NORTH Shore Bombers’ band of brilliant youngsters are now premiership players after the team successfully executed against a dogged Sydney University outfit in the 2025 AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division at Blacktown International Sportspark.

In an entertaining contest that was at times as much a chess match between the coaching panels as it was a unfiltered display of toughness and resilience, North Shore came away with the 5.4 (34) to 3.6 (24) victory. Both sides left nothing out on the park, with over-age Swans Academy midfielder Lucy Yates voted best afield in the grand grand final.

Both sides came into the clash with their distinct plans to both execute, and counter the other, and it was hot from the first bounce until the final siren with Sydney Uni actually leading in the opening two minutes of the third term after three consecutive goals, before North Shore dug deep to kick the final three goals of the match, the last of which fittingly came off the boot of Yates.

Sydney Uni had the early forward 50 entries, but it was the repelling from double bottom-ager Amelia Rainbow and Zoe Hurrell that held them in good stead. Then it was North Shore’s turn at around the five-minute mark when a boundary throw-in saw potential first round draft pick Kiera Yerbury roam around the back of the forward stoppage and slam it on the left to get her side on the board.

It took until the final few minutes of the first term for the next score, which was also a Bombers goal courtesy of Grace Parsons who clunked a great mark in front using her height and reading the play. She was set up by the red-hot Heidi de Saxe who between her and Yerbury had started the game on fire. They would rack up the most touches on the ground and create a formidable duo.

It took until the eighth minute of the second term for Sydney Uni to register its first score which was a behind through Jasmine Smith who won a free kick and from 35m out straight in front looked on target but unluckily hit the post. It was the catalyst for some important repeat entries for the Students, and eventually they would strike six minutes later through Madison McCarthy.

After McCarthy intercepted at the top of 50, the Bombers player on the mark saw the Students player look to play on and took a step, and the umpire blew the whistle to send her to the goalsquare where she duly delivered. It was the spark the underdogs needed however with the pressure lifting and able to exit their defensive 50 and move it down the ground.

Eventually they found a way through the dam wall that was the Bombers’ defence, and the determination of Evie Bowie was superb reading the ball better than star Bomber Charlotte Tidemann to clunk a crucial grab. She popped the ball to the goalsquare with 90 seconds remaining and incredibly, Lucy Gilfedder did not even move as the pack in front of her formed and somehow she watched it land in her lap. Her close range set shot levelled the scores by half-time.

There was a conscious effort by the Students to try and close down the run of the Bombers, particularly Yerbury and Tidemann who have the ability to really hurt the opposition in a number of ways. When Emma Walsh put her side in front two minutes into the second half, the momentum had carried over for Sydney Uni.

Now it was North Shore on the back foot, but like any good side, the young Bombers dug deep themselves and responded through Cassidy McArthur after a deliberate out of bounds call. Having to snap around her body from the tightest of angles, McArthur finished like a pro and the game was back on even terms again.

It was taking special moments for the Bombers to get back on top, so when Parsons feigned a handball to create extra space from the boundary throw-in and snap it around her body, the vibes were high as the kick sailed through the big sticks. North Shore would head into the final break with a decisive six-point lead and realistically just two big moments that separated the respective sides.

In the final quarter of the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division season, both sides needed someone to stand up and make their mark. That player was Lucy Yates who won a free for being held coming out of the forward stoppage and she duly delivered from 30m out to make it an 11-point game in a match where goals were at a premium.

Despite Sydney Uni having a couple of late chances, North Shore held up incredibly well, and were able to secure the 10-point win, with the final score being a poster off the boot of Liv O’Donnell. It is unlikely a behind has ever quite brought the celebration that ensued with North Shore players and staff flooding the ground at the sound of the final siren just as the ball connected with the woodwork.

Yates won the best on ground medal finishing off with a brilliant final term, but it was a huge team effort, particularly around the midfield and defensive ends for the Bombers. Yerbury (32 disposals, 11 clearances, six tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal) and de Saxe (29 disposals, 13 clearances, nine tackles and six inside 50s) were both outstanding, while down back, Rainbow and Hurrell were huge.

Parsons’ work through the ruck and ability to convert two majors in different fashions was key, while McArthur showed her class when the moment presented itself. Grace Hill was fantastic in limiting experienced Sydney Uni onballer Amanda Farrugia to just 15 disposals and only four clearances. Tidemann provided great run and carry both off the wing and down back even with the Students trying to limit her impact.

For Sydney University, skipper Maryanne Harley battled well throughout the contest with 21 disposals, four marks, six clearances and eight tackles to be a shining light. Bottom-age talents Frances Walsh and Bowie did their best in trying to assist the side, while Ashley Dribbus and Daisy George won their fair share of it despite the Bombers having 48 more disposals.

NORTH SHORE 2.0 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 5.4 (34)
SYDNEY UNI 0.0 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 3.6 (24)

GOALS:
North Shore: G. Parsons 2, K. Yerbury, E. Yates, C. McArthur, L. Yates
Sydney Uni: M. McCarthy, E. Walsh

BEST:
North Shore: L. Yates, A. Rainbow, Z. Hurrell, K. Yerbury, C. Tidemann, H. de Saxe
Sydney Uni: M. Harley, E. Bowie, D. George, F. Walsh, A. Farrugia, A. Dribbus