THE first of the psuedo finals rounds has arrived in the AFL Sydney Women’s Premier Divison, with each and every clash having finals implications. Just two rounds remain in the competition, with Sydney Uni desperate for a win against Paramatta, while the North Shore-UTS clash has blockbuster potential. We preview Round 17 of action.

PARRAMATTA GOANNAS vs. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Saturday, August 17 @ 12:30pm
Gipps Road Ovals

Kicking off the round, Parramatta has the opportunity to lock away a double chance with a victory, but the stakes are even higher for Sydney Uni who must win both remaining games to have the best chance at finals considering the Students have the lowest percentage of the top six teams in contention.

In what should be an even contest, Goannas’ Caitlin Fletcher announced herself as clearly the most effective player in the league last week, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and lifting her team over the line. Expect Parramatta to be favourites for the contest, but a remarkable four-point differential between second and sixth is outstanding for such a late point in the season.

The Goannas are evading with football in hand en-masse and putting effort into all contests, which makes it very hard for opponents to get any momentum going, and that is exactly what Sydney Uni has struggled with – gaining full field and scoreboard momentum.

Last round, the Students tried to play on from contests and Jasmine Smith even played on from to marking opportunities to run into open goals, much more proactive than the belting they copped from North Shore the week before. If they can work on that, it will be most beneficial for their chances.

For their best chance, the solid inside work from Kendra Blattman alternating with Smith and Saskia Johnson must be matched with the run off the outside of the engine room from the likes of Emma Juneja and Francis Walsh, who really showed how effective it could be last round.

For Parramatta, expect to see effort for clean and strong extractions from the inside footy contests and multiple drives downfield, and the result will depend on how effective the downfield players can create linkages. A cleaner and more proactive forward line, attacking the footy as is, rather than waiting to see what it will do when bouncing or not delivered perfectly. It will also help provide more scoring opportunities. Parramatta by two goals.

UTS BATS vs. NORTH SHORE BOMBERS
Saturday, August 17 @ 12:40pm
Waverley Oval

The game everybody will be watching and waiting for. The implications are simple, if North Shore wins, the Bombers will play finals even with a bye in the last round. Considering their form six weeks ago and the draw they have had to face in the run home, it is a remarkable effort to still finish top five.

For UTS, the Bats must win to keep themselves in the mix and not let it come down to a last week mathematical chance. The only way to preview such an evenly matched game is to highlight the two crucial factors that will no doubt determine the result.

Firstly, North Shore’s handball chains are key as it is what helps the Bombers move the ball quickly and use run to get it forward. The UNSW-ES Bulldogs managed to disrupt that last week which allowed them to get far closer than what you would expect, and gave a blueprint for other teams.

Pressure from the Bats players is a must, not just for the immediate ball carrier, but the second and third in line ready to receive the next handball. The Bombers love to create a free runner and it is something the Bats must be aware of in the match.

If it is pulled off correctly, the individual ball carriers skills must be the test and see whether they have inbuilt the in-tight extractions necessary to put enough of a score on the board to win game. It will be the single biggest determining factor of this match.

Watch for UTS’ Aoife Berry and other in the centre will try and run and deliver long, getting the ball to current leading goal kicker Jessica Quade and others TO put scoreboard pressure on the Bombers. The Hannah Cerezo and Lucy Yates midfield battle will also be a determinative factor in many ways, especially if either is tagged.

A fascinating game ahead with no excuses and a great test of what has been developed into the players by the new coaching staff for both teams. It could go down to the wire and be a draw, though based on form, the Bombers by a goal if there is a winning result.

PENNANT HILLS DEMONS vs. MANLY WARRINGAH WOLVES
Saturday, August 17 @ 1:10pm
Mike Kenny Oval

Pride is on the line for Pennant Hills while for Manly Warringah Wolves, a win is crucial to try and lock in finals. With Sydney Uni breathing down their necks, the Wolves would rather not leave it until the final round to get a win, and if they get up, and the Bombers lose, they are assured a top five place.

They have put themselves in an awkward spot for a couple of upset losses in a row, and while technically still capable of a top three spot and double chance, they must put the foot down in the game and win with a percentage boost. Luckily for the Wolves, Pennant Hills have not found offensive form in 2024 and continue to play containment defensive football.

Any burst through the centre and they rely on Kaitlin Quinlan, Kaitlin Noble or Sheridan Baker to stop it and then try and put multiple linkages forward but it has not clicked. If they go in with the same philosophy, Hannah Woolfe and Zara Hamilton will destroy them around the centre contest and place them under constant defensive pressure all day.

The good news for Pennant Hills is that multiple teams have shown Manly’s Achilles heel over the last few weeks and the Wolves have dropped a few games they really should have won and were leading for portions of time. Their midfield positioning can get out of whack and it affects the defensive positioning and hunting of the opposition.

They have some areas to work on if they are to be a premiership threat, but it will be interesting to see if Pennant Hills have the ability to exploit those weaknesses, or if Manly will be able to learn to overcome it and find the win. Expect the Wolves to be too strong either way and should come away with a big win.

EAST COAST EAGLES vs. ST GEORGE DRAGONS
Saturday, August 17 @ 12:30pm
Gipps Road Ovals

The most predictable game of the weekend with no bearing on the ladder positioning is the top-against-bottom clash between East Coast and St George. The Eagles technically need any extra points to lock it in, but with an eight-point game and massive percentage to Parramatta, it would be highly unlikely the Eagles would be caught anyway.

In saying that, do not expect East Coast to take the foot off the pedal here, as the far cleaner, clinical and experienced side. St George as the league’s newest operation has competed hard each week, but the Eagles are on a different level at the moment.

The Dragons have the potential to keep the game even in patches, but lapses here and there consistently sees the opposition pile on goals in quick succession. Expect the same against the Eagles, with the Dragons able to hold them off in patches, but not able to contain them throughout the full match.

In what will be a tough final fortnight for the winless Dragons, they will learn a lot about the benchmark sides, and what it takes to get to the top of the league. They have two games remaining before being able to rest and reset for 2025.

East Coast might opt to rest or manage players for the game, or try out a series of different formations to have a few aces up the sleeve ahead of finals. It means the final margin might be a little more unpredictable, but expect the Eagles to win comfortably.