A TITANIC battle between finals-bound UTS Bats and big improvers Parramatta Goannas was the sole tight contest with a match-winning goal in the last four minutes separating the sides. Across the other three AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Division matches, the combined totals were 55.40 (370) to 0.1 (1) as the top sides flexed their muscles over the battlers.

Parramatta Goannas 2.6 (18) def. by UTS Bats 3.5 (23)

A goal in the final few minutes sealed a hard-fought victory for UTS Bats in a game that showed both the improvement of the Goannas, and extra levels the Bats will need to go to in order to compete with the best sides. Parramatta actually went 10 points ahead at half-time, but could only manage one point after that, and while that behind did have the home team up for a number of minutes late, Emma Keane saved the day for the Bats with 3:40 left on the clock to win the game by five points.

Kaitlin McCaffery was named best-on for her side in the tight victory, with the experience of Brianna-Lee Wade also showing through in the contest. Piper Khouri and Annie Lord were the other goalkickers with Keane, while Taylah Canobie, Hannah Cerezo and Olivia Morris were also named amongst the best in an even team effort. Youngsters Lauren O’Sullivan and Brea Trevitt were in the better players for the Goannas, while Zara Stanford booted a goal and also impressed across the four quarters.

St George Dragons 0.1 (1) def. by North Shore Bombers 16.10 (106)

Reigning premiers North Shore Bombers kicked off a trio of one-sided smashings with a 105-point thrashing of St George Dragons. The top three side kept in touch with the top two teams, kicking five goals in the opening quarter and keeping the Dragons at bay en route to a triple-digit victory eighth consecutive unbeaten match which included two draws to the other top two sides.

National Academy member Charlotte Tidemann was electric, accumulating 24 disposals and booting 2.2, working well with fellow young gun Heidi de Saxe (23 disposals, six clearances, five tackles and five inside 50s). Crafty small Willow Orsini was the top goalkicker with four majors from 15 disposals. For the Dragons, Ruby O’Dwyer tried hard with a team-high 22 disposals, as well as seven marks, three clearances and four tackles.

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 16.12 (108) def. East Coast Eagles 0.0 (0)

UNSW-ES Bulldogs kept only percentage behind North Shore after an equally dominant 108-point demolition against a scoreless East Coast Eagles. They dominated across all facets of the match at Henson Park with the writing on the wall during the first and third terms where the Dogs booted 13 of their 16 goals. Credit has to fall on the Eagles for limiting the damage in the fourth and conceding just seven behinds during the one-sided result.

Dogs star Sera Kaukiono was unstoppable with six goals from 19 disposals, four marks – two contested – and two clearances, doing the bulk of the damage up forward. Bonnie Swan (22 disposals, four marks and six inside 50s) and Grace Madden (19 disposals, four clearances, three tackles and three inside 50s) were busy, as Bec Newman racked up 45 hitouts from 17 disposals, four clearances and four tackles in the win. Nellie McMillan (18 disposals, seven clearances and five tackles) was one of the few Eagles who were able to stand up against the onslaught.

Pennant Hills Demons 0.0 (0) def. by Sydney University 23.18 (156)

While unfortunately not a surprise, second placed Sydney University laid claim to the biggest win of Round 14 with a crushing 156-0 of Pennant Hills. The Students had 43 inside 50s to three, and essentially denied the Demons having any serious looks at Mike Kenny Oval, with the flag fancies dominating from start to finish. After nine goals in the first term, the Demons slowed the bleeding over the next two terms before another seven-goal final stanza blew out the margin.

The experience of Amanda Farrugia (33 disposals, three marks, 10 clearances, five tackles, 10 inside 50s and two goals) was just too much for the young Demons, while Lucy Gilfedder (seven goals from 18 disposals and six marks), Molly Gibbs (three goals from 14 disposals and six marks) and Jessica Lee Urquhart (three goals from 11 disposals) all filled their boots. Top-age Allies representatives Evie Bowie (23 disposals, 12 clearances, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) and Frances Walsh (19 disposals, six marks, three tackles, three inside 50s and a goal) were also outstanding. Remy Ally (16 disposals, four marks) tried hard for the Demons.