From Extra Time Epics to Four-Peat Feats

Chiswick Rugby Club, home to the West London Wildcats provided the bookends for the 2025 season for me, starting the photography journey at the Womens 9's in April but also for Round 1 of the regular season. Fast forward to August and it was Chiswick that was the venue for the Grand Finals.

Supporters, despite some iffy train services flocked to the ground ready for a day of cut and thrust action, with the Wandsworth Demons, North London Lions, Wimbledon Hawks, London Swans and the hosts the West London Wildcats all in action. It was also great to see representatives from every club in the league in attendance - even if they did not have teams playing.

Opening the day were the Wandsworth Demons and the London Swans in the Mens Socials. The Dees had finished top of the pile in the regular season, but only ahead of the Swans by percentage. The Demons were out of the traps like lightning and struck two early goals before the Swans had got going. First up Danny Radis marked wide on the right, and his shot at goal was marked close in by Liam Dove who converted from close range, and shortly after Lachie Shep gathered a Swans clearance and his swirling left footed effort on the run extended the lead to 2.0.12 to 0.0.0 by the end of the first quarter.

The Swans were back in the game early in the second quarter when a ball into the 50 was flicked back across the face of the posts by Zac Hancock into the path of Toby Sanderson and he converted unopposed from close range. The Swans continued to hold the upper hand and several behinds pulled them closer to the Demons but it looked as though their efforts would see them still trail at the break, fate though dealt another hand. A ball into the 50 was flicked backwards by a Demon into Hancocks hands and his remarkable overhead kick gave the Swans a half time lead 2.3.15 to 2.0.12.

After a brief delay following a nasty looking injury to Sam Bebendorf, and we all wish the Demon well, the Swans stretched their lead. Callum Jepp found himself marched forward twice to have an unopposed finish from close range, and the wheels were wobbling on the Dees hopes. Clearly though there are some mechanics in the Demons side and after a spell of pressure where the wheels seemed to have been locked in position, the Swans were pinged for holding and Dove converted to drag the Demons back into the game and we headed to the last quarter with the Swans 3.4.22 to 3.0.18 ahead.

A minor score stretched the lead but after Marko Milojevic was pulled for a high shot, Harrison Pearce converted and the Dees led with time running out. The Swans dug deep for one final push and with 90 seconds on the clock a minor score levelled things up at 24 points apiece and we were heading for extra time.

There was nothing to trouble the scoreboard in the first period but with a couple of minutes remaining in the second period Izaac Smith struck what would be the winning goal from a tight angle and the Dees had won 5.0.30 to 3.4.24. Demon James Lynne picked up Best on Ground.

Game 2 was the much anticipated clash in the Womens Conference between the unbeaten Wimbledon Hawks and their closest challengers the North London Lions. The Hawkettes had seen off the Lions in the Qualifying Final, but the Lions had star forwards Sarah Marschke and Amy Pattison (two of the leading goalkickers in the division back). The Hawks though conceded just three goals on their way to the final, so knew the tight defence would hold the key.

As it turned out the were off to a flier, only two minutes in and the rucking of Laila Lappin saw her win the contest, gather the ball and convert from the right hand edge of the 50, to give the Hawkettes the perfect start. The Lions prompted by the tireless running and playmaking of Cherry Halfyard were growing into the game, but it was the Hawkettes who struck again. A high tackle on Mel Hogg saw the Hawkettes captain-coach convert from in front of the posts to stretch their lead to 2.1.13 to 0.0.0 at the first quarter break.

A highly competitive and tense second quarter followed, with neither side able to pry open a clear cut opportunity, but the Lions did get themselves on the board with a couple of minor scores and the sides went in at the big break with the Hawkettes 2.1.13 to 0.2.2 ahead.

The third quarter saw the Hawkettes turn the screw and put the Lions well and truly on the back foot. A behind saw the lead extended to 12 points, and with just over five minutes remaining in the quarter Gabby O'Connor won a foul for holding, and from a tight angle fire between the posts to put the Hawkettes 21 points clear at the end of the third quarter 3.5.23 to 0.2.2.

Going into the final quarter and the Lions needed to better the number of goals the Hawkettes had conceded all season to get back into the contest, a tough ask if ever there was one. The Lions though are a resilient bunch and bar the Hawkettes had swept all before them, with plenty of goals - through the previously mentioned Marschke and Pattison - in the locker. Their efforts were rewarded with ten minutes remaining, a Marschke set shot from the edge of the 50 dropped short, and after a ball up, the ball dropped to Meg Caudoro who bought the Lions back into the game. The Lions continued to throw the kitchen sink at the Hawkettes with Halfyard, Sam Grozotis and Lucinda Lloyd Jones all shining, but the defence was holding firm, despite their best efforts.

As the siren went, the Hawkettes completed an unbeaten season and were deserved Conference winners, coming out on top 3.5.23 to 1.2.8. Skipper Mel Hogg picked up a deserved Best on Ground.

There was little time to rest for Hawks supporters as the Men now faced the unenviable task of trying to stop the outstanding London Swans from claiming the flag in the Mens Conference. There was little doubt the Swans would go into the game as overwhelming favourites and were the class act in the division. Would the Hawks be able to stop star forward Fergus Lappin, or would the Swan, even on one leg continue his outstanding goalscoring form.

The First Quarter set the scene and the Swans were quick out of the blocks, and opened the scoring inside two minutes, a hooked shot across the face of goal by Pat Martin was gathered by Lappin who converted from close range, and on seven minutes Jesse Dench intercepted a Nick Raso clearance, quickly transferred the ball to Harry Pitts and his mark and handpass set up Joel Dale who gave the Swans breathing space. A third goal from a set shot from the 50 by Pat Martin stretched the lead and we went in at the break with the Swans 3.7.25 to 0.1.1 ahead.

The Hawks though are one of the most resilient sides I have seen this season, and when they get the momentum behind them they are hard to stop. After several minor scores they got their first goal, Billy Glasgow show a deft touch to gather and find Billy O'Loughlin and his darting run and finish gave them some hope. When Mitchell Bloomfield launched a ball into the 50 and the Swans were pinged for holding, Bronson Gleye converted the shot and the Hawks were back in it, albeit trailing 3.9.27 to 2.6.18.

The Swans settled and extended their lead on the back of a couple of minor points, before great pressure on their backline and a couple of huge hits by Jeremy Dobson led to a panic in the Swans defence and after Jacob Wheelahan had smothered an attempted clearance, he regained possession to fire the Hawks back into the game. That though was as good as it got for the Hawks, the Swans, like a well oiled machine, went through the gears and two more goals stretched them away from the Hawks. Firstly a great mark from Tom Norris saw him pick out the Swans ruckman Marcus Gardner who marked and converted from in front of the sticks. Shortly before the interval Fergus was lapping up the space (see what I did there), taking a mark and converting with pin point accuracy from the 50 to send the Swans in at the break 5.14.44 to 3.6.24 ahead.

The Hawks never give up, but the Swans ended in the ascendancy, a great pick up and finish on the run by Blake McCulloch, and a set shot by Darcy Johnstone wrapping up the win - 7.15.57 to 3.6.24. No shock in Fergus Lappin being named Best on Ground - finishing of the highest quality.

Worthy winners, and as said the class act in the division, should they be moved to the Premier Division they will be a welcome addition and will cause a few surprises. For the Hawks a tremendous season, but probably a game too far, after the emotions of the Preliminary Final.

The penultimate game of the day saw the Wandsworth Demons looking to record back to back to back wins, a threepeat if you will, of Mens Premiership wins. Looking to stop them were the North London Lions.

The Demons were in no mood to relinquish their crown and started positively and a bright start saw them strike first on four minutes after a ball into the 50 wasn't dealt with by the Lions defence and Sam Callard fired left footed between the uprights. Eight minutes into the contest and the Dees increased their lead, with a somewhat scrappy effort - a bobbly ball along the sideline was forced home off the ground by Joel Comito and the Dees quest was well on the way.

For the Lions, Judah Edmunds was always dangerous, but was being forced back in search of possession whilst Lachie Treverton was getting some joy in the rucks, but the positives for them were few and far between, and the Dees continued to have their foot on the gas and when Chris Diggle found Brayden Irving on the 50 with just over five minutes of the quarter to play, the Dees skipper converted to increase the lead to 3.2.20 to 0.1.1 at the end of the quarter.

The Demons continued to dominate proceedings and early in the second quarter a grubber from Cai Andrew increased the Dees lead, and minutes later Lincoln Wong was caught high inside the 50 and converted from close range. The Lions did pick up a minor score, but for the most part it was all the Demons and a set shot by Irving was marked at the back post by Callard, who converted from a very tight angle for another goal. Treverton and Edmunds were still trying to get the Lions going, along with the willing running of Tom Cummins, Cody Chapman and Thomas Fraser but despite their best efforts it was the Demons who struck again. Neat work by Brydon Barnett saw him find Blake Grewar who converted with a couple remaining in the half and the Demons led 7.4.46 to 0.3.3 at the big break.

The Lions finally got on the board early in the second half. Having withstood a spell of Demons pressure, the ball found its way out to Conor Higgins and he got the Lions on the board with a fabulous finish from out wide. That merely served to poke the bear, and a quickfire couple from Grewar and Irving stretched the Demons lead. Treverton was marched forward after a Demon indiscretion to put another on the board for the Lions, and a great ball by Fraser Allen fizzed into Daniel Leggett who scored, quickly followed by Edmunds as the Lions threatened an unlikely comeback. Angus Robertson scored a tremendous effort on the turn for the Demons as they reasserted dominance and almost immediately and with time running out Tobias Lawler escaped down the left wing, cut inside to score and the Demons led 11.8.74 to 4.4.28.

In the opening seconds of the quarter Grewar found Irving and he scored from close range to increase the Demons lead, but the Lions were on for their best quarter of the day. Nicholas Morris did well to find Fraser who scored on the run. Back at the other end and two successive goals pulled the Demons further clear, Callard found Kyle Cooper who scored on the run, and great work between Andrew and Oliver Lewey set up Callard and the Dees were in again.

Treverton did superbly to set up Fraser who scored on the run, and a great mark by Lewis White saw him find Tom Maslen who jinked passed a couple of players and scored, and the scoring was completed by Billy Clark late on with a shot from distance for the Lions. The Demons though were too strong on the day and coped with the pressures of a Grand Final better than the younger Lions side, and were thoroughly deserving winners, coming out on top by 14.10.94 to 8.7.55. Brayden Irving picked up Best on Ground.

Our final game of the 2025 season, tie-ing in with the 10 year anniversary of womens footy in the UK was the Womens Premiership final between the West London Wildcats and the Wandsworth Demons. The Cats women were looking to go one better than the Demons men, and record a remarkable back-to-back-to-back-to-back or foursome of consecutive trophies.

After the high scoring nature of the previous game, this was a much tighter affair with the Demons taking a 0.1.1 to 0.0.0 lead in at the end of the first quarter, despite the Wildcats having shaded the territory.

The Wildcats continued to push in the second quarter and a set shot from Paris Ackland put them ahead, and they increased their lead through a long range effort from Caroline Condon. An indiscretion by Amanda Gavin saw the Demons marched forward 50 and the outstanding Adele Arnup struck the Dees only goal, but neither side could get the big points again and we went in at the big break with the Wildcats holding a 2.2.14 to 1.1.7 lead.

Whilst the goals were not flying in, the defending from both sides had to be commended, time and again bodies were put on the line, tackles won, clearances made and rucks well contested with the Demons doing well to contain the excellent Jess Cottrell. In the third quarter it was the Wildcats who notched the only point, and took us into the final period with them holding a 2.3.15 to 1.1.7 lead.

The Demons notched a minor early in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats just kept plugging away, adding a succession of minor points, and eventually taking the game out of the Demons reach. The full time siren sounded with the Cats achieving a remarkable fourth straight title, courtesy of a 2.8.20 to 1.2.8 win.

Young Brit, Saffy Lewis-Collymore of the Demons, in only her fifth game of AFL was a well deserved winner of the Best on Ground, our one and only player to pick up the award in a losing effort. Well done Saffy.

And thats a wrap, the curtain has dropped on the 2025 season. I hope you have all enjoyed reading the ramblings of a Brit with a camera. Look forward to rocking up at a ground near you next season.