The Division Three competition looks very different from previous seasons with a number of new teams joining the division while Randwick City have been promoted to Division Two.
Penrith will be looking to go one better in 2015 after a runners-up finish in 2014. They would of been disappointed in how their season finished last year in the Grand Final with a 127 point loss to a dominant Randwick City. Randwick City were by far and away the best team last year so to make it to the Grand Final was a great effort. With a few big name inclusions into their Senior side, Penrith will once again be a forced to be reckoned with and would be one of the favourites to once again be there on Grand Final day.
After a good home and away season in 2014, Nor-West were bundled out in straight sets in the finals. The Jets will be aiming to challenge for the flag in 2015 and we rate them as a very good chance to do so. 2014 McFarlane Medallist David Clinch as well as the Johnston brothers who have Premier Division experience will be key to the Jets success. They may have lost a few key players including club stalwart Peter Kyle as well as the usual Defence Force movement but they are expected to be strong once again.
After winning the Division Four premiership in 2014, UTS have been promoted into Division Three and should continue their winning ways in this division. The side will include a mix of their Division Two side from last year who really struggled but this depth will ensure a competitive side. There are questions over the clubs depth in higher grades which will obviously play a big part in this sides chances.
Sydney University were the surprise packets in the finals series last year, coming from fifth spot to make the Preliminary Final. They always tend to come good at the business end of the season and they should again be there-abouts this year and challenge for the premiership. Being the clubs 4th Grade side, the Students position on the ladder at seasons end will be determined by their higher grades run with injuries.
East Coast have entered a Division Three side in 2015 which is part of a raft of changes at the club including their 2014 NEAFL side returning to the BLK AFL Sydney Premier Division competition. With strong numbers in their higher grades, and if their top two teams can keep their players on the field, this side will be hard to beat. A finish outside the top 5 would be a surprise at this stage of the year.
We expect Pennant Hills, Western Suburbs and UNSW/ES will all be in similar positions vying for a finals spot in 2015. They coincidently all have the same amount of teams in higher grades and will need these sides to avoid injuries to give them the best possible chance of making finals. However, if the season doesn’t go the way any of these clubs planned, they could be in a fight against relegation.
Gosford will be looking to improve on their five wins from 2014. After a couple of successful years prior, last season would have been disappointing for the side from the Central Coast. In saying this, most weeks they were more than competitive against the top sides but their last quarters did let them down. The Wildcats will need their key players to play well in most games to give them a chance of making finals which certainly isn’t out of their reach. Tim Eather will be the spearhead up forward who needs to kick regular bags to put scoreboard pressure on their opposition. If opposition teams can reduce his opportunities, the Wildcats may find 2015 another touch season.
After their Division One side won the premiership last year, the Balmain Tigers Division Three team will be looking to build on that success. After finishing last year in 8th place, the Tigers will need to improve their depth if they want to climb the ladder in 2015. Strong recruitment across the board will see more depth to this side and a rise up the ladder and a finals berth is certainly not out of their reach.
Predictions
1. Penrith
2. Nor-West
3. UTS
4. Sydney Uni
5. East Coast
6. Pennant Hills
7. Western Suburbs
8. UNSW/ES
9. Gosford
10. Balmain
Last Modified on 29/03/2015 16:48
