THE northern states’ competitions both reach Round 10 this weekend, with AFL Sydney’s top two going head-to-head in a genuine finals dress rehearsal, while QAFLW’s race for minor premiership honours tightens further as Wilston Grange hosts Southport in the standout clash of the Queensland round.

AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division

ROUND 10 FIXTURE:

UNSW-ES Bulldogs vs Manly Warringah Wolves | Saturday June 20, 12:20pm @ Henson Park
Parramatta Goannas vs St George Dragons | Saturday June 20, 12:20pm @ Gipps Road Ovals
Pennant Hills Demons vs North Shore Bombers | Saturday June 20, 1:00pm @ Mike Kenny Oval
Sydney University vs East Coast Eagles | Saturday June 20, 1:10pm @ Sydney Uni No. 1 Oval

Bye: UTS Bats

Henson Park hosts the clear match of the round, and arguably of the season so far, as ladder leaders UNSW-ES Bulldogs welcome Manly Warringah Wolves in what shapes as a genuine finals preview. The clash is a fascinating study in contrasts, with both sides’ strengths and weaknesses sitting in direct opposition to one another. The Bulldogs could not find a way out of the inside battle last week in their first loss of the season, with Hayley Stanford and Georgia Voura unable to stem the tide, while Manly possess the best ball-carrier pressure in the competition, on display through Bella Clarke and Ava Barraclough.

The question that decides the contest is whether Clarke and Manly’s midfield can use the football effectively and find the connecting players forward to Isabella Rudolph, or whether the Bulldogs’ pressure, led by Rebecca Privitelli up forward, forces them back into isolated, individual possessions. Expect a tight, contested arm-wrestle throughout, with whichever side proactively or artificially manufactures space to extract the ball from stoppages and transition it to open footy likely to prevail. Beyond that, the differentiator will come down to coaching and execution on the day – exactly how a contest of this magnitude should be decided. Genuinely could be a draw or as close as possible to one.

A far tighter affair than the ladder alone suggests takes place between Parramatta Goannas and St George Dragons. The Dragons have had the better of the most recent meetings between the two, with more efficient use of their opportunities in front of goal proving the difference, Ruby O’Dwyer dictating terms through the midfield in their most recent win. However, the Goannas have pushed several higher-ranked sides closer than expected this season, with Megan Mifsud and Marley Rhodes going down by just a point to East Coast Eagles last week, and this looms as an evenly matched contest between two teams searching for improved consistency. Could be a one-point game.

There is no doubt that the clash between reigning premiers North Shore Bombers and wooden spooners Pennant Hills Demons will be a one-sided affair, but the big question will be by how much? The Bombers, even minus their Swans Academy members, will be far too strong for a Demons outfit that is still developing the squad for the long-term, with Amelia Bennett again likely to be among the home side’s hardest workers in defeat. The Bombers still have the likes of Sophie Kavanagh and Lucy Yates who have had dominating seasons, while bottom-ager Genevieve Hynes is one to watch for the future.

Sydney University, flying high on the back of recent form, look set to extend their run when they host East Coast Eagles at home. The Students were superb in upsetting the previously unbeaten Bulldogs last week, with Amanda Farrugia racking up 27 disposals and eight clearances in a best-on-ground display, well supported by bottom-ager Madison McCarthy. It is difficult to see how the Eagles, even with Nellie McMillan working hard through the middle, combat the in-form Students, having diminished their proactive offensive capabilities for much of the season and instead dropping automatically into a defensive mindset. Sydney Uni by around 25 points.

QAFL Women’s

ROUND 10 FIXTURE:

Coorparoo vs Moreton Bay | Saturday June 20, 2:00pm @ Giffin Park
Aspley vs Bond University | Saturday June 20, 3:30pm @ Graham Road/Automall Aspley Oval
Morningside vs Maroochydore | Saturday June 20, 3:30pm @ Jack Esplen Oval
University of Queensland vs Broadbeach | Saturday June 20, 3:30pm @ UQ Playing Field 2
Wilston Grange vs Southport | Saturday June 20, 4:45pm @ Hickey Park

Giffin Park hosts ladder leaders Coorparoo, who shook off a slow start to grind past Aspley by 23 points and claim outright top spot last round. Ayla Fetahagic and Jacinta Baldwick provide plenty of class through the middle, and the Kings should have more than enough to deal with a Moreton Bay outfit that was kept to a single goal in an 81-point hiding at the hands of Morningside last week. Jessica Davy remains a genuine bright spot for the Lions and will need a big performance if Moreton Bay are to avoid another lopsided result.

The Aspley Oval clash carries plenty of intrigue, with sixth-placed Aspley hosting third-placed Bond University. The Hornets pushed Coorparoo deep into the contest before falling away in defeat, with Ella Smith and Eva Downie both outstanding, while over-age ruck Monique Corrigan picked up a Round 9 Rising Star nomination. Bond University, meanwhile, were ruthless in a 62-point demolition of Broadbeach, with Shannon Nolan racking up 40 disposals and Millar Brosnan-Ball dominating the ruck. The Bulls’ midfield depth looks the difference-maker here.

Fifth-placed Morningside host ninth-placed Maroochydore in the next contest. The Panthers were imperious against Moreton Bay, with over-age Lions Academy member Isabella Levine racking up 31 disposals and 10 clearances. Maroochydore went down by 15 points to Wilston Grange despite the best efforts of Britney Murray and Gabi Simpson, and face a significant step up in class against a Morningside side with genuine flag aspirations.

In what could be the tightest contest of the round, seventh-placed University of Queensland hosts eighth-placed Broadbeach in a genuine battle for percentage and ladder positioning. UQ were kept scoreless in a brutal 123-point shutout against Southport last week, though Annabel Coleman and Madeleine Roos fought hard throughout, while Luka Yoshida-Martin and Eva Sartor continued their consistent seasons. Broadbeach were also well beaten by Bond University, but Josephine Plath and Halle Cunningham competed admirably, with Makayla Sekac laying a team-high 16 tackles. With UQ holding the better percentage of the two, this should be the closest match either side plays all season.

The standout clash of the round arrives at Hickey Park, where fourth-placed Wilston Grange host second-placed Southport. The Gorillas ground out a hard-fought 15-point win over Maroochydore last week, with Zimra Hussain, Mackenzie Findlay and Abbey Crowe all prominent. Southport, however, arrive in red-hot form off the back of a 123-point obliteration of UQ, boasting the best percentage in the competition at 425.16. Ella Maurer was sensational in that win, while Tayla Christensen and Caitlin Miller provided the finishing touch up forward. The reigning back-to-back premiers loom as slight favourites, but Wilston Grange’s home record makes this a genuine top-four shootout.