The last game of the year for the Colts didn’t go without a big show as 25 ambitious young players closed off their inaugural season in a valiant effort.
The seventh placed young Bulldogs pups hosted third placed Coolbinia who were keen for a percentage-boosting win.
Much to the surprise of the opposition, Kelmscott held the visitors to a low-scoring first quarter, and pulled the claws out as the bulldogs kicked four goals to Coolbinia’s two in the second quarter.
Trailing by just four points at the half-time break, the dogs were in the running against a serious premiership contender team.
A huge high-flying leap by Taiawhio Morrison, who soared over this opponent, will easily go down as the competition’s ‘Mark of the Year’, as Captain Rhegan Prosser kicked through for two goals.
Vice-Captain Lawrence Hansen and team mate Noah Brooks also kicked one each. In the final quarter, the dogs were unlucky to capitalise on forward entries, kicking five points and one, to the oppositions four goals.
Finishing seventh out of the ten, the young pups earned their establishment in the competition, with several players looking to make the League’s finals squad. Lawrence Hansen and Taiawhio Morrison finished the season with 16 goals, in equal sixth and seventh for the competition.
Kelmscott 5.11 (41) lost to Coolbinia 12.16 (88)
League
Coolbellup were the only team to defeat the mighty Bulldogs this season, and it was fitting the top challengers faced off for the final game of the season ahead of finals. Kelmscott were early to the football and entered the first quarter break with just a one-goal lead.
An old-fashioned spray by Coach Shannon Collard demanded more from the Bulldogs who were short this week, with a couple of key players unavailable for the game.
Both teams went at the football; the backs had their work cut out for them. Kelmscott back Liam Hansen took a courageous mark diving into the contest, while Corey Hansen stood strong for his tea, intercepting the oncoming football.
Brayden Thorne and Reginald Jones got clever around the opposition to kick one goal each, as Solomon Peach tapped the football to Nixon Hamlet and Callum Collard who speared the ball into the forward line.
At the half-time break Kelmscott 5.3 had opened a handy lead on Coolbellup 3.3. Keen to put the opposition away, the two Kelmscott forwards fired up. Rodney Jetta kept up his tally with four, whilst a hard leading Kyle Collard snatched the football to equal Jetta with another four.
The win secured the top spot and the minor premiership for the Kelmscott League team.
Rodney Jetta smashed the association’s goal-kicking leaderboard with 85 goals. With only one loss from 18, Kelmscott League 10.8 (68) defeated home team Coolbellup 6.8 (44).
Reserves
It was a big ask for coach Travis Burgess at the start of the season, and he had his work cut out for him to turn around a team in a bad way.
But, as players returned and new players joined, the team built up.
And by Round 6, the Bulldogs had got off the dog bed and pounced at a chance of redemption, as the wins started coming.
Having only won two matches since 2021, the mix of old and new Ressies gathered pace and had even looked a possible finals chance at round 14.
Unfortunately, luck didn’t go the Bulldogs way.They travelled to play out the last game of their season against second-placed premiership contender Coolbellup.
With nothing to lose, the Bulldogs mauled the football, surprising Coolbellup.
The fight was on, and both teams knew there was a real game to be had and bragging rights.
Kelmscott were ineffective in converting the forward entries, as both teams’ backlines took strong overhead marks from the opposition, especially from Shaquille Ninyette and Zak Rahim.
The father-son duo was on display, as young pup Malakye Hansen won his ruck and father Graham Hansen snuck out of the full back to kick two goals for the game. Zachary Patek showed improvement and played his best game, as Daniel Schloss and Billy Westcott skilfully transitioned the football up forward where Jacob Bromfield and Calvin Davis snapped two and one for River Anderson.
The Bulldogs finished the year by outscoring the opposition in the last quarter, ending the game 7.5 (47) to Coolbellup’s 13.11 (89).
Kelmscott finished seventh from twelve as player Jason Green kicked 29 goals and finished third in the competition.
From 3pm this Saturday at John Dunn, Kelmscott Womens will play Koongamia for a spot straight into the Grand Final.
