Men’s Premier Division Major Semi Final Review – UNSW-ES Bulldogs v North Shore Bombers

Written by Lucas Holmes

Previous meetings

The UNSW-ES Bulldogs defeated the North Shore Bombers by 57 points in round 6. The Bombers won a thriller by a point in round 17.

First quarter

It was an end-to-end start to this contest. Both sides traded goals in the opening minutes before North Shore were the quickest team to settle.

Star midfielder Jordan Law levelled the scores before the Bombers lifted their intensity without the football.

The Bulldogs usually switch the football out of defence without trouble. However, they caused UNSW-ES to go long to a contest where the North Shore talls went to work.

The Bulldogs showed a glimpse of how dangerous they are with their quick ball movement.

Captain Mitchell Conn ran off half-back at a stoppage. His penetrating kick was smartly tapped on by Cooper Kilpatrick. Hamish Dunstan bounced off an opponent and then snapped across his body. His shot grazed the right goalpost.

North Shore intercepted a kick into the corridor right on the quarter-time siren. They led by 10 points at the first change.

Quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 2.5.17 North Shore Bombers 4.3.27.

Second quarter

Thomas had the chance for three goals in just over a quarter.

UNSW-ES turned the ball over as they looked to switch out of defence. Thomas kicked from just inside the arc. But the football bounced in front of the goal line and back into play.

Christian Loone had the opportunity to extend the Bombers’ lead.

After he took a mark on the centre wing moments earlier, Loone was blocked out of a ball up at centre-half forward. His long set shot was rushed through for a behind.

The football continued to go from one end of Henson Park to the other. Shots at goal were hard to come by as both defensive units were stout.

After 12 minutes of elapsed time, James Tidemann opened the account for the second quarter.

Felix Rogers took a leaping mark on the right half-forward flank. Rogers wheeled away immediately. His driving kick was marked by Tidemann just outside of the goal square. Tidemann converted from point blank range.

The Bulldogs replied through Charlie Burgess Hoar minutes later.

A low kick out of defence opened up the centre corridor for the Bulldogs. Kilpatrick looked for Emery with a sweeping handball. He was surrounded quickly by a pair of North Shore defenders. The ball was flicked out to Burgess Hoar. From 20 metres out, almost directly in front, Charlie finished across his body.

Thomas added his third (from a stoppage, on his non-dominant left) before Rogers added a check side pressed hard against the boundary.

North Shore had extended their lead to 23 points at the long break.

Half time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 3.7.25 North Shore Bombers 7.6.48.

Third quarter

Nick Hill got a defensive fist in to keep the ball inside the forward 50 for the Bombers.

From a boundary throw-in, Tom Banuelos got the clearance and Dunstan smartly tapped the ball on in the middle of the ground.

Brandon Jack ended up with a free kick on the arc. His long set shot was marked deep in defence by North Shore.

It was a high-tempo start to the third term.

The Bombers locked the football inside their forward half, which led to the first goal after eight minutes of elapsed time.

Ned Campbell swept a handball to Law inside the centre square. His kick was marked by Rayner at full stretch. Rayner’s set shot had the distance from 49 metres out, directly in front.

The Bulldogs replied quickly.

After being held up slightly on the centre wing, chain handballs opened the forward 50. Dunstan linked with Ethan Eshuys on the overlap, who kicked on the run from 40 metres out.

The Bombers gave UNSW-ES some of their own medicine. They transitioned the ball with ease from their back half.

A long handball from Will Edwards allowed Ned Campbell to lower his eyes and found Liam Puncher one out just outside the goal square. Puncher kicked his first.

After a turnover on the half-back flank, the Bulldogs sprung a counterattack.

Jordan Endemann changed the angle as Thomas Tyson overlapped on the near centre wing. Tyson’s long kick was marked by Kieran Emery who came in from the side. Emery kicked his second.

Three quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 5.8.38 North Shore Bombers 9.8.62.

Fourth quarter

It took less than two minutes for the Bulldogs to strike in the final term. It was Emery once again.

From inside the centre square, Max Ries unloaded a kick to Emery, who was one-on-one inside the goal square.

Dunstan kicked the Bulldogs’ second inside the opening seven minutes. The margin was 12 points.

The momentum had turned in UNSW-ES favour as defensive pressure created a turnover on the centre wing.

But it was North Shore who created the next chance.

Jake Veale deliberately kicked along the ground to open the far side of Henson Park.

The Bombers worked it through hands which resulted in a tough shot from the forward pocket. No score was registered. 

Jack made them pay at the other end.

From a stoppage on the half-forward flank, Jack collected the ball in stride and kicked from just outside the arc. The margin was only one straight kick.

A minor score for Endemann soon after meant the margin was inside a goal.

After 15 minutes of elapsed time, the Bulldogs were in front for the first time since the opening quarter.

Thomas Baxter drew his set shot back from 35 metres out. There was still time for either side.

Three minutes later, UNSW-ES struck again.

A sweeping handball from Conn got over the back of the North Shore defence. Endemann shouldered the responsibility. His snap from the right forward pocket beat a desperate lunge on the goal line. 

The Bulldogs’ defence produced a scoreless quarter for the Bombers, they punched a ticket to the Grand Final with a seven-point win. 

Full time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 10.9.69 North Shore Bombers 9.8.62.

Jordan Endemann impacted the match as small forward and gathered possessions around the ground. Hamish Dunstan did the same as he provided a link when he pushed up the ground. Mitchell Conn got better as the match wore on.

Jordan Law was instrumental in the midfield for North Shore. Max Thomas was electric in the forward half then gathered possessions as he pushed further up the field. Whilst Kyle Devlin contributed in contested situations.

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 10.9.69

Goal kickers: K. Emery 3, C. Burgess Hoar 2, T. Baxter, H. Dunstan, J. Endemann, E. Eshuys, B. Jack

Best: B. Jack, D. Towers, L. Ross, D. Cordell, M. Conn, E. Eshuys

North Shore Bombers 9.8.62

Goal kickers: M. Thomas 3, F. Rogers, J. Vlatko, J. Tidemann, J. Law, L. Puncher, J. Rayner

Best: J. Veale, N. Campbell, J. Law, H. Walker, C. Loone, M. Thomas

The Bulldogs go straight through to the Grand Final to Saturday September 10. North Shore will play St George for on Saturday 1:10 PM at Henson Park for a chance to meet the Bulldogs.