Round eight saw four wins for the Kelmscott Bulldogs as the League heads to its mid-season bye.
For just the second time this season, the Kelmscott Reserves achieved a well-deserved win against North Mandurah.
There was a hunger for the scoreboard when Billy Westcott scored the team’s first goal of the game in an uplifting run from the midfield, snapping it just inside the 50.
North Mandurah held the lead at quarter time, with just one goal up on the Bulldogs. Undeterred, the Kelmscott midfield welcomed the inclusion of Mick Anderson who provided a strong link across the centre, getting the majority of football and kicking his goal.
Each ball-up, young ruckman Malakye Hansen dominated the clearance to his fellow midfielders, with Hiroshi Masatora repeatedly snatching and clearing the ball forward, and Robert Turner cutting off the opposition’s advances.
Wingman Brayden Davies and Speed Machine Brendan Sleath gathered both the contested and loose footballs and drove them straight into the hands of the dominating forwards, with Calvin Davis kicking two for the day.
North Mandurah tried to respond in the second half, but were cut down by backmen River Anderson, Zak Rahim Kalvyn Batista, and Captain Perry Borger.
River ran up the ground to intercept several advances.
The real reward went to the team’s new player – Jason Green – who kicked an exciting five goals to lead the team to a great win on the day.
Coach Travis Burges gave credit to all the players, saying the team had worked hard and gotten better each week.
North Mandurah Reserves 2.5 (17) defeated by Kelmscott 9.9 (63).
League
Following from the Reserves, the League team didn’t take long to start dominating the scoreboard.
“The league boys played some great football against North Mandurah,” Coach Shannon Collard said.
“The forward line functioned really well, with Callum Collard kicking five goals, and Angus Yarran and Rodney Jetta with four each.”
Even the team’s regular centre half back Liam Hansen decided to get in the action, kicking one.
Despite not showing on the scoreboard, North Mandurah didn’t give up, and kept attacking the football all game.
“The back line held up really strong and helped set up play as they rebounded from the interceptions” coach Collard said.
Captain William Walley dominated across the centre at the ball-ups as his teammate Kristian Egan took several impressive overhead marks, putting his body on the line. “Kristian Egan had another best on ground game in the middle, with some help in the second half in there from Lawrence Hansen who played a great game through the middle and also got forward and kicked two goals,” coach Collard said.
“And the club’s first game player Nixon Hamlet added some speed and good run to the team’s new style of fast ball movement”
Eric Alone played high up the forward line, and had to work to achieve his goal, while the run from Robert Miles on the wing drove the football from the release of the backline. North Mandurah returned from the half-time break with several forward entries against the Bulldogs, but the combination of Corey and Graham Hansen was too strong for the Magpies.
“The feel around the club was positive as we hit the half way mark, and set our sights on finals at the end of the home and away season” Shannon Collard said.
North Mandurah League 4.8 (32) lost to Kelmscott 21.11 (137)
Colts
The Derby between the Kelmscott and Roleystone Colts demonstrated the talent of the local area, with WAFL development players featured in both teams.
The larger oval suited the Kelmscott pace, but the connection across the ground gave up several opportunities to the Roleystone side.
The Bulldogs’ Vice Captain Raymond Aston and forward Jeb Ronan both kicked two each.
Kelmscott Colts 4.6 (30) lost to Roleystone 13.12 (90).
Integrated
The Kelmscott Integrated All Abilities faced the 2023 A Grade Premiers Coolbinia.
It was a fast-moving game as both teams were equally equipped with a running midfield and talented State Inclusion Academy Players.
Coolbinia missed two chances at the goals and gave Kelmscott a one-goal lead at half time.
The pace of Kelmscott’s Vincent Fraser and Timothy Davies through the centre was incredibly hard to stop as they linked with the skilful kicking of teammates Lee Maas and Fraser Kickett with his goal.
The girls got into the action again this week as Tara Wichman had her turn in centre and kicked one goal up forward.
As the ball was sent forward, the team’s big man – Warren Gregson – committed to several strong leads and opened up a goal square to his teammates, unlucky not to kick one for all his efforts.
In the fourth quarter, despite just five points separating the lead, both team’s coaches celebrated the inclusion spirit as players who appeared to receive less football possession were rewarded with the midfield and centre play.
Several minutes went past as the ball was shared amongst many of the centre players, aided by the help and support of their teammates.
But finally Coolbinia kicked one, snatching a two-point lead over the Bulldogs.
The ball went up, and the tension was high, the crowd cheering and screaming for their respective team.
With just one minute to go, a heroic Lee Maas, celebrating his 50th Club Game, dashed into the forward to mark one inside shooting range.
The ball was kicked and the players screamed “goal.”
The siren sounded, and players of both team celebrated a nail-biting game which went right down to the wire.
Coolbinia Integrated 5.4 (34) defeated by Kelmscott 5.8 (38)
The Kelmscott Bulldogs will return on June 8, with three home games after this weekend’s bye round, starting with the Women’s at 10:30am, Reserves at 12:30pm and League at 2:30pm.
Photographs – Richard Polden.
