Sydney University Australian Rules Club has the chance of claiming three flags on Saturday week, with First Grade, Reserve Grade and the Under 18 Premier Cup teams winning their major semi-finals on Saturday and earning immediate grand final berths.
Having claimed the minor premiership in the Sydney AFL Premier Division, Sydney University Firsts moved a step closer to the flag with a 13-point win over Western Suburbs in their major semi-final at Bruce Purser Reserve on Saturday.
The Students kicked 14.10 (94) to Western Suburbs 12.9 (81), with Mark Egan bagging four goals, while Alexander Lee and Benjamin Mankarious each kicked two. The team finished the competition proper with the club’s best ever home-and-away record of 16-2, and the semi-final triumph made it 15 straight wins at the end of the season.
Sydney University will meet the winner of Saturday’s final between Western Suburbs and East Coast Eagles at Blacktown Olympic Stadium on September 18 in a bid for their first flag since 1992 when Ron Carter and Brett Scott led the First Grade to a premiership (18.16: 124 to 8.11: 59 over North Shore) and the Club of the Year award.
The club’s inaugural First Grade premiership was in 1969 when Rodney Tubbs captain-coached First Grade to a NSW AFL title with a win over St George after they had disposed of Newtown and Western Suburbs in the minor semi-final and the final.
Sydney University’s Reserve Grade also moved closer to a premiership with a comfortable 55-point win over UTS in their major semi-final on Saturday.
Chris Walsh kicked five goals and Nicholas Lye collected three in the 13.6 (84) to 4.5 (29) win at Bruce Purser Reserve.
The Students will meet the winner of Saturday’s final between Manly-Warringah and UTS.
Sydney University’s Under 18 team won through to the Grand Final with a 37-point win over East Coast Eagles.
Thomas Aitken kicked three goals in the Students’ 11.16 (82) to 7.5 (45) major semi-final win. They will meet the winner of Saturday’s final between North Shore and East Coast Eagles.
Despite their domination of the Premier Division, Sydney University finished third on the Club Championship ladder which was headed by UTS – for the third year in a row – ahead of Western Suburbs. The Club Championship award is presented to the club with the best on-field performance across their top three teams in any division – with six points awarded for each Senior team win; four points for each Reserves team win; and two points for each Under 18’s/Thirds team win.
The Grand Finals will be played at Blacktown Olympic Stadium on Saturday, September 18, with Under 18s kicking off at 9.30am, Reserve Grade at 11.45am and First Grade at 2.30pm.
