AFL Sydney Premier Women’s Season Preview: Every club previewed ahead of 2025 season
Revenge isn’t on the minds of grand finalists Manly-Warringah, while UNSW-ES has picked up an ex-AFLW star to spearhead their revival. AFL Sydney Premier Women’s Season Preview.
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The AFL Sydney Premier Women’s division returns to action on Saturday 29 March with nine teams to battle it out.
The East Coast Eagles enter the season as the three-time defending champions, however competition will be at its best as other teams try to knock them off their perch.
We take a look at all teams in the lead-up to the new season with our progressive season previews, starting with the UNSW-ES Bulldogs and Manly-Warringah Wolves.
UNSW-ES BULLDOGS
Captain: TBA
Coach: Tom Williamson
Last season: 7th (4-12)
New recruits: Aimee Whelan (Swans AFLW)
Why they will be competitive: An investment and continued growth of their youthful players will be key to them continuing to climb the ladder.
They showed signs of promise last year and look like a team on the up with improvements in their roster across the board.
“It’s our improved depth across the programs,” president Iain Dunstan said.
“Paul Roos said if you look at the bottom six of each club it tells them where they are. Our bottom six will be much stronger.
“Our depth is pleasing.”
Numbers are on the up within the Bulldogs and on the back of strong seasons from the likes of Emma Haley and Emily-Summer Hawes,
“We have strong U20s coming through. There’s a lot of young girls coming through and we have really good numbers again,” he said.
“Women’s Aussie rules is changing. If you go back 10 years most would come from soccer and netball. Now most have played their whole lives.
“Two of our top three in the best and fairest last year were just 15 and 16 years old.
The addition of former Swan in Whelan
“She’ll step into a broader role than just player,” Dunstan said.
“Aimee will help out with coaching as well. She’s a great leader for the women’s program and we expect them to be stronger again.”
Players to watch: Emma Haley is still in her early teenage years but has already made a big impression within the Bulldogs unit. She can play anywhere on the field but is best suited in the midfield or using her abundance of speed on the wing.
MANLY-WARRINGAH WOLVES
Captain: Ashleigh Carter
Coach: Peter Robertson
Last season: Grand finalists (11-5)
Key recruits: Chloe Davis, Stephanie Wilkins and Jenna Whitehand (Parramatta Goannas)
Why they will be competitive: They went awfully close to winning the title last year and were the only team to defeat the East Coast Eagles throughout the regular season and finals, but just fell short in the decider.
“Our pre-season has been good and the girls have been well committed,” coach Robertson said.
“We had a large representation in the U22s team and those players did well. Everyone is training well and we’re looking forward to the beginning of the season.
“We had such a young team last year. Our focus is on progressing each player on their road to becoming a better senior footy player.
“Some showed great improvement and we can only hope that keeps going.”
Manly played one of the more attacking brands of football in the division last season and Robertson has no plans to change that.
“We like to teach the girls to actually play football and not play overly defensive,” he said.
“They’ve embraced that. They like to move the ball quickly.
“In our grand final team we had 17 players with two years or less of senior experience. That’s really exciting for me.
“There’s a lot to like when we put in a good effort.”
Players to watch: The talent and experience of Hannah Woolf, Ash Carter, Kenya Fahey and Zara Hamilton puts the Wolves in good stead once again to compete with the best. Hamilton has spent the pre-season training with the Swans in AFLW after being drafted by the Giants a few years ago. Fahey is still in her infant years in the sport but was one of the most impressive young players on their roster last season.
Originally published as AFL Sydney Premier Women’s Season Preview: Every club previewed ahead of 2025 season
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