Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review- UNSW-ES Bulldogs v St George Dragons

Written by Lucas Holmes

 

Recap

The UNSW-ES Bulldogs defeated Manly Warringah by seven points in round 12. The St George Dragons match with UTS was abandoned due to inclement weather.

 

First quarter

It didn’t take long for St George to strike. They did so through the league’s leading goal kicker Noah Casalini.

After an intercept in the defensive 50, Timothy Tegg utilised his foot speed on the near centre wing. After three bounces, Tegg launched towards goal. On the goal line Casalini palmed the football to himself before he kicked it out of mid-air. What a start to the match!

The Bulldogs had the chance to hit back straight away. Kilpatrick pulled his set shot from 25 metres out, on the angle for a minor score.

UNSW-ES had repeated entries inside their forward 50, which led to their first goal of the afternoon.

From a stoppage deep inside the forward 50, the football was funnelled out the back. Brandon Jack put his head over the football and was collected high. Jack made no mistake from 35 metres out.

The repeated entries continued to mount up for the Bulldogs as Dean Towers kicked his first after an uncontested mark 30 metres out from goal.

Casalini looked to add to his early goal, but his set shot from outside the arc was pulled to the right for a minor score.

Thomas Longmire added a late set shot as the Bulldogs responded with three straight goals to round out the first term.

Quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 3.5.23 St George Dragons 1.2.8.   

 

Second quarter

Charlie Burgess-Hoar executed the perfect front and centre in the first minute of the second term.

The entry inside the forward 50 came from the far centre wing. Instead of getting sucked into the contest, Burgess-Hoar stayed wide and received a handball, then snapped from 30 metres out.

Kilpatrick’s second came from a superb Thomas Tyson pass as he had the required journey from 50 metres. After they conceded the first goal of the match, the Bulldogs kicked the next five.

The Bulldogs continued to feast on any St George turnovers across half-back and were able to quickly turn defence into attack.

The Dragons had an opportunity to counterattack themselves. However, Joseph Byrnes took an intercept mark at full stretch to save a potential score.

Casalini added his second at the halfway point of the second term.

No-one stopped Casalini with his burst of speed on the lead, and he marked on the second attempt. Casalini had no trouble with the set shot from 45 metres as the Dragons looked to wrestle back some of the momentum.

This momentum seemed short-lived as Max Geddes converted a set shot from long range before Joshua Nicholls added St George’s second in three minutes.

Liam Ross finished with class across his body before a late UNSW-ES goal made it five for the term.

Half time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 8.9.57 St George Dragons 3.3.21.

 

Third quarter

The early stages of the third term were played between the two arcs, as both sides’ pressure around the football impacted the number of effective disposals.

Tyler Gorman-Brown showcased his closing speed with a late fist which denied Burgess-Hoar a shot at goal.

Tom Banuelos opened the scoring after seven minutes of elapsed time.

Towers chopped across and intercepted a clearing ball from the Dragons’ back pocket. Banuelos swooped in from the side of the contest, evaded a defender and kicked on the run from 45 metres out.

Kilpatrick’s third came as the Bulldogs launched from their half-back line.

Max Ries’ tumbling kick from the centre wing ended up 30 metres out from goal. Kilpatrick ran onto the football at speed and had plenty of time to snap across his body.

The Bulldogs continued to work the football inside the forward 50. Maxwell Jeffery took a courageous mark in defence for St George as he backed in towards the contest.

UNSW-ES didn’t let their foot off as the quarter ended (and the Dragons didn’t back down). Indhi Kirk kicked his first before Towers added his second around the corner.

Three quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 12.11.83 St George Dragons 3.3.21.

 

Fourth quarter

Max Geddes would take no further part in the match after he had ice applied to his ankle.

Kirk did a tremendous job early in the final quarter as he halted the progress of Dragons ruck Liam Maze in a one-on-one contest.

Harry Morrison kicked the thirteenth goal for the Bulldogs. After he won a free kick for a tackle on Kye Pfrengle, Morrison converted the set shot from deep in the forward pocket.

Longmire added his second from just outside of the goal square after a throw was paid. The lead was extended to 11 goals.

The Bulldogs continued to pile on the pressure (and goals) on St George before the Dragons managed two late goals.

Michalak was swung forward and converted a set shot from 45 metres out. Dominic Soffe added the Dragons’ fifth minutes later as the Bulldogs ran away with a 94-point win.

Full time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 19.14.128 St George Dragons 5.4.34.

 

Cooper Kilpatrick was superb in the forward line for the Bulldogs. Darcy Cordell gathered possessions around the ground and Tom Banuelos stood out.

Timothy Tegg provided run and carry for the Dragons. Anthony Markos’ pressure in the back half impressed, as did Patrick Tegg.

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 19.14.128

Goal kickers: C. Kilpatrick 4, T. Banuelos 2, J. Byrnes 2, T. Longmire 2, D. Towers 2, C. Burgess-Hoar, M. Geddes, B. Jack, H. Morrison, H. Dunstan, L. Ross, I. Kirk

Best: D. Cordell, C. Kilpatrick, J. Hardy, T. Banuelos, L. Ross, H. Morrison

St George Dragons 5.4.34

Goal kickers: N. Casalini 2, D. Michalak, J. Nicholls, D. Soffe

Best: T. Gorman-Brown, N. Carey, C. Flannagan, B. Hogson, P. Tegg, T. Tegg