It’s been a long time in the making to bring League football back home to the kennel; it was 10 years ago that a Kelmscott Bulldogs League team last competed in a WAAFL (Perth Football League) Grand Final, where the team claimed the B Grade Premiership.
The Bulldogs hosted old Sunday football league and WAAFL rivals Kenwick Royals in the second Semi Final.
The old John Dunn Oval and clubrooms welcomed a huge crowd as cars packed around the oval banks.
From the first bounce, the wet weather put a halt on Kelmscott’s usual clean possession and brought Kenwick into the game, who kicked three goals to Kelmscott’s single point.
There was a great roar from both coaching huddles at the end of the first quarter as the coaches demanded more from their players.
The Bulldogs responded in the second quarter with Drew Robinson taking a stand in the centre and shutting down the Royals’ run from the stoppage.
Centre half back man Jordan Ah Chee also helped change the fortune of the game by intercepting three entries.
Clawing back into the game, the Bulldogs 3.3 (21) went into the half time break two goals down against the Royals 5.2 (32).
As the skies cleared, the ball movement cleaned up, and the Royals lost their control over the game.
Young Bulldogs pup Taiawhio Morrison got his hands on the ball, sending it to the goal line, and managing one goal from several entries. While his fellow young colt teammate Dean Pankhurst put himself into the contest. Dean was unlucky to receive a few free kicks, but took the hard knocks on the chin and responded by absolute dominance across the wing, setting up the goals as powerhouse Callum Collard booted four goals for the day.
Kenwick tried to break Kelmscott’s new-found run, and threw bigger bodies into the contest.
The Bulldogs’ Brett Eades rose to the challenge from the centre and sent the ball down the path of life member Kristian ‘Kidgy’ Egan, who raised the crowd and team with his efforts and kicked three goals for the day.
At the third quarter break, Kelmscott 7.6 (48) held just a two-point lead over Kenwick 7.4 (46).
Kenwick’s backline did well to cut out the Bulldogs’ Rodney Jetta – the competition’s winning goal kicker – who suffered a dislocated finger and only managing one goal, alongside one more for teammate Kyle Collard.
But Kenwick couldn’t get the ball past the Kelmscott’s Kevin Seelander who took high flying marks, and Liam Hansen, who clamped down on the incoming balls, assisted by Captain William Walley and Corey Hansen.
The Bulldogs’ supporters and players cried out as the final siren sounded and the team claimed their first Grand Final opportunity since 2020 – a result earned through the efforts of five young Colt players: Lawrence Hansen Jnr, Solomon Peach, Hayden Eades, Taiawhio Morrison and Dean Pankhurst.
Kelmscott 10.8 (68) defeated Kenwick 8.5 (53).
Photographs – Richard Polden.
