Mid Season Review – Women’s Premier Division
We have now passed the halfway mark of the 2019 season and below is a snapshot of where all of the Women’s Premier Division teams are at as finals approach.
The final four is almost set, unless Northern Districts can make a late surge, however there is next to nothing between the top four sides which makes for an exciting prospect come finals time. The Bulldogs sit on top with just the single defeat (Round 1) but 2nd, 3rd and 4th have only lost two games each and its purely percentage that is splitting them.
Bring on Finals!!!
Wollongong Bulldogs
1st – Played 8 – W7 L1: The Dogs Women are leading the way in the competition with outstanding wins against last year Grand Finalists in Bomaderry and the Lions. After a first round demolition at the hands of the Lions, the Dogs have turned their season around and are the benchmark now and will be very tough to hunt down in the back half of the season. The only club with a Women’s Reserve Grade side will be of great assistance to the Bulldogs in the back end of the season.
Both Natasha Staude and Ruby Freer have been amongst the best five times in the 5 games they have played this season. Impressive!
Captain Katie Gaskin sits in 2nd in the leagues goal kicking with 19 goals and we’ll certainly see recent recruit Luisa Marzotto up there too who has 10 goals so far.
Times in Best: Natasha Staude [5], Ruby Freer [5], Katie Gaskin [4]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Katie Gaskin [19], Kate Anderson [11], Luisa Marzotto [10]
Games to Watch: Round 12 vs. Kiama Power, 13th July, Bonaira Oval, Round 17 vs. Bomaderry Tigers, 17th August, Artie Smith Oval
Bomaderry Tigers
2nd – Played 8 – W6 L2: The leagues current Premiers find themselves in a position they haven’t been in before but it certainly won’t bother them in the slightest. Bomo will have put their 2 losses behind them and coach Geoff Gibbs knows that it is all about September and will have his team ready to go in the back half of the season as they look to hunt down the Bulldogs, who have taken the position they know best.
In Sophie Phillips absence (Rams/Allies), AFL South Coast Rep stars Bridget Kellett and Emma Dowse have been among the best for Bomaderry keeping them in a good position for their hunt. Katie Sargent with 9 goals sits on top of the teams goal kicking.
Times in Best: Bridget Kellett [5], Emma Dowse [4], Jess Liddiard [2]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Katie Sargent [9], Sophie Phillips [8], Lilly McDonald [4]
Games to Watch: Round 12 vs. Wollongong Lions, 13th July, North Dalton Park, Round 17 vs. Wollongong Bulldogs, 17th August, Artie Smith Oval
Kiama Power
3rd – Player – 8, W6 L2: The Power women have really found their feet this year to compete with the top 3 teams in the Women’s competition. Having succumbed to loses against a hardnosed Bulldogs team and the well drilled Bomaderry Tigers, this Power team defied the odds with a massive 23-point win over the Lions in round 7 away from home. Coach Glenn Haworth has certainly turned this Power team into a contender for the Women’s Premiership.
Alexandra Stronach and AFL newcomer Kelsey Wishart lead the way for the Power with the trio of Liz Hoctor, Brianna Dalgleish and Hannah O’Leary lead the teams goalkicking on 5 apiece.
Times in Best: Alexandra Stronach [4], Kelsey Wishart [4], Elizabeth Hoctor [3]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Brianna Dalgleish [5], Elizabeth Hoctor [5], Hannah O’Leary [5]
Games to Watch: Round 12 vs. Wollongong Bulldogs, 13th August, Bonaira Oval, Round 13 vs. Bomaderry Tigers, 20th August, Artie Smith Oval
Wollongong Lions
4th – Played 8 – W6 L2: Last year’s runners up have started the season moderately well but currently sit in 4th position purely on percentage. Their 2 defeats for the season have come against the Power and the Bulldogs but do have the scalp of last year’s Premiers in Bomaderry. Coming off a 93-point win against the Saints, two weeks ago, the Lions won a tight contest over 5th placed Northern Districts last week but the Lions will still need to improve on their form if they wish to beat the top teams.
2019 Women’s Rep Captain Jordan van de Voorde has been solid for the Lions down back as always with the Lions young brigade helping Jordan out and down the opposite end of the field, Lions new recruit Jacqueline Wilson has snagged 26 goals to lead the competition.
Times in Best: Jordan van de Voorde [5], Jacqueline Wilson [5], Ella Moate [4]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Jacqueline Wilson [26], Kelsey Clements [2], Hannah Mineham [2]
Games to Watch: Round 13 vs. Wollongong Bulldogs, 20th July, North Dalton Park, Round 18 vs. Bomaderry Tigers, 24th August, Artie Smith Oval
Northern Districts Tigers
5th – Played – W3 L6: The Tigers women had a narrow loss to the Power two weeks ago and were actually up at three quarter time against the Lions last week so are right in the mix despite their lack of wins to date. They’ve shown glimpses of what they’re capable of competing with some of the top teams. They will need a near flawless end of the season to make finals but have shown they are right in the mix against the top 4 so don’t count them out just yet!
Runner up in the 2018 Collier Medallist, Tina Siskoska shows her leadership on a weekly basis for the young Tigers with Rising Star nominee Olivia Cleal among the teams stand outs. The Tigers will need to start kicking a few more goals if they wish to make the finals, Ash Smith leads the way for them with 10 goals.
Times in Best: Olivia Cleal [6], Kristen Lee [6], Valentina Siskoska [6]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Ash Smith [10], Kristen Lee [6], Brianna Davies [3]
Games to Watch: Round 14 vs. Kiama Power, 27th July, Hollymount Park, Round 15 vs. Wollongong Lions, 3rd August, North Dalton Park (both do-or-die matches)
Shellharbour City Suns
Played 8 – W1 L7: The new kids on the block have had a few close games with some of the top teams in the competition and have brought a physical game to the Women’s comp. Earning a very nice first ever win over the Saints, the Suns will be looking to add some more games to that Win column at the back end of the season. Despite the single win to date, the Suns have proved they are up to the top level of competition and will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in future years.
Haylee McDonell has been a solid player for the Suns so far along with speedster Tyler Finn. Shellee Gibson leads the teams goal kicking with 5 followed by young gun Cailah Bell with 4 snags.
Times in Best: Haylee McDonell [4], Tyler Finn [3], Cherise Lomas [2]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Shellee Gibson [5], Cailah Bell [4], Haylee McDonell [3]
Games to Watch: Round 12 vs. Wollongong Saints, 13th July, Myimbarr Oval, Round 18 vs. Northern Districts Tigers, 24th August, Hollymount Park
Wollongong Saints
7th – Played 9 – W0 L9: The Wollongong Saints are yet to notch up a win in the 2019 season, currently sitting bottom of the Women’s Premier Division ladder. Having lost convincingly to all teams, the Saints will be eyeing this weekends clash against Shellharbour as an opportunity to chalk up that first win of the year.
This is essentially the Saints Reserve Grade side with their best competing in Sydney, however with likely player changes in 2020 they will soon be a force to be reckoned with which will be fantastic for the competition and region.
Rebecca Howe and Chelsea Smith continue to put their best foot forward for the Saints while Paige Allen and Courtney Moon lead the team’s goal kicking with 1 goal each.
Times in Best: Rebecca Howe [4], Chelsea Smith [3], Jay Gehrels [2]
Top 3 Goalkickers: Courtney Moon [1], Paige Allen [1]
Games to Watch: Round 12 vs. Shellharbour City Suns, 13th July, Myimbarr Oval, Round 17 vs. Northern Districts Tigers, 17th August, TBA
The South Coast Seagulls Grand Final Prediction
A 2018 re-match – Bomaderry Tigers v Wollongong Lions
Keep up-to-date with all AFL South Coast related news by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
