Men’s Premier Division Match of the Round Review – UNSW-ES Bulldogs v Inner West Magpies

Written by Lucas Holmes

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs were victorious in the season opener by five points over rivals Sydney University. Inner West Magpies’ margin of defeat was 85 points by the UTS Bats in round 1.

 

First quarter

On a glorious afternoon for football, it didn’t take long for UNSW-ES to open the scoring.

After the Bulldogs forced a turnover in the centre corridor, Mitchell Conn fed a handball to Ethan Eshuys. His low, spearing ball found a diving Hamish Dunstan. Dunstan Had no trouble with the distance from 45 metres out.

Inner West had a scoring opportunity from their first entry inside the forward 50. Ben Zoppo collected the ball and sent a high kick towards the goal line. If not for a last-ditch Thomas Tyson mark, the Magpies would’ve been on the board.

The Magpie backline was tested in the early stages, as they had to deal with repeated forward 50 entries from the Bulldogs.

After conceding only one goal in the opening 12 minutes, Inner West was able to get on the board.

A risky chip into the corridor from Kel Evans opened up the middle of the ground. Elliott did well to control the football and fed the electric Braydon Bux. Bux picked out Zoppo on the half-forward flank. The experienced key forward opened his account for the season from just inside the arc.

Aydin Bremner Made it two in quick succession for the Magpies. Harper on the centre wing put the ball into the path of Bux whose touch pass found Bremner 40 metres out from goal. Bremner had no issue with the distance and after they absorbed the early pressure, Inner West was now in front.

Both sides traded goals in what was an end-to-end first term.

Quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 3.3.21 Inner West Magpies 4.2.26.  

 

Second quarter 

It took just over two minutes for the Bulldogs’ fifth goal.

Jake Brown rebounded off half-back and found Byron Middleton in the middle of Henson Park. Middleton went deep inside the forward 50 where Jack Willis fed a sharp handball to Jackson Tikkeros who smartly kept the ball low.

After Inner West had a golden chance to hit back through Luke Jamieson, it wasn’t long after that Zoppo had his third.

Following a free kick on the centre wing, Lucas Lam speared a low kick to Bux on the half-forward flank. Bux played on immediately and kicked to the advantage of Zoppo who was held off the football. The 20 metre set shot was no trouble and the Magpies had their fifth.

UNSW-ES regained the lead soon after. Fred Tricks’ long shot at goal was smothered on the goal line, and Toby Renshaw who was front and square to the contest poked home from close range (despite there being appeals for a touched ball).

Zoppo kicked his fourth and then fifth goals inside the first half, before a goal on the halftime siren to Middleton and the margin was back to an even goal.

Half time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.5.41 Inner West Magpies 7.5.47.     

 

Third quarter

After he spent some time off the ground in the latter stages of the first half, Magpies skipper Callum McEvoy-Gray came out of an early contest looking worse for wear. His involvement for the rest of the match was limited.

After a minor score for the Bulldogs, Inner West transitioned the ball along the far wing inside the forward 50.

Zoppo took a strong contested mark on the centre wing, who quickly found Bux forward of the centre. Bux initially kicked to a one-on-one contest. However, Bailey Foote floated across to take the intercept mark.

Another important cog in the Magpie’s defence exited the match part-way through the third term. Lam after a contest close to the boundary line, appeared shaken up and promptly came off the ground.

As the midway point of the term approached there was yet to be a major. However, both teams imposed their physicality around the football, with the Bulldogs looking to quicken their ball movement off half-back.

Despite the repeated entries inside the forward 50 from UNSW-ES, the Magpies’ defence held firm.

Three quarter time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 6.9.45 Inner West Magpies 7.6.48

 

Fourth quarter

After an early behind from the Bulldogs, the kick-out was intercepted by Jack, 40 metres out directly in front of the goal. After a goalless third term, with no more than 90 seconds on the clock, the Bulldogs had their seventh as they retook the lead.

UNSW-ES extended its lead minutes later. From a boundary throw-in on the centre wing, Patrick Horan’s clearance went high inside the forward 50 looking for Cooper Kilpatrick.  Dunstan, who arrived late, was blocked out of the contest. As a result, kicked his third from 35 metres out.

Kilpatrick had his own soon after as he converted a set shot from the forward pocket. The Bulldogs lead out to 18 points.

Jack added his second goal before Zoppo added his sixth and seventh late in the fourth term. The final margin was 11 points.

Full time UNSW-ES Bulldogs 10.12.72 Inner West Magpies  9.7.61.

 

For the home side, Fred Tricks imposed himself in contested situations throughout the afternoon. Jake Brown’s ball use out of the back half was a feature of the Bulldogs’ ball movement. With Kieran Emery out, Hamish Dunstan did the damage in the forward half.

Kel Evans was arguably the most influential player for Inner West as he took on the challenge of the imposing Bulldogs midfield. Aydin Bremner also stood out. Whilst, particularly in the third quarter Michael Tuttle and Daniel O’Connell, were crucial in the back half.

 

UNSW-ES Bulldogs 10.12.72

Goal kickers: H. Dunstan 3, B. Jack 2, C. Kilpatrick, T. Renshaw, B. Middleton, J. Tikkeros, F. Tricks

Best: F. Tricks, H. Dunstan, L. Ross, B. Jack, P. Horan

 

Inner West Magpies 9.7.61

Goal kickers: B. Zoppo 7, A. Bremner, E. Harper

Best: K. Evans, B. Myers, B. Zoppo, D. O’Connell, P. Wilmot, O. Matar