A seven-goal first quarter from Sydney University paved the way for a 91-point win over North Shore in their Sydney AFL Premier League semi-final at Blacktown Olympic Park on Saturday.
Adam Campbell kicked five of Sydney University’s goals in the 24.11 (155) to 10.4 (64) disposal of North Shore. Sydney University will now meet Balmain in the final this Sunday to determine who will contest the Grand Final against East Coast at Blacktown on Saturday, September 17.
East Coast booked their fourth Grand Final berth in as many years with a three-goal win over Balmain in the qualifying final at North Dalton Park on Saturday. East Coast accounted for Sydney University in the 2010 decider.
As the scoreline suggests, Sydney University were dominant early against North Shore on Saturday, with four of the first seven goals coming from the boot of Adam McConnochie, who was returning to Premier Division after a long-term injury.
McConnochie started in the forward line and had a similar impact when moved in the midfield in the second-half.
Sydney University gradually increased their lead in the second and third quarters before kicking nine majors in the final term to blow the margin out. They were well served by Tom Elkington in the ruck and Campbell, who has overcome a knee injury in a timely return.
Sydney University bowed out of Division One after going down to Southern Power by 11 points in their preliminary final, while Sydney University’s Division Three side moved through to a preliminary final match against UTS.
Scoreboard
Premier Division semi-final: Sydney University 24.11: 155 (Adam Campbell 5, Adam McConnochie 4, Tim Barrett 4, Sam Crichton 4, Joshua Cole 2, Craig Moller 2, Anton Turco, Matthew Clarke, Tom Elkington) d North Shore 10.4: 64 (Patrick Brackin 3, Ben Attwood 2, Daniel Roberts, Lachlan Pryor, Brendan Fitzgerald, Teddy Strudwick, Lachlan Clancy) at Blacktown Olympic Park.
Best players:
Sydney University: Matthew Clarke, Adam McConnochie, Sam Crichton, Adam Campbell, Tom Elkington, Nicholas Lye.
North Shore: Patrick Brackin, Joshua Terrey, Ben Attwood, Adrian Harry, Seb Paynter, Brendan Fitzgerald.
Sydney University to meet Balmain in preliminary final at Blacktown Olympic Park at 3.10pm on Sunday, September 11.
Division One semi-final: Macquarie University 10.14: 74 (Stephen Brooks 3, Brett Harland 2, Cameron Ludowyke, Eric Moody, Andre Sliwka, Sam Simpson, James Coburn) d Sydney University 9.9: 63 (Rohan MacPherson 3, Thomas Aitken, Leigh McWhirter, Chris Walsh, Patrick Coghlan, Samuel Orton, Aron Everett).
Division Three semi-final: Sydney University 11.17: 83 (Jack Walker 2, Stephen Lloyd 2, Anthony Herring 2, Paul Ioakim, Harrison Rowe, Atticus Saunders, Charles Allworth, Mark Horsley) d Southern Power 6.11: 47 (Lyndon Hall 4, Ben Jansson 2). Sydney University to meet UTS in preliminary final at Blacktown Olympic Park at 9am on Sunday, September 11.
