Finals gaining momentum in NSW and the ACT
This week, the Play On podcast spoke to four league managers across AFL Sydney, AFL Sydney Juniors, AFL South Coast and AFL Canberra.
With some competitions deep into the finals and others just beginning, the Play On crew looks into the finals and notes some of the season’s great stories.
AFL Sydney Juniors
League manager, Steph Glanville Fyfe, is proud to have guided a full season of Sydney Juniors in 2022. The three standout clubs are Maroubra Saints, Manly Bombers and East Sydney Bulldogs with each of these organisations fielding 12 sides in finals – incredible. Just shading them is Glebe, which has 11 teams playing finals.
Penrith Giants deserves a mention too, as each of its five sides which played for points in 2022 will compete in finals.
AFL Sydney
The heat has been on in AFL Sydney this season, ever since Round 1 kicked off under lights at Henson Park.
There’s been plenty of quality footy, but Greater Sydney’s Football Manager, Sam Zikman, thinks the Pride Round run by Newtown Breakaways was a season highlight.
The Premier Women’s competition is deep in finals and Manly Warringah is looking strong. In Premier Men’s, UNSW has been a power house all year and have one hand on the Premiership.
AFL Canberra
Community competition grand finals kick off this weekend, with First Grade played on 27 August.
He’s excited about crowning premiers, but league manager, Firas Shahin, has had a great season 2022, enjoying Sir Doug Nicholls Road, Sock it to MND round, RUOK Round and, of course, the inaugural First Grade Pride Round, featuring Ainslie and Eastlake.
AFL South Coast
League manager, Mitch Wallis, is immensely proud of how clubs have soldiered on in 2022, despite senior grades only playing 51 per cent of scheduled matches thanks to (really really) wet weather.
Special mention goes to Northern Districts Tigers’ Premier men’s side, which will play finals after being 1-8 in 2021.
As for tips, it’s a toss of a coin for Premier men’s and women’s competition…so let’s say Wollongong Bulldogs for the women, Figtree Kangaroos for the men.
