Demons, wishing them well in their development, but it will take something special for them to be competitive in this one. Sydney University by 82 points.

Bye: St George