Round 6: Where Marks Were Made...and Beers Were Not Safe

As we start the homeward stretch of the 2025 regular season, I headed off for another long trip round the M25 and up to Oliver Tambo Recreation Ground, home of the North London Lions, for three games. A double header saw the Lions take on the West London Wildcats in the Women's Conference and the Men's Premiership, whilst sandwiched in between was the Men's Socials clash between the Lions and the London Swans.

The opening game of the day saw the Lions and Wildcats women face off in the Women's Conference, and it was a blistering start by the home side who with the win at their backs in the first quarter raced into an early lead courtesy of a triple from the impressive Sarah Marschke, and only good defending from the Wildcats, with Maddie Inskipp stopping a certain goal with a desperate last gasp toe poke between two converging Lions keeping the score line respectable and the Lions led 3.5.23 to 0.0.0 at quarter time.

With the wind at their backs in the second period, the Wildcats were able to settle into the game and as such it was a much closer contest, albeit with the Lions still having much the better of things. An early behind by 21 got the Wildcats on the board, but Amy Pattison scored for the Lions to give them a 4.6.30 to 0.1.1 lead at the big break.

Ella Hale struck early in the third quarter for the Lions, and then great link up between Cherry Halfyard and Hannah Yeates ended with a neat finish from a tight angle by Yeates, and shortly after it was Pattison with a huge wind assisted effort the rounded off the scoring in the third quarter, the Lions going in 7.11.53 to 0.1.1 up.

Credit to the Wildcats though as they showed plenty of spirit throughout the game and a fabulous weaving run and finish by 5 gave them a well deserved goal. It was the Lions though who ended strongly, a great mark by Marschke saw her set up Maria Jonsson who scored from close range and a spectacular outside of the right boot effort by Pattison, her fourth of the day, finished off the scoring. The Lions running out 9.11.65 to 1.1.7 victors and maintain their 100% record and they sit top of the ladder.

Moving onto the second game, and it was the Men's Socials clash, which saw the London Swans make the short trip across north London looking to maintain their strong start to the season, and it was the visitors who struck through Richard Doyle very early in the piece to give them an early lead. However, with the wind at their backs the Lions started to get on top, and goals from the bandana wearing Frank Murphy and another from Matthew Quinn saw the hosts take a 2.3.15 to 1.0.6 lead into the first quarter break.

Once again the fierce wind blowing down the ground was to have a huge bearing on proceedings and allowed the Swans to first level and then stretch away, whilst holding their opponents to zero. A spectacular long range effort from Marko Milojevic bought the Swans back into the game, before Jake Peachey put them ahead, and a huge wind assisted set shot from Jason Riseley took them into the half time break with a 4.4.28 to 2.3.15 lead.

The third quarter saw very little in the way of scoring opportunities, the Lions pushed to get back into the game but without going close, whilst the Swans seemed content to soak up the pressure going into the wind, and in fact it was the Swans who struck the only goal of the quarter when a lofted ball into the 50 dropped into the arms of Patrick Mullane who converted to take the Swans into the final period with a 20 point lead - 5.5.35 to 2.3.15

Aidan Rogers gave the Lions some hope of getting back into the game with a goal early in the final quarter, but the Swans proved too strong and further goals from Peachey from a set shot and Milojevic, cutting inside his man and firing home from just inside the 50 gave the final result of Swans 7.9.51 Lions 3.3.21.

Finally, and it was the big one, with the Lions and Wildcats clashing in the Men's Premiership. The Lions had won the previous encounter on the opening day of the season, whilst the Cats were looking for their first win, after three defeats. The Lions effectively took the game away from the Wildcats after a stunning first quarter which saw them rack up 41 unanswered points.

Daniel Leggett opened the scoring, capitalising on a loose ball after a superb challenge by Wildcats defender had stopped the first effort, and after the Lions had pinned Zachary Hanson for the Cats, the outstanding Judah Edmunds converted with a set shot, and shortly after it was another set shot, this time from Joshua Richmond from right on the 50 that just cleared the line before it was touched. Leggett scored again from distance and after huge pressure from the Lions Alexander Hunt was able to capitalise on a defensive mistake to score. The end of the first quarter saw the Lions with a 6.5.41 to 0.0.0 lead.

The Wildcats struck early in the second quarter and after a weaving run by Matthew Djordjevic, a great pickup by Jordan Rouse saw him convert and get the Cats on the board. There was a quick response from the Lions and after a stunning side step, which had all in attendance going the wrong way, Alexander Hunt struck home for the hosts. The Wildcats scored again late on in the half through their tireless Sam Threlfall, but it left them trailing at the big break 7.8.50 to 2.2.14.

In Edmunds the Lions had the outstanding player on show, and he was dominating proceedings in the third quarter, including a remarkable handpass whilst hurdling a fallen teammate and was a constant thorn in the Wildcats paw. Daniel Beddison scored with a set shot early in the piece, with Billy Clark crashing a set shot home from the 50. Edmunds fired home from outside the 50 after a great handoff by the temporarily mummified Cameron Taggert and the goals for the quarter ended when Rhys Evans picked out Richmond, who rose like a salmon to take a fabulous mark and convert from just inside the 50. At the end of the quarter the Lions led 11.14.80 to 2.2.14

To their credit the Wildcats showed what they are capable of in the final quarter, first up Wildcats debutant Thomas Lodber (great story btw, played a couple of games on a gap year in Australia, enjoyed it so much that on return he found a club and travelled down from Milton Keynes to play for the Cats) fired home from distance, and shortly after neat link up between Jack Eastwood and Isaac Sueren led to Sueren converting. Joshua Dawe then scored for the Wildcats as they restored some pride in what had been a difficult outing for them. Scoring was completed late on when Ryan Flick scored for the Lions, to bring the curtain down on an outstanding home performance and a 12.17.89 to 5.7.37 win.

Elsewhere, there were games at Chiswick (where the Wimbledon Hawks were playing), Sussex (where the Swans hosted the Wildcats in the Women's Premiership and the Ealing Emus in the Mens Social) and at Reading (where the Roos hosted the South East London Giants).

Lets start at Reading, where Maz Graham provided this fabulous account of their day:

What a scorcher of a showdown we had at Kingsmeadow! Reading came out swinging, landing an early lead that had the Giants blinking like they’d just sniffed a wasabi sandwich. But our mighty Giants, despite kicking like they’d just borrowed someone else's legs, managed to claw their way ahead and actually hold the lead to the final whistle. Miracles do happen.

Now, sure, there were a few heart-in-mouth moments – a couple of missed goals from kissing-distance, a suspicious breeze interfering (we swear), and some "unique" marking attempts. The Giants kept their cool, their composure, and their grip on the scoreboard (if not the ball).

But let’s be honest, the real gladiator battle of the day? The legendary Slip n Slide Boat Race. Think Olympic relay meets soggy chaos. The Giants were cruising to certain victory – beer in hand, belly on tarp, wind in their mullets – until our final slider channelled his inner bowling ball, slid clean off the grass, and tragically body-slammed his own beer. The crowd gasped. The cup toppled. Reading took the win. A Shakespearean tragedy in slow-motion.

Hats off to Reading though – top-tier hosts as always. There was a BBQ that could’ve turned vegetarians, Lamingtons that defied gravity, and enough sweet treats to make a dentist weep. All the fun, food, and laughter were in support of a brilliant cause – raising money for MND. Legends.

Until next time, keep sliding (on purpose), keep sipping (carefully), and keep your beers on stable ground.

Photo Credit: South East London Giants @southeastlondongiants

Over at Dukes Meadow, where the Wimbledon Hawks had decamped to for the weekend after ongoing pitch issues, there were three games as the Hawks hosted the Wandsworth Demons. the opening game of the day saw the Dees maintain their unbeaten start to the season against the Aubergine Machine, as they eased to a 10.10.70 to 1.4.10 win, and keep themselves top of the pile. For the reformed Hawks it is still just the one win this season.

The second game of the day was a thriller as the Hawks outlasted the Demons in the Men's Conference, picking up an 8.5.53 to 5.10.40 win, and handing the Dees their first defeat of the campaign. Both sides now have eight points and the Conference is looking to be a tightly contested competition this season.

Last up was the Women's Conference where the outstanding Hawks side put their Wandsworth opponents to the sword, with an 11.10.76 to 0.2.2 win. The result keeps the Hawks hot on the heels of the Lions at the top of the table, and remarkably, after three games they have yet to give up a goal, conceding just five behinds.

Finally in todays round up, a trip to sunny Sussex. The opening game of a double header saw the Women's Premiership, and after a tricky start the Wildcats are slowly clicking into gear, and were too strong for a winless Swans, and eased to a 7.9.51 to 0.1.1 win

The final game of the weekend was a low scoring thriller in the Men's Social, where a topsy turvy clash saw the Swans just about down the Ealing Emus, coming out on top 3.8.26 to 3.5.23

So that's a wrap on another fantastic week of AFL London footy. Big thanks to the Lions for their hospitality, always good to catch up with Mitch, and the rest of the guys were superb and really looked after me (not that I would expect anything less - its the same wherever I go).

Bring on Round 7!

Photo Credit: Rachel King Photography @rachelkingphotography