Uncategorised

Premierships come in six-year cycles for Sydney University’s women’s Division One AFL team, and that proved to be the case again this year.

The minor premiers met arch-rivals Balmain Dockers in the season decider for the third year in a row and came away with a 7.9: 51 to 3.7: 25 win atBlacktown International Sports Park on Saturday. They also won the flag in 2001 and 2007.

The Bombers led at every break in a comprehensive display, backing up their 27-point win over UNSW-Easts in the major semi-final. The win culminated a 15-game winning streak that began on May 18.

Adriane Garland, Stephanie Walker, Aoife McDonnell, Meredith Gray, Lara Creber, Emma Yuen and Libby Sadler kicked majors for the Students, while Balmain’s three goals came from Belinda Pride (2) and Roxy McGee.

Sydney University had solid performers across the park, with  Jennifer Lew, Stacey Lancaster, Lara Creber, Rachael Stack, Meredith Gray, Belinda Michalk among the stand-outs.

“We were looking forward to playing our best football,” vice-captain and NSW State player Lara Creber said. “As the season has progressed we have gone from strength to strength.”

Sydney University conceded 237 points in 14 games on their way to the minor premiership, with club president Ash Morgan kicking 30 goals. Morgan was ably assisted by a diversely skilled roster, with new players coming from a variety of sports including touch footy, rugby, Gaelic football and basketball.

First-year coach Yucel Celenk said the mix of athletic rookies and talented veterans was just right to set Sydney University on course for the 2013 flag.

“We have seven girls in the team who had never played AFL before this year, and they were all big contributors to our success,” he said. “We’ve prepared very and were quietly confident that we could achieve the (minor and major premiership) double.”

Captain Belinda Michalk said Sydney University had shown the brand of football they could deliver when they restricted UNSW-Easts to just three goals in the major semi-final and then repeated the effort in the grand final.

She said she was glad to have the opportunity to win the flag in front of a fantastic support base of volunteers, friends and family.

Scoreboard

Division One: Sydney University 7.9: 51 (Adriane Garland, Stephanie Walker, Aoife McDonnell, Meredith Gray, Lara Creber, Emma Yuen, Libby Sadler) d Balmain Dockers 3.7: 25 (Belinda Pride 2, Roxy McGee) at Blacktown International Sports Park.

Best players

Sydney University: Jennifer Lew, Stacey Lancaster, Lara Creber, Rachael Stack, Meredith Gray, Belinda Michalk.

Balmain Dockers: Belinda Parkin, Jackie Buckthought, Hayley Warren, Belinda Pride, Melissa Fuller, Shelley Bates.

Menu